Charge Nurse - Seward Lodge

Hpft; Hertford; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is recruiting for a Band 6 Charge Nurse in Hertford. The post oversees junior staff, drives clinical leadership, and ensures high-quality care on the frail functional ward.

The role includes day and night shifts, with a permanent contract and a salary band of £41,957–£50,387 per year. Applicants should have RN/RMN (or equivalent) and CPD evidence; supervision, appraisal, and CPD support are available.

Qualifications

• Post registration experience at Band 5.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience of working in other clinical settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide local clinical leadership to the team under the direction of the team leader.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for service users.
• Teach other nursing and non-nursing personnel.
• Deputise for the Team Leader in their absence.
• Manage ward/unit resources and clinical environment during shifts.

Skills

RMN/RLDN or Dip/BSc in MH/LD Nursing

Education

Mental Health Nursing (BSc/Dip) ENB 998

Job description

Main area Charge Nurse Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Days and Nights) Job ref 367-SS-101682

Site frail functional unit Seward Lodge/ Wren Ward Town Hertford Salary £41,957 - £50,387 per annum, pro rata (inclusive of 5% HCAS) Salary period Yearly Closing 25/10/2026 23:59

Values Based Screener

At Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust we are looking for people to join us who share our values and those of the NHS. Before your application can be considered please take part on our online values questionnaire, which you can find below. When you have finished you will be sent a 'completion code' by email, which will be valid for 6 months and required to submit your application form.

Our frail functional wards at Seward Lodge/ Wren Ward are a 16 bedded unit, we are dedicated at providing care and treatment for older people with mental health needs. This is an opportunity for you to join a team that is providing high standard person-centered care. Leadership skills, effective time management and intergrated working skills are essential, as are excellent communication skills and a commitment to the principles of effective team working.

The post holder will be responsible for the supervision of junior staff and students, as well as contributing to departmental projects and Trust improvement projects.

We will support you in developing your clinical skills. We are committed to developing staff through regular supervision, appraisals, support in CPD and opportunities for career progression.

Main duties of the job

The Charge Nurses’ key role is to provide local clinical leadership to the team under the direction of the team leader.

The Charge nurse will:
Be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and
evaluation of care for service users.
Be required to teach other nursing and non-nursing personnel.
Be a role model through their own good practise.
Be responsible for maintaining clinical standards, and team systems under the direction of the team leader.
Assist the team leader in maintaining effective team working processes, including outcome measures.
Be expected to deputise for the Team Leader in their absence.
To manage the ward/unit resources and clinical environment during
their shift.

All staff should comply with the Trust’s Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity.

Key Relationships:

The post holder must foster good working relationship with all grades of staff within the MDT and the wider Trust.
The post holder should be friendly but maintain professional approach and behaviour.

Working for our organisation

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

Our family of over 4500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Our Trust values are:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!

Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

In addition to managing the clinical aspects of being a Band 6 Charge Nurse, the post holder will take an active part in the assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care for service users in collaboration with inpatient multi-disciplinary services. Liaising with colleagues and carers, ensuring they are fully aware of all aspects of a service users’ care and treatment.

You will have effective communication skills and be able to contribute towards patient recovery and wellbeing.

You will be able to identify individuals' care needs. Planning, implementing and evaluating care plans and risk assessments in collaboration with other teams and professionals. Maintaining lines of communication with all departments and staff involved in a service user’s care. Reporting on progress and effectiveness to the appropriate MDT.

Participating in ward rounds and handovers, etc. Preparing reports as required. Acting as deputy manager to junior staff providing leadership and support.

For a More in-depth Person and Job Description please read attached before applying

Qualifications

• RMN/RLDN or Dip/ Bsc (Hons) in Mental Health/ Learning Disability Nursing ENB 998 / Preceptorship and Mentorship. ENB.

Experience

• Post registration experience at Band 5.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience of working in other clinical settings.

Job related aptitude and skills

• Ability to communicate effectively within a multiprofessional team
• Confidence to work autonomously, use own initiative, and make decisions in complex situations.
• Ability to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information, where persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic or reassuring skills are required
• Ability to deal with distressing circumstances and challenging behaviour.
• Experience of risk assessment and management
• Ability to cope with an unpredictable work pattern and frequent interruptions
• Understanding of legal framework MHA, MCA, DoL, safeguarding and social factors involved in care.
• Specific clinical skills applicable e.g. brief therapy, cognitive therapy and anxiety management.
• Implementing quality improvement initiatives.

Please note, we do not charge fees for job applications, recruitment processes, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. Please see the Trust careers vacancy webpage and Trac as the only authorised routes for recruitment communications, applications and verification of job offers.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.