Community Mental Health Nurse

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust; Erith; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust in Erith is seeking a Band 6 Mental Health Nurse for the Adult Community Mental Health Services. This fixed-term or secondment post is 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9-5, within the Early Intervention in Psychosis Team, supporting people after a first episode of psychosis.

You will provide evidence-based psychosocial care in clients' homes and community settings, collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, and pursue CPD opportunities.

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse with current NMC registration.
• Experience in community mental health and working with psychosis.
• Able to work flexibly within multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-based mental health nursing care in patients' homes and communities.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care within team.
• Maintain links with primary/secondary care and social services.
• Deliver health education to patients and carers.
• Keep training up to date in line with Oxleas NHS Trust guidelines.

Skills

Client engagement

Psychosocial interventions

Team collaboration

Interpersonal skills

Education

RMN registration

CPD evidence

Job description

Main area Adult Community Mental Health Services (L3) Grade Band 6 Contract 12 months (fixed term or secondment opportunity) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Mon - Friday 9-5 (excluding bank holidays)) Job ref 277-8269702-CMH

Site Erith Centre Town Erith Salary £42,939 - £50,697 pa inc Salary period Yearly Closing 20/09/2026 23:59

Job overview

An exciting fixed-term or secondment opportunity has arisen within the Bexley Early Intervention in Psychosis Team following the current post holder’s promotion. The role involves supporting people recovering from a first episode of psychosis. Early Intervention in Psychosis services across the Trust are dynamic, highly trained and committed to delivering evidence-based approaches that support clients throughout their recovery. The successful candidate will be motivated, flexible and creative in engaging clients, with some experience and knowledge of delivering evidence-based psychosocial interventions to people experiencing psychosis.

The post holder will receive close support from the team and opportunities to participate in training and development through its continuing professional development programme.

Experience and knowledge of working with people with dual diagnosis would also be desirable.

Main duties of the job

Mental Health Nurses work as part of a team to deliver quality evidence based mental health nursing care to clients within their own home, community locations, clinical environments and care settings.

The post holder will work as a member of the multi-disciplinary mental health care team (community based) assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient care, under the supervision of senior community mental health staff.

The post holder will maintain positive communication link between primary care, secondary care, social services and voluntary agencies.

To participate and provide support and health education programmes for patients, carers and families.

To establish professional relationships with patients and carers through effective interpersonal skills.

To ensure own mandatory training is kept up to date in line with Oxleas Foundation NHS Trust guidelines.

To provide evidence based care to patients, assess and formulate personalised care plans, and implement and evaluate care.

Work to NMC Guidelines and maintain professionalism at all times.

To work flexibly and support colleagues within Community Mental Health Services as required and requested by the line manager to meet the needs of the service.

Working for our organisation

Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children’s centres, schools and people’s homes.

We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.

Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:

• We Listen
• We Care

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Overview of the Post

Mental Health Nurses work as part of a team to deliver quality evidence based mental health nursing care to clients within their own home, community locations, clinical environments and care settings.

The post holder will work as a member of the multi-disciplinary mental health care team (community based) assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient care, under the supervision of senior community mental health staff.

The post holder will maintain positive communication link between primary care, secondary care, social services and voluntary agencies.

Key Task and Responsibilities

To participate and provide support and health education programmes for patients, carers and families.

To establish professional relationships with patients and carers through effective interpersonal skills.

To ensure own mandatory training is kept up to date in line with Oxleas Foundation NHS Trust guidelines.

To provide evidence based care to patients, assess and formulate personalised care plans, and implement and evaluate care.

Work to NMC Guidelines and maintain professionalism at all times.

To work flexibly and support colleagues within Community Mental Health Services as required and requested by the line manager to meet the needs of the service.

Management responsibilities

To prioritise clinical workload according to patient need.

To report all clinical and non-clinical accidents or near misses promptly and when required, to co-operate with any investigation undertaken.

To demonstrate efficient and effective use of resources within own practice.

To attend and participate in clinical supervision in line with Trust policy.

To understand and adhere to all Oxleas Foundation NHS Trust policies procedures and guidelines.

To demonstrate an awareness of mental health care delivery systems and the local and national priorities of mental health care delivery.

To actively participate in the Professional Development Review (PDR) process and ensure training needs are addressed.

To maintain NMC registration.

Leadership

Complies with the NMC Code of Conduct & PREP requirements

To be accountable to line manager and professional leads.

To act as a mentor to non-registered team members and support them to achieve their learning objectives.

To undertake preceptor training (if not completed) and support more senior staff in mentoring of student nurses.

Clinical

To work under supervision during induction period and identify any learning in own competencies to undertake the role.

Work/Liaise with other nursing team members to ensure that plans of nursing care are carried out to the agreed standard.

To demonstrate evidence of comprehensive nursing assessment and documentation of physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of patient/client.

To work within a clinical effectiveness framework using evidence based practice, research and audit to plan implement and evaluate care.

To share good practice in order to improve standards of care.

To assist in the development and evaluation of teaching programmes for students and other care workers.

Research

To be aware of and keep up to date with current research-based evidence.

To participate in research, audit or quality assurance projects as required and provide evidence-based care.

Communication

To ensure effective communication with patients and their carers, including the provision of patient education, health promotion and emotional support where appropriate.

To ensure effective communication with senior nursing staff and all members of the multidisciplinary team.

To record treatment and care carried out in the patients/clients home on appropriate documentation. Records must be kept up to date and accurate in accordance with trust policies.

Ensure that all relevant information regarding patients is documented and where appropriate reported and acted upon immediately.

To provide accurate written and verbal reports as required.

To keep a diary for the purpose of planning work and recording all visits.

To maintain confidentiality of information relating to patients, staff and organisation.

To have the ability to interpret sensitive information and communicate with a sympathetic and empathic approach to patient-centred care.

To be able to work appropriately with any barriers to communication: physical disabilities and cultural backgrounds.

Unsocial Hours

The post holder needs to meet the needs of the service by being available to work flexibly (outside of office hours under supervision if required).

Person Specification

NMC Registration

• Registered Mental Health Professional
• Some experience of working with psychosis
• Some experience of working in community mental health (placement)
• Experience of working with Dual Diagnosis

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse
• Evidence of continuing professional Development
• 2 years Community Experience

Experience

• Experience of supervising junior staff
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience of working with adults with mental health problems.
• Experience of liaising with other agencies.
• Experience of EIP

Skills

• Knowledge and skills in the management of clients on Clozapine & Depot medication
• Experience of being able to work within policy frameworks in a regulated patient care setting
• Experience of facilitating /planning /supporting groups in a healthcare setting i.e. health improvement/smoking cessation/activities

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes and supports individuals of all abilities. Remember, if you meet the minimum criteria for this role and you have a disability, you can be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme - Please ensure you select this on your application form. We would encourage you to be open about your needs so we can work with you to design a comfortable and accessible interview experience. Any information you provide regarding a disability or a need for adjustments will be treated in confidence and will only be shared with colleagues who are supporting this request.

If you require any adjustments to participate fully in the interview process, please let us know by adding the relevant details when scheduling your preferred interview date and time. Please feel free to contact the appointing manager to discuss your needs.

If you have declared you are part of the armed forces community, you may be asked to provide evidence during the recruitment process. If you misrepresent this information, your offer may be withdrawn. For Armed Forces specific support, see our webpage: https://oxleas.nhs.uk/armed-forces-community/

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. There is also a risk that it can generate false or misleading information. AI-generated job applications can often be generic, impersonal and may not accurately reflect your qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting information section is not advocated by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high volume of applications.