Community Psychiatric Nurse

Integrated Care System; London; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health organization is seeking a dedicated Community Psychiatric Nurse to join their team in London. The role involves conducting mental health assessments, managing a caseload, and collaborating with various stakeholders to provide quality care to service users. With a focus on recovery and support, the successful candidate will have a strong clinical background and significant autonomy. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to an essential mental health service.

Benefits

Flexible working

Career development opportunities

Inclusive and diverse work environment

Qualifications

• Registered as an Adult Nurse, Mental Health Nurse, or Learning Disabilities Nurse.
• Significant clinical experience and reflective practice are required.
• Experience as a mentor or preceptor is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Conduct mental health assessments and manage a caseload of service users.
• Provide quality nursing care and support to junior staff.
• Engage with service users to advocate for their rights and needs.

Skills

Quality care

Effective communication

Advocacy

Problem solving

Education

Registered Adult Nurse

Registered Mental Health Nurse

Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse

Job description

Go back South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

Community Psychiatric Nurse

The closing date is 15 July 2025

A valuable substantive job opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated band 6 practitioner (RMN) to work within the team. This is an innovative service commissioned for Merton residents, serving as the primary access point for mental health referrals into secondary care.

The post holder will be responsible for conducting mental health assessments for people who are referred by a variety of agencies, including self-referrals, and the post holder will contribute to the triaging of these cases by conducting risk assessments by variable forms of communication including telephone, e-consultation and face to face review. These assessments will be conducted at the Wilson Hospital site and variable community settings such as patient homes depending on the nature of need identified during the triage process. The post holder will also be responsible for identifying safeguarding concerns, and undertaking plans of action to help mitigate/reduce identified safeguarding risks.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will carry an assessment caseload and be responsible for the management and planning of those service users, under the supervision of the Team Manager and Consultant Psychiatrist, including discharge to alternative primary care services, or onward referral to secondary care or specialist teams within the trust.

The Post holder will also require a degree of autonomy, and robust assessment/formulating skills are essential. Experience in crisis management and an ability to work flexibly will be an advantage given the high volume of referrals.

About us

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.

Job responsibilities

Working autonomously within the parameters of the role leading and supporting junior staff and wider care team to implement the delivery of quality nursing care, contributing to the physical, psychological, social, recreational and spiritual care in a recovery-focused way through therapeutic engagement and activities, and taking steps to address any issues that arise.

Leading and supporting/teaching junior staff on risk assessment and risk management that involves making decisions based on knowledge of the research evidence, knowledge of the individual service user and their social context, knowledge of the service users own experience and clinical judgment.

Advocating for service users needs and rights within Trust policy. Encouraging and empowering service users to have an optimum level of responsibility for their individual programme of care.

Demonstrating an enhanced understanding of Mental Health signs and symptoms and an understanding of how these may present in practice including recognition of impact on patient presentation and behaviour including risk factors. Supporting and teaching junior staff to develop understanding of mental health signs and symptoms and develop appropriate responses to these in practice.

Recognising and responding appropriately to challenging behaviour in line with Trust policies and training. Leading and coordinating junior staff and the wider care team in the management of difficult situations and de-escalation and developing resilience and strategies to manage, including on leading staff and patient de-briefing sessions.

Demonstrating a depth of knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty and other legislation applicable to the practice area and how they are implemented in practice ensuring adherence to legislation at all times. Teaching junior staff to understand the legal frameworks that support their practice.

Contributing to an effective communication process with appropriate and accurate information to patients, carers, family, friends and colleagues. Engaging and listening carefully and actively, and responding using appropriate language and accessible communication methods and skills. Developing communication skills to enable and support difficult conversations, acknowledging cultural differences and professional boundaries.

Person Specification

Training & Qualifications

• Registered Adult Nurse and/or Registered Mental Health Nurse and/or Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse

Experience and Knowledge

• Experience of researchbased/reflective practice, e.g. understanding and ability to use supervision to reflect on skills, attitude and knowledge and develop these by using evidence based practice
• Significant relevant clinical experience
• Experience as a preceptor / mentor
• Knowledge of clinical governance and audit
• Knowledge of relevant Professional and Clinical legislation
• Experience of taking responsibility for a ward / clinical unit.
• Experience of engaging / supporting clinical research projects
• Experience of supporting practice development in clinical areas

Skills & Abilities

• Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user's needs, without close supervision
• Self-aware, self-confident and intrinsically motivated to do a good job and to motivate others
• Forms very effective working relationships with colleagues
• Advocates for all individuals, particularly those with protected characteristics; promotes equality and diversity
• Problem solving, ability to identify problems, review options and take appropriate action without a predetermined framework

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

£44,485 to £52,521 a yearper annum inclusive of outer London HCAS