Community Psychiatric Nurse (NHS AfC: Band 6) - Single Point of Access - South West London and [...]

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust; London; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health trust in South West London is seeking a dedicated band 6 practitioner to conduct assessments and manage service users ensuring high-quality mental health care. The role involves working closely with a multidisciplinary team, participating in training and supporting junior staff, and advocating for service user rights.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Career development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with qualifications as RMN or similar.
• Experience in crisis management and mental health settings.
• Skills in conducting assessments and managing caseloads.

Responsibilities

• Conduct mental health assessments and triage referrals.
• Manage a caseload of service users with supervision.
• Support and lead junior staff in assessments and care delivery.

Skills

Crisis management

Mental health assessment

Safeguarding

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Registered Adult Nurse

Registered Mental Health Nurse

Job description

Site The Wilson Hospital Town Mitcham Salary £44,485 - £52,521 per annum inclusive of outer London HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 15/07/2025 23:59

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We provide a full range of local mental health services to the Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth London boroughs, as well as specialist forensic mental health services, including specialised services such as national deaf adults and CAMHS inpatients and OCD.

We are committed to providing high quality integrated health and social care for local people with mental health problems in South West London and more specialist mental health services for people throughout the UK. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ however we aim to be ‘outstanding’.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is "making life better together".

When you join us, you’ll be part of something special – an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.

As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

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.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main 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 user’s 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

At South West London St Georges Mental Health Trust we are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Committed Employer, and welcome applications from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We are Members of Stonewall Diversity Champions and Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.

As part of the Trust's commitment to Equalities and Diversity, the Trust supports the establishment of Staff Networks groups to promote diversity in the workplace:

• BME (Evolve) Staff Network
• DiverseAbility
• Mental Health Staff Forum
• Women's Staff Network
• LGBTQIA+

We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

We provide reasonable adjustments to the interview process for any candidates with a disability.

Please note:

• That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received
• That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3 rd party e-recruitment system
• That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
• That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
• That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
• That your employment is offered subject to successful completion of a Probationary Period depending on your Band (except medical roles)
• That we are a smoke-free Trust

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.

Name Rebecca Kennedy Job title Clinical Service Lead Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 02035135270 Additional information

Melvin Jambawo Interim Team Manager on [e-mail]