Deputy Ward Manager | Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust; Canterbury; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Kent is seeking a registered mental health or learning disabilities nurse to join the team in Canterbury. The role focuses on supporting adults during inpatient admissions and their recovery, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and developing leadership skills. Candidates should have post-registration experience, mentorship training, and strong communication skills. Join a team committed to providing compassionate care to individuals with mental health challenges.

Benefits

Access to NHS leadership academy courses

In-house leadership courses

Coaching and mentoring

Qualifications

• Previous experience working as a nurse is essential.
• Ability to support families during mental health crises.
• Knowledge of MHA and safeguarding practices is required.

Responsibilities

• Support adults during hospital admissions and their recovery.
• Work closely with the multidisciplinary team to provide quality care.
• Participate in clinical supervision and management supervision.

Skills

Strong leadership skills

Excellent communication and liaison skills

Interpersonal skills to manage and supervise staff

Education

Post-registration experience as a nurse

Completion of mentorship training

Job description

Please note, at this stage, the role is open only to internal staff (including NHSP and Agency staff currently on placement within our organisation) and staff substantively employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). Any individual who is at risk of redundancy will be given priority, provided they meet the essential criteria.

We are looking for a registered mental health or learning disabilities nurse to join our supportive team. You will have a passion for supporting adults during admissions to inpatient services - supporting them and their families in their recovery.

If you have a keen interest in developing your leadership skills then we have the support for you to develop them: We offer access to NHS leadership academy courses, our own in-house leadership courses, coaching and mentoring as well as regular team days, reflective practice and management and clinical supervision!

In order to be shortlisted you will need:

• Post-qualification experience working as a nurse
• Strong leadership skills
• Care and passion for the people that we serve

We commit to you that we will act with care, kindness, compassion and inclusivity.

• We will work beside you and collaboratively with you.
• We will listen to you.
• Your voice will be centre to your care.
• We strive to continually improve ourselves and our service.

If you feel your values align with our teams then we would love to hear from you. We are an 18 bedded acute female mental health ward caring for people during a mental health crisis. The work can be challenging and very rewarding.

You will be working with people to support them with their mental and physical health, learning new skills to cope with distress and keeping people safe.

A key part of our role is working with family and loved ones, as well as part of our wide multidisciplinary team (Doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists and more).

We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated ‘Good’ by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.

Our vision is simple: We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It’s why we’re passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. And everything we do is guided by our values caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us - if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that’s doing well together.

Check out our Canterbury site

• You must have post-registration experience and have completed mentorship training to be able to mentor students.
• You must also be able to support the needs of people with acute mental illness, their relatives and carers.
• This requires excellent communication and liaison skills.
• You will need to have a good knowledge of MHA and safeguarding.
• You will also have excellent interpersonal skills to manage and supervise staff effectively.
• You will be working with a wide range of experienced and friendly professionals providing high quality care with compassion.
• We offer regular clinical supervision and management supervision.

Please refer to the attached job description for the full details on the responsibilities and person specification.

This advert closes on Tuesday 30 Dec 2025