Mental Health Matron and ETOC Service Lead

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare institution is seeking a Mental Health Matron to cover maternity leave for 6 months. The role includes managing mental health care quality, providing clinical support, and working closely with multidisciplinary teams. Candidates must hold current NMC registration and have extensive mental health nursing experience. This full-time position is based at King's College Hospital, offering a salary between £64,156 to £71,148 per annum.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Supportive work environment

Opportunities for further training

Qualifications

• Must have current NMC registration as a Mental Health Nurse.
• Experience managing and assessing risk related to mental health is essential.
• Qualifications in mental health or related areas are necessary.

Responsibilities

• Provide in-house support with mental health care to multidisciplinary staff teams.
• Manage an ETOC service targeting Emergency Care and Acute Specialty Medicine.
• Ensure accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with Trust policies.

Skills

Current NMC Registration Mental Health Nurse

Post-registration qualification in Mental Health

Extensive experience in mental health nursing within a hospital setting

Management certificate or training

Education

Educated to postgraduate diploma/degree level or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking an exceptional individual for the post of Mental Health Matron to support maternity leave cover for a period of 6 months. The postholder will play a pivotal role in the ongoing development of the clinical vulnerabilities team and service, in addition to supporting the overarching strategy to facilitate a trauma informed approach within the organisation. This represents an exciting opportunity for the right person to diversify their experience and skillset, through contributing to the wider agenda and supporting the clinical vulnerability caseload, while acting as subject matter expert for Mental Health across the wider organisation.

Main Duties

To provide in‑house support with mental health care to multidisciplinary staff teams across inpatient wards and all divisions; to improve the quality of mental health care provided to patients admitted with mental health and physical health needs; to oversee the development of, and act as service lead for an Enhanced Therapeutic Observations and Care team; and, under the direction of the Associate Director of Nursing for Mental Health, support the Trust's wider strategic and operational improvement aims.

Provide on‑hand clinical support for frontline staff in supporting patients with mental health, social, emotional and behavioural needs admitted with mental health needs.

Assure the pathway of care for patients with emotional, psychiatric, social and behavioural needs is timely, appropriate and well‑supported.

Work closely with ward matrons to ensure mental health related educational needs of multidisciplinary staff teams are met, that any training is evaluated and that the response to needs is flexible and creative.

Provide a point of contact for external and internal teams seeking up-to-date information on patients who require ongoing mental health care.

Line manage RMN teams, linking with ward matrons and staff bank agency to ensure quality mental health care is delivered.

Responsibilities

• Management and assessment of risk related to mental health, challenging behaviour and mental capacity, acting as an advocate for patients, families and staff where required.
• Support staff with the ongoing risk assessment of patients including the need for enhanced therapeutic observations and care (ETOC) and where it can be stepped down or an alternative provided.
• Manage an ETOC service targeting Emergency Care and Acute Specialty Medicine at Denmark Hill initially and provide input as required to the development of a wider Trust‑wide service.
• Provide on‑floor senior clinical support with urgent situations ensuring close work with the Trust’s Liaison Psychiatry services.
• Act as a member of the Relational Care Team providing specialist advice and expertise relating to the management of challenging behaviour on inpatient ward areas and in the Emergency Departments.
• Support with and oversee the development of effective and individualised care plans for patients presenting with significant mental health needs or challenging behaviour, in coordination with liaison psychiatry, medical and nursing teams.
• Support patients experiencing delirium, PTSD symptoms, anxiety, depression or psychosis in the context of physical illness.
• Ensure accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with Trust policies.
• Support the MDT with complex discharge planning where mental health concerns are involved.
• Liaise with Adult and Children’s Social Care teams as required to address safeguarding concerns and coordinate care transitions.
• Collaborate with third‑sector organisations and community mental health teams to facilitate smooth discharge planning where required.
• Respond to and escalates domestic abuse concerns following Trust safeguarding protocols.
• Support the Associate Director of Nursing for Mental Health with the Trust’s operational and strategic goals, meeting regularly to monitor clinical care, finance/resources and HR issues, ensuring clear communication pathways.

Person Specification – Education and Qualifications (Essential)

• Current NMC Registration Mental Health Nurse
• Post‑registration qualification in Mental Health
• Educated to postgraduate diploma/degree level or equivalent experience
• Management certificate or training
• Extensive experience in mental health nursing within a hospital setting

Person Specification – Desirable

• NMC Registered Adult Nurse
• Recognised teaching or assessing qualification
• Project Management Experience

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here: Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer Details

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Kings College Hospital

Denmark Hill

Camberwell

SE59RS

Website: https://www.kch.nhs.uk/

Job Details

Date posted: 07 November 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8a

Salary: £64,156 to £71,148 a year per annum inc HCA's

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 6 months

Working pattern: Full‑time

Reference number: 213‑CORP‑7589641

Job location: Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, Camberwell, SE59RS