Mental Health Nurse - Occupational Health

North East Ambulance Service; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare trust in Gateshead is seeking a Staff Mental Health Advisor to provide mental health support for its employees. The ideal candidate will be a Registered Mental Health Nurse with clinical expertise, able to deliver comprehensive assessments and support peer initiatives. Responsibilities include conducting wellbeing check-ins, facilitating group support, and collaborating with teams to enhance the mental health culture within the organization. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on staff wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Experience providing mental health support in healthcare or workplace settings.
• Understanding of common mental health conditions and workplace stress.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage a caseload.

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based mental health assessments for staff.
• Facilitate departmental peer support groups.
• Collaborate with Occupational Health to support staff with absence.

Skills

Mental health assessment

Communication skills

Case management

Risk assessment

Psychological support

Education

Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Electronic health records

Job description

Job overview

The Staff Mental Health Advisor will form part of the Occupational Health service, delivering proactive, accessible, and timely support for the mental health and wellbeing of NEAS staff.

Main duties of the job

This specialist role combines clinical expertise and practical workplace support to help staff manage stress, trauma exposure, and other psychological challenges associated with emergency service work. The postholder will work both autonomously and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to provide early intervention, prevention, and structured support for staff experiencing stress, burnout, or mental health-related absence.

The role includes six-monthly wellbeing check-ins, facilitation of peer support sessions, input into case management for recurrent or long-term absence, and co-creation of individualised mental health support plans with staff and managers. The postholder will also contribute to a positive wellbeing culture across the Trust and help reduce reliance on external providers where appropriate.

Working for your organisation

We employ 3,500 staff in 63 locations and serve a population of 2,600,000 in Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham, and Tees over 3230 square miles.

Many people think the job of the ambulance service is to collect patients and take them to hospital, but we do much more!

Paramedic skills have developed hugely in recent years, meaning we carry out more treatment at the scene and en‑route to hospital.

We have a dedicated clinical assessment service that allows us to provide patients with the most appropriate care from the beginning of the patient journey.

We have a specialised branch of the Trust called HART which deal with explosions or terrorist attacks.

Ultimately patients are the heart of everything that we do to support our mission of 'safe, effective and responsive care for all'.

We value and respect the diversity employees bring to our workplace. We recruit a workforce that reflects the community we serve, and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. To ensure we deliver on our aims in relation to diversity and inclusion we assess ourselves against a range of frameworks. We are ENEI Gold employer, Disability Confident Leader, Dementia Friendly, and part of Mind Blue Light programme and the Race at Work Charter from the Princes Responsible Business Network and are achieving across all objectives in NHS Equality Delivery System.

From 01/04/25 If your role needs a DBS you'll be subject to salary deduction totaling £49.50, spread over first and second pay.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Staff Wellbeing Support

• Deliver comprehensive, evidence‑based mental health assessments for staff presenting with psychological concerns.
• Provide clear, clinically informed advice on fitness for work, return‑to‑work planning, and reasonable adjustments.
• Undertake risk assessments for individuals affected by stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions.
• Provide brief interventions, psychoeducation, and emotional support within scope of practice.
• Conduct confidential one‑to‑one wellbeing check‑ins focused on early identification of stress, trauma exposure, and emerging mental health concerns.
• Co‑produce personalised Mental Health Support Plans outlining triggers, coping strategies, and support preferences.
• Support staff during return‑to‑work processes following mental health‑related absence.

2. Peer Support and Group Interventions

• Facilitate or co‑facilitate departmental peer support groups and reflective practice sessions.
• Promote wellbeing initiatives and creative engagement approaches to support staff connection and psychological health.

3. Case Management and Absence Support

• Collaborate with Occupational Health and managers to support staff with recurrent or long‑term absence.
• Maintain accurate, confidential records of support provided, in line with GDPR and NHS policy.

4. Collaborative Working

• Build effective relationships with managers, HR, and staff‑side representatives to coordinate appropriate support for staff.
• Liaise with external providers when specialist or therapeutic input is required, ensuring timely and cost‑effective referrals.

5. Education and Promotion

• Contribute to staff training and awareness sessions on wellbeing, stress management, and early help‑seeking.
• Promote mental health resources and internal wellbeing services across the organisation.

6. Governance and Professional Standards

Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality at all times.

• Engage in regular clinical supervision and continuous professional development.
• Keep up to date with best practice in workplace mental health and occupational health support.

Knowledge, Training and Experience Required

Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) with valid NMC registration.

• Experience providing mental health support in a healthcare or workplace setting.
• Understanding of common mental health conditions, workplace stress, and effective coping strategies.
• Knowledge of trauma‑informed approaches to workplace wellbeing.
• Ability to work autonomously, manage a caseload, and make sound clinical judgments within scope of practice.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage with staff at all levels.
• Experience of record‑keeping and report writing in line with professional standards.
• Competence in basic IT systems (e.g., Microsoft Office, electronic health records).

Desirable:

• Training in psychoeducation‑based interventions or wellbeing‑focused approaches.
• Experience within occupational health, absence management, or NHS ambulance services.
• Experience delivering training, workshops, or group wellbeing sessions.
• Knowledge of NHS Workforce Plan priorities and CQC wellbeing standards.

Effort and Working Conditions

• Regular use of computer systems for record‑keeping and communication.
• Frequent periods of concentration for assessments, report writing, and data analysis.
• Occasional exposure to distressing or emotional situations when supporting staff experiencing psychological distress or trauma.
• Travel required across NEAS sites; flexibility in working hours may occasionally be necessary to meet service needs.

For further details / informal visits contact:

Name: Vicki Wright

Job title: Head of Staff Experience and Occupational Health

Email address: [e-mail]

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Maximum score 5

• Registered mental health nurse