Physical Health Lead Nurse

NHS; Dawlish; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a forward-thinking physical health team in Devon, providing care for patients with complex needs. You will play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of care through innovative training and support for staff, ensuring the highest standards of physical health care. This role is perfect for a passionate and experienced individual looking to make a significant impact in a supportive environment. Join a dedicated team committed to improving the lives of patients and fostering a culture of inclusion and compassion.

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse or Registered General Nurse required.
• Experience in leadership roles and multi-disciplinary teams is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of physical health care to patients.
• Provide training and support to staff on physical health care.
• Ensure compliance with health care standards and guidelines.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical Supervision

Communication Skills

IT Skills

Risk Assessment

Education

Degree or Diploma in Nursing

MSc or BSc in Advanced Professional Practice

Tools

NEWS2

ECG Monitoring

Job description

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a forward-thinking and innovative physical health team caring for people in Devon some of whom will have had contact with the Criminal Justice System and require inpatient treatment for their mental health.

We are seeking an experienced, passionate and motivated individual to join the Physical Health Team for a full time 12 month fixed term / secondment opportunity.

You will have a key role in leading, developing and providing a novel approach to resolving the challenges of providing physical health care and advice for inpatients in the Secure Services Directorate.

You will be asked to provide physical health training to our staff team across the service, providing them with new skills and improving the care of our care patient group.

Your base will be at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish, a Forensic Inpatient Service caring for 75 patients across 5 wards, including medium and low security.

Main duties of the job

• You will be working alongside a multi-disciplinary team of Registered Mental Health Nurses, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Pharmacists, a Physiotherapist and a General Practitioner to lead the delivery of outstanding physical health care to the patient population.
• You will oversee Physical Health Leads working across the wards, supporting them to feel confident in promoting physical healthcare within their teams.
• You will be developing, implementing and delivering physical health training across the site, ensuring that staff feel confident and competent in providing outstanding physical health care.
• You will provide and support teams to complete regular physical health monitoring to our patient population, including ECG, NEWs2, vaccinations and venepuncture.
• You will support and lead the Physical Health Operational Group alongside the group Chair, maintaining effective governance and assurance structures to monitor physical health care across the Service.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Date posted

01 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9369-25-0351

Job locations

Langdon Hospital

Exeter Road

Dawlish

Devon

EX7 0NR

Job description Job responsibilities

Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.

• Deliver direct clinical care including physical health assessments and reviews for long-term conditions.
• Lead, support, and manage the Physical Health Nurse Associate, including task delegation and performance oversight.
• Organise and manage physical health clinics, follow-up appointments, and vaccination programmes.
• Triage internal referrals, escalating or signposting to appropriate services where necessary.
• Provide expert input at regular multidisciplinary meetings and contribute to care planning.
• Liaise with GPs, specialists, and wider healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated care.
• Review and act upon patient results and reports to inform clinical decision-making.
• Maintain oversight of emergency medical equipment to ensure readiness and compliance.
• Provide physical health training to staff and patients, including structured induction on NEWS2 and clinical escalation processes.
• Ensure accurate documentation and audit of all physical health interventions in accordance with Trust policies.

Job description Job responsibilities

Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.

• Deliver direct clinical care including physical health assessments and reviews for long-term conditions.
• Lead, support, and manage the Physical Health Nurse Associate, including task delegation and performance oversight.
• Organise and manage physical health clinics, follow-up appointments, and vaccination programmes.
• Triage internal referrals, escalating or signposting to appropriate services where necessary.
• Provide expert input at regular multidisciplinary meetings and contribute to care planning.
• Liaise with GPs, specialists, and wider healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated care.
• Review and act upon patient results and reports to inform clinical decision-making.
• Maintain oversight of emergency medical equipment to ensure readiness and compliance.
• Provide physical health training to staff and patients, including structured induction on NEWS2 and clinical escalation processes.
• Ensure accurate documentation and audit of all physical health interventions in accordance with Trust policies.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Degree level or Diploma qualification and professional registration as a Registered Mental Health Nurse or Registered General Nurse.
• MSc or BSc in Advanced Professional Practice or Nurse Practitioner or willingness to work towards this Nurse Prescriber qualification or willingness to work towards this. Evidence of Continuing Professional Development Qualification / training in medical monitoring / investigation interpretation, e.g. blood results, ECG (or a willingness to be trained in ECG interpretation).

Desirable

• Recognised management training and qualification or willingness to work toward it.
• Training to Level 4 in Safeguarding children, young people and adults: roles and competencies for Health Care staff.
• Experience of managing other staff.

Experience Essential

• Significant post registration with a good level of experience working in a leadership role.
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team Clinical supervision and mentoring experience to effectively manage own caseload and work flexibly to support service needs.

Desirable

• Experience of managing other staff.

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• Ability to identify, safeguarding issues and refer appropriately.
• Ability to liaise & offer specialised consultation & advice to other agencies.
• IT skills
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983 & 2005, Codes of Practice, Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberties Risk Assessment and Management.
• High level communication skills including: presentation and facilitation skills; consultation and engagement skills.
• An ability to adjust communication effectively to meet the needs of a diverse group including internal and external stakeholders.
• Good organisational and interpersonal skills, tact and sensitivity.
• Ability to gain trust.
• Ability to influence significant changes in service delivery through motivation and encouragement which may be highly complex and sensitive and include some barriers to understanding.
• Excellent leadership skills, able to motivate the team and lead change. Ability to contribute to the supervision and development of others. Confidence to deliver sometimes contentious and difficult messages to a broad range of stake holders.
• Able to comprehend and utilise experience within the team.
• Able to own problems and get involved in the solutions.
• Ability to manage risk and undertake risk assessments.
• Ability to analyse complex information, from both physical and mental health, and interpret to facilitate a management plan.
• Ability to produce effective care plans.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Degree level or Diploma qualification and professional registration as a Registered Mental Health Nurse or Registered General Nurse.
• MSc or BSc in Advanced Professional Practice or Nurse Practitioner or willingness to work towards this Nurse Prescriber qualification or willingness to work towards this. Evidence of Continuing Professional Development Qualification / training in medical monitoring / investigation interpretation, e.g. blood results, ECG (or a willingness to be trained in ECG interpretation).

Desirable

• Recognised management training and qualification or willingness to work toward it.
• Training to Level 4 in Safeguarding children, young people and adults: roles and competencies for Health Care staff.
• Experience of managing other staff.

Experience Essential

• Significant post registration with a good level of experience working in a leadership role.
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team Clinical supervision and mentoring experience to effectively manage own caseload and work flexibly to support service needs.

Desirable

• Experience of managing other staff.

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• Ability to identify, safeguarding issues and refer appropriately.
• Ability to liaise & offer specialised consultation & advice to other agencies.
• IT skills
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983 & 2005, Codes of Practice, Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberties Risk Assessment and Management.
• High level communication skills including: presentation and facilitation skills; consultation and engagement skills.
• An ability to adjust communication effectively to meet the needs of a diverse group including internal and external stakeholders.
• Good organisational and interpersonal skills, tact and sensitivity.
• Ability to gain trust.
• Ability to influence significant changes in service delivery through motivation and encouragement which may be highly complex and sensitive and include some barriers to understanding.
• Excellent leadership skills, able to motivate the team and lead change. Ability to contribute to the supervision and development of others. Confidence to deliver sometimes contentious and difficult messages to a broad range of stake holders.
• Able to comprehend and utilise experience within the team.
• Able to own problems and get involved in the solutions.
• Ability to manage risk and undertake risk assessments.
• Ability to analyse complex information, from both physical and mental health, and interpret to facilitate a management plan.
• Ability to produce effective care plans.

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 the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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 the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Langdon Hospital

Exeter Road

Dawlish

Devon

EX7 0NR

Employer's website

https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Langdon Hospital

Exeter Road

Dawlish

Devon

EX7 0NR

Employer's website

https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)