Job overview
About the Role
South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dynamic and experienced Band 7 Physical Health Nurse to lead the Forensic Directorate Physical Health Team. This role is mainly based at River House, Bethlem Royal Hospital, a modern, purpose-built environment designed to support high-quality care and collaborative working.
This pivotal role combines advanced clinical practice with operational leadership to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care for individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) across eight inpatient wards and five community services, including Forensic Integrated Psychological Therapy Team (FIPTS).
You will join a dedicated multidisciplinary team that values professionalism, compassion, and innovation. Our culture is built on respect, inclusivity, and continuous improvement, creating an atmosphere where staff are empowered to lead change and deliver outstanding care. Working within the Forensic Directorate means being part of a supportive network of Matrons, Consultants, Service Managers, and allied professionals who share a commitment to excellence and patient safety.
You will play a key role in shaping physical health provision, driving service development, and ensuring compliance with national standards and the Trust’s Physical Health Strategy.
Main duties of the job
Main Duties of the Role Include (but are not limited to):
1. Deliver expert physical health assessments, interventions, and ongoing monitoring for individuals with Serious Mental Illness in forensic settings.
2. Lead and coordinate physical health services across inpatient and community pathways, ensuring consistent, high-quality standards of care.
3. Oversee the GP suite operations and establish physical health clinics within community teams.
4. Maintain accurate clinical records and produce performance reports using digital systems and dashboards.
5. Manage staff and patient vaccination programs and ensure compliance with Infection Prevention and Control policies.
6. Drive quality improvement initiatives, service development, and clinical governance activities.
7. Provide training, supervision, and professional development for staff and trainees to embed physical health competence across the workforce.
8. Build strong relationships with service users, carers, and external partners to improve access to physical healthcare.
9. Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of care delivery.
The role requires close collaboration with senior clinical and operational leaders, external healthcare providers, and internal Trust teams such as digital and analytics, IPC, and medical devices governance. Working together, you will ensure safe, compliant, and data-driven physical health services that meet the needs of forensic patients and support the Trust’s commitment to excellence in care.
Working for our organisation
Why Join Us?
Working in our Forensic Services offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference in a challenging yet rewarding environment. You’ll benefit from strong team support, access to professional development, and the chance to work in a service that values innovation, collaboration, and compassionate care.
About You
10. Registered Nurse (RGN/RMN) with post-graduate training in physical health assessment and management.
11. Significant clinical experience in acute or forensic settings.
12. Strong leadership, data analysis, and quality improvement skills.
13. Excellent communication and ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Clinical Expert Practice
14. Provide advanced assessment, investigations, and interventions for people with SMI in forensic settings, ensuring care is evidence-based and trauma-informed.
15. Deliver timely physical health screening, monitoring, and treatment, including long-term condition management and equitable access to primary/secondary care.
16. Act as a physical health specialist, supporting diagnosis, treatment planning, and prescribing (where qualified).
17. Provide specialist interventions (e.g., complex wound care, catheter care) and respond to early signs of deterioration.
18. Promote sexual and reproductive health through screening and referral pathways.
Operational Leadership
19. Lead the physical health agenda across inpatient and community forensic pathways.
20. Oversee GP suite operations and establish physical health clinics within CMHTs.
21. Support medical devices governance and compliance.
Digital, Data & Reporting
22. Maintain accurate clinical records and manage scheduling, referrals, and DNA follow-up.
23. Design and maintain physical health monitoring systems; produce performance reports and dashboards.
Vaccination & IPC
24. Coordinate staff and patient vaccination programs and ensure compliance with IPC policies.
Quality Improvement & Governance
25. Lead QI projects, audits, and pathway redesign; maintain protocols and risk assessments.
26. Manage contracts with external providers and oversee resources.
Education & Workforce Development
27. Deliver training, supervision, and professional development for staff and trainees.
Stakeholder Engagement & EDI
28. Build strong relationships with service users, carers, and external partners.
29. Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of care delivery.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
30. First level nursing qualification-registration or Dual Registration (RMN, RGN)
31. Post-graduate training and experience in the assessment and management of physical health conditions.
Desirable criteria
32. Clinical Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor training (NMC 2018)
Experience
Essential criteria
33. Significant post‑qualification RGN experience in acute inpatient settings or equivalent.
34. Experience working as a Registered Nurse/care coordinator/community practitioner; collaborative MDT working to assess, plan and implement car
35. Clinical governance and audit
36. Experience of providing clinical supervision and appraisal in a clinical setting.
37. Experience of working independently without supervision and develop work plans that improve clinical delivery
Desirable criteria
38. Experience of assessment and treatment of people with SMI and co‑morbid physical health conditions.
39. Demonstrable leadership in QI/service development and compliance reporting (e.g., dashboards, board reports).
40. Experience teaching / training others.
Knowledge / Skills
Essential criteria
41. Strong working knowledge of diabetes, hypertension, delirium, wound care and Desirable Requirements Phlebotomy qualification and current skill infection (including sepsis); risk assessment and clinical judgement.
42. Understanding of aggravating/ maintaining factors in physical health with comorbid mental disorders; safeguarding children & vulnerable adults; confidentiality/information sharing.
43. Excellent written and verbal communication; time management; digital literacy and data entry across clinical systems (e.g., ePJS).
44. Ability to interpret, analyze and present data for governance and performance monitoring; apply NICE guidance and evidence‑based practice.
45. Leadership and change‑management skills; effective MDT working in complex, changing environments.
Desirable criteria
46. Phlebotomy qualification and current skill
47. Advanced clinical Skills
48. Ability to work as part of a team offering support to those with different professional backgrounds
49. Knowledge of relevant research and its application to assessment, treatment and case management.
50. Research informed and evidencebased methods of assessment, treatment and case management.