Job overview Teign Ward is a 12 bedded female blended inpatient ward with Medium and Low Secure service users. The Charge Nurse role is a key member of the in-patient multidisciplinary team. Charge Nurses are expected to provide clear clinical leadership and supervision of junior staff and trainees whilst working with service users and their families, friends and carers to help make a difference to the experience of those using our services by: Demonstrating kindness, respect and compassion through the delivery of confident and competent nursing. Helping to keep people safe through effective risk assessment and good clinical decision making. Helping to develop coproduced plans of care, which are personalised and responsive to people's needs. Providing health promotion and education information to service users and carers. Undertaking effective treatment supported and delivered in line with current legislation, standards and evidence-based guidance. Providing supervision and mentoring to other staff and students. Being part of the AWP vision to provide high quality care. In addition to these key tasks, the Charge Nurse is expected to provide clinical and managerial leadership to nursing and support staff, and ensure the effective running of the inpatient setting in the absence of the Ward Manager. Main duties of the job To carry out clinical nursing practice within designated areas, working to provide high quality, evidence-based nursing assessment, care planning, intervention and evaluation. To maintain and develop professional knowledge, skills and expertise to ensure that practice reflects best practice, remains evidence based, is current and responsive to the changing service user and NHS service needs. To provide clinical leadership for colleagues and external professionals at all levels. Making the best use of resources to ensure the delivery of high-quality care. Follow Trust policies in relation to the security of the building and service users to ensure safe practice and protection of service users, staff, visitors and members of the public. To maintain standards of record keeping and associated administration in accordance with AWP Trust Policy and professional guidelines. Working for our organisation We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care. We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset. Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care. At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger. Detailed job description and main responsibilities Clinical Nursing Practice To carry out clinical nursing practice within designated areas, working to provide high quality, evidence-based nursing assessment, care planning, intervention and evaluation. This will include: Utilising excellent communication skills to develop a rapport to be able to provide and receive complex sensitive confidential information including distressing or emotional circumstances. Recognising the potential barriers to communication and practicing with empathy, reassurance and understanding. Undertaking complex comprehensive nursing assessments using analytical and judgement skills on a range of problems requiring investigation. Collaboratively undertaking clinical risk assessments and developing and supporting personal safety plans and crisis and contingency planning with the service user, and where appropriate carers and families. Using professional, clinical knowledge acquired through training to degree/diploma level, supplemented by specialist clinical training and current practice-based evidence to plan and organise provision of care. Planning appropriate care and treatment interventions alongside colleagues, service users and where appropriate carers and families. Providing specialist advice in relation to care to service users and where appropriate carers and families. Delivering a range of psychosocially informed nursing therapies in accordance with service user's care plans, needs and preferences. Organising complex interventions requiring formulation of need and risk. Demonstrating highly developed nursing skills obtained through practice, understanding the importance of accuracy and a narrow margin for error. Demonstrating a commitment to reducing restrictive practice whilst supporting challenging behaviour and verbal aggression. Delivery of restrictive interventions within Trust and legislative guidance, requiring a varying level of physical effort. Administering appropriate medication within relevant Trust and legislative guidance, by different routes including injectable medicines. Ensuring the ordering, storing and disposal of medication complies with relevant Trust and legislative guidance. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the key elements of the relevant Mental Health Legislation. Collaboratively evaluating the impact and effectiveness of care and working to improve these outcomes. Supervising the practice of less experienced and newly qualified practitioners, student nurses or support worker colleagues. Leading clinical meetings to support the service users journey through the care pathway, proactively identifying and overcoming barriers to discharge. Continuing Professional Development To maintain and develop professional knowledge, skills and expertise to ensure that practice reflects best practice, remains evidence based, is current and responsive to the changing service user and NHS service needs. This will include: Taking responsibility for post-registration education and for continuing professional development as outlined in NMC standards. Participating in education and training opportunities. Undertaking a thorough revalidation process in line with NMC and AWP policy. Maintaining up to date knowledge of the relevant medicines, related medication management issues and act in accordance with the appropriate NMC standards and Trust guidance. Abiding by the legal rules, statutory regulations and professional responsibilities relation to practice as outlined in the NMC code of conduct. Receiving restorative clinical supervision on a regular basis in line with the Trust clinical supervision policy. Engaging in management supervision from an identified line manager, or appropriate delegate in line with the Trust management supervision policy. Engaging with Trust appraisal process in line with policy. Maintaining Health and Safety in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974). Working within the Trust Policies and Procedures. Education, Development and Collaborative Learning To work towards a sustainable culture of continuous collaborative learning to keep own practice clinically current, and to foster a team learning ethos. This will include: Support effective learning environments by upholding the NHSE Safe Learning Environment Charter principals. Modelling nursing skills and promoting the value of clinical nursing to modern mental healthcare at any opportunity including demonstrating own activities to new starters, less experienced practitioners and students. Providing advice, mentoring and supervision (both management and clinical) for colleagues. Acting as a Practice Supervisor / Practice Assessor for a range of learners and provide robust practice development and assessment experiences. Support other registrants to undertake a thorough revalidation process in line with NMC and AWP policy. Recording, Reporting and Communication To maintain standards of record keeping and associated administration in accordance with AWP Trust Policy and professional guidelines. This will include: Keeping contemporaneous, chronological and accurate mental health records in accordance with NMC guidelines and Trust policy. Adhere to and role model effective records management in line with Trust policies and procedures. Practice within the legal requirements relevant to the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Legislation. Taking part in a rolling programme of audit. Participate in relevant practice development, Quality Improvement and/or research activity relevant to practice area. Compassionate Leadership and Management To provide clinical leadership for colleagues and external professionals at all levels. Making the best use of resources to ensure the delivery of high-quality care. Follow Trust policies in relation to the security of the building and service users to ensure safe practice and protection of service users, staff, visitors and members of the public. This will include: Fulfilling Nurse in Charge role as per AWP guidance. Demonstrating effective and appropriate delegation of duties. Using own skills, knowledge and resources to provide clinical leadership for all members of the MDT. Effectively managing both own time and that of junior staff and students. Deputising for the ward manager in their absence which will include short term roster management. Undertaking discharge planning involving the coordination of external organisations. Providing supervision for unregistered practitioners and junior registered nurses in accordance with Trust management and clinical supervision policies. Contribute to the management and development of junior staff through the delivery of clinical teaching. Providing appraisals for junior staff in line with Trust appraisal policy. Maintaining the safety of service users and staff within the inpatient setting and ensure legal obligations are fulfilled. Having an understanding of any identified environmental risks and their mitigation plans. Taking part in environmental risk assessments as requested. Demonstrating safe staffing through the effective use of the electronic rostering system. Managing temporary staffing resources in line with AWP guidance. Being familiar with and complying with all Policies and Procedures operational within the Trust. Contributing to policy and practice changes arising from learning from experience opportunities i.e audit, complaints, SUI. Maintaining stock control and a personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources. Person specification Shortlisting Essential criteria NMC Registered Mental Health Nurse with current registration Substantial experience at Band 5 Completed a relevant course on teaching and assessing in clinical practice or equivalent. Desirable criteria Previous Band 6 experience Experience of working in acute Relevant specialist CPD qualification Qualifications Essential criteria Significant experience of working with people who experience mental health difficulties Completed a relevant course on teaching and assessing in clinical practice or equivalent Desirable criteria Post-graduate qualification in nursing or related discipline We are proud to be fostering a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. A key commitment to this is improving staff representation from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, those from the LGBTQ communities, people with 'lived-experience' of mental health conditions and people living with disabilities,- we are a 'Disability Confident Employer' offering a guaranteed interview to Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. This includes people with a variety of disabilities and neurodivergent conditions (for example autism, ADHD, sensory, physical and learning disabilities). We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service users. Click here to view our