Job overview
Open to internal applicants only
Exciting opportunity for an experienced registered adult or mental health nurse to join our team of specialist nurses supporting patients with a formal or informal dementia diagnosis. Based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton and the Princess Royal Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath.
Enjoy a fantastic work‑life balance on the South Coast, with Brighton’s vibrant seaside culture, great transport links, and welcoming community alongside Haywards Heath’s green spaces, strong commuter connections, and friendly town feel. Together, they offer the perfect blend of coastal living, career convenience, and a supportive place to live and work.
Main duties of the job
• To support patients with a formal or informal diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment at all stages of the disease process.
• To support patients presenting with delirium. To provide education & expertise to ward staff, family members and carers.
• Work as an autonomous practitioner, liaising with all members of the multidisciplinary teams to provide clinical expertise, emotional & psychological support and education to staff, patients and their carers.
• The provision of dedicated dementia education to the Trust.
• To facilitate evidence based best practice. To work in an innovative and flexible way to be able to adapt to a developing and evolving service.
• Effective relationships with external services and providers.
• To support development and line management of dementia team members- Dementia Nurses, Dementia Nurse Associate, Dementia Technician.
• To deputise with clinical expertise in the absence of the Head of Nursing for Mental Health and Dementia.
• Provide support for volunteers working with patients living with Dementia/ cognitive impairment
• Act in capacity of Practice Assessor and Practice supervisor for students (pre and post-graduate/ registration) allocated to the dementia team for placement.
• Support students of all disciplines for SPOKE experience/ learning
• Providing expertise/ support for patients with delirium (with/ without diagnosis of dementia)
• Using expertise to support dementia team staff across the Trust
Working for our organisation
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Candidate Pack
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• Effective communication and development of a therapeutic relationship to ensure support for diversity and inclusion.
• Role modelling for effective care/ treatment interventions.
• To provide advice and education for patients, carers and health care professionals.
• Maintain a knowledge base that reflects contemporary issues in Dementia to be able to autonomously select and apply the most appropriate treatment regime.
• Work closely and network with other nurses / health professional specialists to share practice and provide a uniformly high standard of evidence-based practice and care.
• Assess, develop, implement and evaluate individualised plans of care/ formulations involving, carers, relatives.
• To assess patients presenting with delirium.
• Identification of the components of delirium, recommendation of interventions to address reversible components and review. The support of family/ carers and
education to avoid recurrence.
• To provide support and navigation to patients and carer to anticipate and meet needs.
• Act in an advocacy role and identify needs for support and legal frameworks to meet capacity needs.
• Provide support and navigation when a safeguarding referral is required/ made.
• Effective communication and intervention to ensure appropriate and timely flow through the hospital.
• Support discharge to ensure best practice to avoid unnecessary re-admission.
• To provide leadership and intervention for patients with complex needs within the trust environment.
• Implementation and development of Trust Strategy for Dementia
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria.
Person specification
Professional Registration
Essential criteria
1. Registered Adult or Mental Health Nurse
Qualifications and Experience
Essential criteria
2. Teaching and assessing/ mentorship qualification
3. To have post graduate qualification in Dementia
4. Evidence of academic development at Level 7.
5. Significant post registration advanced nursing experience in area of specialism- recent relevant experience at Band 6 or above.
6. Demonstrate evidence-based practice
7. Evidence of clinical skills and abilities relevant to role of a nurse with experience in patient’s living with dementia and their carers.
8. Understanding of relevant government papers and recent advances in dementia research
9. Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults
Skills
Essential criteria
10. Evidence of autonomous decision making
11. Experienced in problem solving
12. Able to manage own caseload
13. Able to prioritise and manage a range of tasks and duties with competing demands
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Essential criteria
14. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
15. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications