Job overview
Join a dedicated and compassionate team committed to delivering exceptional care for children, young people, and their families and carers.
We are excited to announce vacancies for Ward Manager positions at Bethlem Adolescent Unit, offered as a fixed-term or secondment opportunity. The BAU support young people aged 12 to 18 from across South London and beyond, often caring for some of the most vulnerable individuals in need of intensive mental health support.
This is a unique and rewarding opportunity to take a leading role within an innovative multidisciplinary team. The successful candidates will help shape best practice, influence patient care strategies, and make a lasting impact on service delivery. If you're passionate about driving excellence and pioneering new approaches in adolescent mental health, we would love to hear from you.
We are proud to offer high staff-to-patient ratios and a well-established MDT committed to holistic care. Our nursing team plays a central role in leading the units and supporting young people on their recovery journey. We're looking for motivated and dynamic Ward Manager who are ready to lead with integrity, inspiring their teams through resilience, clinical expertise, and a calm, compassionate presence in challenging circumstances.
Main duties of the job
You must be a qualified RMN with experience of working in an in-patient mental health setting. You need to have an understanding of the challenges that face nurses caring for young people with mental health difficulties today and be able to demonstrate resilience and empathy. Most important to us is that you have a commitment and passion to want to lead an excellent service. In return you will be supported by an experienced MDT and colleagues within CAMHS.
Our senior nursing team offers a progressive and supportive environment to develop and mentor individuals by utilising in-house resources as well as strong links with external education providers and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IOPPN).
Working for our organisation
We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family. We want you to feel like you are part of a close knit team at SLaM. It’s important to us that you valued and appreciated and that are why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer
Some of our benefits are highlighted here:
· Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
· Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
· Career development, There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
· Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars
· Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites
· NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
· Be prepared to physically move between sites as needed.
· Ensure that they are fully aware of current developments and practice in their clinical area. Acknowledge their own limitations and discuss/identify their training and development needs with their line manager.
· Make effective use of supervision with their line manager on a regular and agreed basis.
· Be aware of the need to reflect on their practice both as clinician and manager.
· Manage their time efficiently.
· Be aware of and adhere to all Trust Policies and act as a role model to other staff.
· Meet the NMC’s requirements for Standards of Professional Practice, Code of Conduct and Post Registration and Practice (PREP) and Revalidation
· Recognise emotional and mental effort required to fulfil the post.
Person specification
Qualification
Essential criteria
1. Registered Nurse – Mental Health / Learning Disability
2. Degree or Equivalent experience
3. PSTS training
Desirable criteria
4. RGN
Experience
Essential criteria
5. Managing clinical practice at band 6 – some of which must be within an inpatient setting
6. Implementing and monitoring standards of care
7. Working in a multi-cultural environment and knowledge of methods to develop culturally sensitive practice
Desirable criteria
8. Working with different client groups and using a variety of models and approaches to care.
9. Staff performance management
Knowledge
Essential criteria
10. Clinical knowledge relevant to the service, including evidence based practice
11. Relevant legislation associated with Mental Health Care and CAMHS
12. The role and function of other organisations providing services to young people and their families / carers
Desirable criteria
13. Performance management procedures
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
14. Skills in developing and changing clinical practice
15. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
16. Ability to build and maintain high standards of professional links and communication channels with a variety of personnel and agencies
Desirable criteria
17. Ability to support, manage and advise the team through difficult and challenging situations
18. Ability to build and lead effectively, a large multi-skilled team
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
19. Recognition of own limitations, strengths and weaknesses and an ability to seek advice when necessary
20. Ability to gain easily the trust, confidence and respect of service users, their relatives and staff of a variety of levels and disciplines
21. Methodical approach to work with attention to detail
Desirable criteria
22. Ability to work changeable hours at short notice when necessary
23. Evidence of undertaking audit work