Deputy Ward Manager (Ward 1)

Job overview

Ward 1 is a 13 bedded male Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit based at Springfield Hospital providing 24-hour care for adults aged 18-75 years old who are acutely unwell and who are deemed to present as too high risk to be managed on an acute admission ward. We aim to ensure that a service user should be treated within the least restrictive environment as possible. Care and treatment offered is patient-centred, multidisciplinary, intensive, comprehensive, and collaborative.

In 2022, the ward had some improvement work done to improve patient intervention and recovery. In addition, to the existing structure, ward 1 now has a de-escalation room, sensory room, and extra care suite to cater for the needs of clients.

Main duties of the job

If you are a forward thinking experienced band 5 nurse ready to develop your clinical and managerial skills further or a seasoned band 6 expert, this is an exciting opportunity to consider. We are looking for someone who is clinically competent with the appropriate skills to lead a diverse and experienced team. The successful candidate will be able to develop a positive team atmosphere through hard work, calmness, tolerance and consistency. They will be able to develop their management skills, build the staff rota, manage staff sickness, supervise junior staff and cover in the absence of the ward manager. They will lead on quality improvement initiatives and support a culture of reflection and learning.  Lastly the candidate will be able to mentor, counsel, coach and generally support those who are not confident in the clinical environment, building morale and self-esteem and generally encouraging others to give their best performance.

It is important that you understand multidisciplinary team working, leadership, risk management and the challenges that face people with acute mental health problems. You will be passionate about mental health, believe in the recovery model and our Trust values, and work collaboratively with service users and their families. You will also demonstrate a commitment to learning and keeping yourself abreast with local and national services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Deputy Nursing Team Leader/Clinical Charge Nurse/Community Psychiatric Nurse/Practice Development Nurse role is suitable for Registered Nurses who have successfully completed preceptorship and have registered as an approved NMC mentor.

The post holder will deliver, or advise on the delivery of, high quality safe nursing care, ensuring consistently high standards of practice and clinical excellence which comply with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code of professional conduct.

As a Deputy Nursing Team Leader/Clinical Charge Nurse/Community Psychiatric Nurse/Practice Development Nurse you will promote and develop clinical leadership and clinical practice and be a positive role model to junior members of the team through the practice of evidence-based care. You will be expected to support professional development through clinical appraisal and supervision and contribute to the ongoing educational programme for staff, fostering a positive learning environment.

Your professional and personal development will include further postgraduate study and you will be encouraged and supported by your line manager to undertake Master’s programmes.