Mental Health Nurse

Essential

• Current professional qualification in Mental Health Nursing (RMN).
• Current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Mental Health Nurse
• Evidence of post-registration training and continuing professional development relevant to adult mental health.

Desirable

• Further training in psychosocial interventions for psychosis, such as psychoeducation, family interventions or motivational interviewing.
• Training in trauma-informed care, dual diagnosis or substance misuse.
• Additional training in physical health assessment, ECG recording or phlebotomy.

Essential

• Post-registration experience in multidisciplinary mental health services supporting adults with severe and enduring mental illness, particularly complex psychosis.
• Experience of community-based mental health practice, including autonomous working and managing complex presentations.
• Experience of engaging people who are reluctant to access services, repeatedly disengage or frequently use crisis and acute services
• Experience of assessing, planning, delivering and reviewing care for people with complex mental health and social needs.
• Experience of clinical risk assessment, formulation and management, including self-harm, self-neglect, violence and risks to others.
• Experience of recognising deterioration or relapse and responding appropriately to crisis, including escalation.
• Experience of working with service users, families and carers and coordinating care with health, social care, housing, supported living and other community agencies.
• Experience of working with people from diverse communities using recovery-focused and culturally responsive approaches.

Desirable

• Experience in Assertive Outreach, Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP), community rehabilitation, crisis or other intensive community mental health services
• Experience of joint working with police, ambulance, probation or other emergency and public protection services
• Experience of working with drug and alcohol services, homelessness services or supported accommodation providers.
• Experience of mentoring students or colleagues, or contributing to audit and quality improvement.

Essential

• Sound understanding of complex psychosis, its treatment, relapse prevention and impact on service users, families and carers.
• Knowledge of assertive outreach, community rehabilitation, recovery-focused practice and the Named Worker model.
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Section 117 aftercare and safeguarding responsibilities.
• Skills in mental health assessment, risk formulation, risk management and crisis and contingency planning, including risks of harm to others.
• Ability to recognise clinical deterioration, exercise independent professional judgement and seek advice or escalate when appropriate.
• Knowledge and skills in safe medicines management, including psychotropic medication, adherence, adverse effects and physical health monitoring, in line with NMC standards and Trust policy.
• Understanding of co-occurring substance use, social vulnerability and their impact on engagement and risk.
• Ability to build therapeutic relationships, work collaboratively with the MDT and communicate effectively with families, carers and external agencies.
• Good organisational skills, clear clinical report writing and accurate electronic record keeping, including RiO.

Desirable

• Awareness of forensic risk factors and Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).
• Knowledge of Community Treatment Orders and structured violence risk assessment approaches.
• Skills in psychosocial interventions for psychosis, dual diagnosis or trauma-informed care.
• Knowledge of NICE NG181 and the Trust CRS Operational Policy.

Essential

• Motivated, compassionate and non-judgemental, with a persistent and flexible approach to engagement.
• Able to develop and maintain positive relationships with service users, families, carers, colleagues and partner agencies.
• Resilient and able to remain calm and professional in challenging or unpredictable situations.
• Reliable, disciplined and accountable, with the initiative to work independently and collaboratively.
• Reflective, aware of professional boundaries and willing to seek support when needed.
• Committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and culturally sensitive care.