Job vacancy: Lead Nurse Mental Health, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London

Job summary

Main area: Mental Health Adult
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 8c
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 309-UCLH-6678

Employer: University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: University College London Hospital
Town: London
Salary: £85,431 - £97,148 Per annum inclusive of HCAS
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 20/08/2025 23:59

Lead Nurse Mental Health

NHS AfC: Band 8c

The use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it, then they are required to declare this in their supporting statement.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff – To find out more, visit: Flexible working. 

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential criteria

Registered Mental Health Nurse
Educated to Masters / MBA qualification or equivalent experience
Substantial evidence of continuing professional development
Leadership qualification

Desirable criteria

Project Management qualification (PRINCE2 or equivalent experience)

Experience

Essential criteria

Significant experience of operational management in a nursing leadership role at a senior level (matron or equivalent) in a large mental health organisation with a complex range of services.
Experience of leading and implementing effective, transformational change.
Experience of delivering projects to time in a complex organisation.
Experience of teaching, training and development and implementing evidence-based practice /nursing research in practice.
Experience of negotiating and presenting cohesive arguments.
Experience of managing competing priorities effectively within constrained timescales, using limited resources.
Experience of managing and leading a workforce and associated budgets.
Experience in analysing and resolving complex complaints and incidents.
Knowledge of public sector / NHS work structures.
Understanding of the principles and practice of governance, risk management, investigation and mitigation in the context of the NHS.

Desirable criteria

Experience of business case preparation, report writing and the development and monitoring of outcome and output measures.
delivering Trust wide professional nursing objectives.

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

Ability to manage complexity and risk whilst maintaining high standards of clinical and operational care.
Is a team player, but able to work independently.
Strong organisational ability and well-developed resource and staff management skills; able to forecast, plan, develop and manage unity capability in line with business plan and organisational vision
Proven ability to foster an organisational culture that is positive about change and committed to delivery of the strategic vision.
Ability to collaborate and work with a diverse range of stakeholders and effectively engage and influence, creating the conditions for successful partnership working.
Ability to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills to motivate and develop staff.

Communication

Essential criteria

Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to influence colleagues at a range of levels internally and externally.

Personal and People Development

Essential criteria

Demonstrate a commitment to openness, honesty and integrity.
Demonstrate credible, visible leadership and role-model excellence in nursing practice.
High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement and flexibility in approach and attitude.

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

Essential criteria

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties

Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by:

Essential criteria

Familiar with, and adhering to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control.
Completing all required training and education (both via e-learning and face to face) on infection prevention and control.
Including infection prevention and control as an integral part of your continuous personal/professional development and included in your annual appraisal
Taking personal responsibility so far as is reasonably practicable, in helping ensure that effective prevention and control of health care associated infections is embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently.

At UCLH, we have a real ‘One Team’ ethos, and our values – safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/work-with-us/why-choose-uclh/flexible-working.

We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on-site accommodation to name a few.

Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage’s staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.

We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.

We are also members of www.mytrustbenefits.co.uk/ which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.

Please note that if you are at present in a training position on the 2016 new junior doctor’s contract and are applying for a Trust doctor role your salary will not be pay protected.

You will be placed on the appropriate point of the Trust Doctor pay scale based on your previous experience.

Please note that if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date of the advert to assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

For further support on submitting an application please refer to the NLPSS Applicant Toolkit: https://royalfree.pagetiger.com/cuuomnr/1

London Living Wage is a voluntary commitment made by employers, who can become accredited with the Living Wage Foundation

Stonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: Natalie Holbery
Job title: Deputy Chief Nurse
Email address: [email protected]
Additional information: We encourage you to make contact to find out more about the role and arrange a visit/call. Please contact Natalie Holbery, Deputy Chief Nurse [email protected]

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Job summary

Employer heading

Lead Nurse Mental Health

NHS AfC: Band 8c

Job overview

Main duties of the job

Working for our organisation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Experience

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

Communication

Essential criteria

Personal and People Development

Essential criteria

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

Essential criteria

Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by:

Essential criteria

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

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