Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity for staff to build upon existing skills and gain experience in a role combining mental health in an acute hospital setting.

These posts are unique across acute trusts and are newly developed, meaning successful applicants will be   contributing to the development, implementation and embedding of the role within the acute setting, providing a different perspective and breadth of experience typically found in mental health posts. Staff will be supported by an established mental health leadership team.

Opportunities to develop and further learning and skills within the role are encouraged to promote staff to develop advanced specialist clinical expertise within the scope of the role.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide specialist clinical mental health nursing triage, assessment and engagement within the acute hospital setting. The post holder will primarily be based in the emergency department, however during periods where the ED does not require Mental Health Specialist nurses but other clinical areas such as the wards do require support from enhanced care nurses the expectation is that staff will be deployed to the areas with the greatest demand for their skills.

Specialist nurses will be expected to deliver expert high-quality, compassionate and evidence-based care to patients experiencing mental health difficulties, behavioural distress, cognitive impairment, emotional crisis, self-harm risk, psychological trauma, or complex mental health needs alongside physical illness using a range of skills to engage, stimulate/de-escalate patients requiring additional support to stay safe in the hospital.

The role combines direct therapeutic patient-centred care, day-to-day operational oversight, risk management, and staff support to ensure safe, and responsive across acute clinical areas. The primary base is the Emergency Department, but depending on demand and patient needs, the post holder may be redeployed to the acute wards or paediatrics at the discretion of the Trust Mental Health Team/ED Matron/ED Nurse in charge/CSP team.

Working for our organisation

The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute Hospital in the London Borough of Hillingdon and offers a wide range of services including accident and emergency, inpatient care, day surgery, outpatient clinics and maternity services. The Trust’s services at Mount Vernon Hospital include routine day surgery, delivered at a modern treatment centre, a minor injuries unit and outpatient clinics.

The safety and well-being of our patients and of our staff is paramount and we are making urgent improvements to address this – particularly in infection prevention and control. We are making progress and going forward by working in partnership with local GPs, charities,
community services, academic partners, our local authority, neighbouring hospitals and the wider North West London Integrated care system, and ensuring that we listen and work in partnership with our local population. We are absolutely focused on ensuring that our hospitals
provide high quality, safe and compassionate care, while drive forward the building of the new Hillingdon Hospital.

We have over 3,500 members of staff that are proud to care for nearly half a million people, with a vision to be an outstanding provider of healthcare through leading health and academic partnerships, transforming services, to provide the best care where needed.

Please note :  Once a sufficient number of applications have been received the vacancy may be closed prior to the published closing down date.