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Job summary

Main area
Mental Health
Grade
Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week (This post does not have weekends rostered as usual hours, there may be a rare request where weekend support is required due to high demand. Unsocial hours payments would be available. Occasional optional weekend bank shifts might also be available. Full Time or Part Time / Flexible working hours may be considered)
Job ref
180-F-257090
Employer
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Addenbrookes Hospital-Corporate
Town
Cambridge
Salary
£46,148 - £52,809 p.a. pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/06/2025 23:59
Interview date
26/06/2025

Employer heading

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist

Band 7

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Mental Health Nurse to help lead the development of our mental health strategy at Cambridge University Hospitals. This role supports clinical leadership and service transformation, enabling you to make a meaningful impact on patient care in an acute hospital setting.

You should have prior experience in service improvement and working collaboratively with diverse health partners. This position allows you to integrate mental health expertise within acute care, delivering holistic, safe and compassionate support to patients. A key aspect involves supporting staff in managing mental health challenges across clinical areas. Education and training are also central to the role; you'll deliver regular sessions and help shape CUH’s mental health education programme. You’ll enhance staff confidence and knowledge in supporting patients facing mental health difficulties. This is a dynamic and rewarding role offering variety and growth, alongside a supportive, experienced team. Initiative is welcomed, aligning with our goal to provide the best patient care.

While weekend shifts are not routinely rostered, occasional support may be requested during high demand periods, with unsocial hours payments applicable. Optional weekend bank shifts may also be available.

Main duties of the job

The post is based at Cambridge University Hospitals, Addenbrookes as part of the Mental Health Team and aims to promote safe and effective mental health care.

To maintain a visible and engaged professional presence throughout the hospital departments and services.

Support and advise the workforce in the management and care of patients with mental health challenges.

Contribute to multidisciplinary decision making regarding patient care.

To promote and contribute to collaborative working with other departments, services and agencies, including other mental health services internal and external to the hospital.

Actively contribute to the delivery and development of the mental health education programme for CUH staff.

Contribute to service developments in line with national policies and drivers including the 10 year plan promoting mental health care.

Liaising with mental health providers to support transfers of care to appropriate care pathways.

Working for our organisation

Come Nurse with us…

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the country. It comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital. We provide accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge and regional and national specialist services. It’s a great place to nurse, work and live. 

You will work on a vibrant hospital campus with a friendly community feel; we have excellent facilities to practise your skills and abilities to support your career pathway and development. Our values of Together – Safe, Kind, Excellent support the delivery of outstanding care. We have a fully electronic patient record system that is improving health-care quality; this is transforming services, improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?

• Our values and reputation for outstanding care
• Opportunities to experience a range of specialities
• Career and development opportunities
• Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team
• Research experience and opportunities
• Lovely location and quality of life
• Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
-    applied for a Graduate visa
-    or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
-    or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment

If you require sponsorship for a Visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check you are not applying from a Red list country - Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

This vacancy will close at midnight on 12 June 2025

Interviews are due to be held on 26 June 2025

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff. 

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Current and relevant registration on NMC Register (RMN)
  • Additional clinical qualification
  • Evidence of continuous professional development
  • Management training
Desirable criteria
  • Relevant post graduate qualification
  • Dual qualified
  • Educated to degree level
  • Relevant general nursing experience

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Substantial experience of managing a ward/ unit
  • Success in working collaboratively across professions and services
  • Demonstrable success in managing change
  • Introduced evidence based practice
Desirable criteria
  • Research experience
  • Audit experience

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Clinical practice and demonstrable knowledge of developments in mental health nursing policy and practice
  • Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and Essence of Care
  • Clinical Governance
  • The NHS Plan and delivery ‘Making a Difference’
  • The importance of successful partnership working
  • An understanding of the importance of user involvement in health services
  • Principles of lifelong learning
  • Professional education and training
  • Workforce planning, recruitment and retention

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to lead and motivate and empower others
  • Highly developed communication skills including: o Inter-personal skills o Liaison and negotiation skills o Writing and presentation skills
  • Advising and influencing senior managers in relation to risk management and quality improvement
  • Developing and implementing policies, guidelines and projects form initiation to completion
  • Computer literacy
  • Ability to prioritise work, meet tight deadlines and work independently
  • Effective team worker

Additional Requirements

Essential criteria
  • A commitment to excellence in relation to standards of clinical care
  • Willingness to work anywhere in the Trust and to travel, on occasions within the region and nationally
  • Ability to work flexible hours
  • The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of kind, safe and excellent.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDVeteran AwareNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Age-Friendly Employer PledgeCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.NHS Rainbow badgeTime to changeStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthApprenticeships Top 100 Employers 2024

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
Kevin Rowland
Job title
CUH Lead for Mental Health
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07842618943
Additional information

Please do not hesitate to get in touch for an informal discussion or to arrange an informal visit.

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