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Job summary

Main area
Mental Health
Grade
Band 8a
Contract
12 months (Fixed term contract for external candidates. Secondment opportunity for internal candidates.)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
364-A-9205
Employer
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
The Linden Centre
Town
Chelmsford, Essex
Salary
£55,690 - £62,682 Per Annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/08/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Matron

Band 8a

Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk. 

We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.

You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive. 

The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.

We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years. 

We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.

We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.  

Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.

Job overview

An exciting 12 months fixed term/secondment opportunity has arisen in EPUT.  We are in the position to recruit a Matron – Inpatients Mental Health covering adult acute wards and a PICU ward, Chelmsford.

The successful candidate will be a competent practitioner with a proven record of leadership skills as a Band 7 nurse and able to take responsibility for the overseeing of assessments of care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care for clients with mental health needs for the adult inpatient service. 

Main duties of the job

You will be able to demonstrate:

  • Excellent risk assessment skills
  • Communicate effectively, both written and verbally
  • Demonstrate compassion, understanding, commitment, enthusiasm and above all be highly motivated
  • The candidate will have a high level knowledge of CQC requirements and have a philosophy of the 6 C’s of care
  • Active participation will be required in the training and education of learners allocated to the Mental Health Service, and to encourage integration between the Ward Team and Crisis Services
  • The successful candidate will deliver the highest quality care for patients with acute mental health issues; with a positive attitude and a commitment to maintain EPUT’s excellent customer care
  • We are looking for people who can bring commitment and fresh ideas, and determination to take forward our service in new and innovative ways; in return we offer training and development of staff, support through regular supervision and appraisal to assist you in setting realistic objectives.

Working for our organisation

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

  • Season Ticket Loans
  • NHS discounts for staff
  • Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
  • Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
  • The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
  • Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
  • Day One Flexible Employer

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

 

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible to the Service Manager of Adult Inpatient Services.  The post holder will be responsible for the management of a clinical area, providing leadership, supporting staff and working collaboratively with Consultant Psychiatrists, other grades of medical staff, Allied Health Professionals and Social Work Practitioners to provide and deliver high quality and safe care. The post holder will demonstrate critical thinking in the clinical decision making process, including joint working with the Multi-Disciplinary Team to meet the needs of the patients and carers to ensure that they are working to EPUT Clinical Policies and Procedures/Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Practice and Standards.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • RMN or equivalent professional qualification
  • In-depth knowledge of in-patient mental health services
  • Master degree or equivalent level of experience
Desirable criteria
  • Qualification at degree level
  • Degree in management

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Extensive experience in leadership role
  • Experience in managing and resolving conflicts between professionals and teams
  • In depth knowledge of wider policy and service issues relating to mental health
  • Extensive knowledge and experience of Human Resources practice, policies and procedures.

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria
  • Ability to work under pressure and ability to contain and manage the stress of others and oneself
  • Ability to frequently sustain periods of prolonged concentration for data analysis, report writing etc.
  • Ability to balance competing priorities.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Essex Family Friendly Employers

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
Chloe Cawston
Job title
Service Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01245 315802
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