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Job summary

Main area
CAMHS
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract
Secondment: 12 months (or Fixed Term Contract until 30th June 2026)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
354-CS-21724
Employer
Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Highmore
Town
Flexible, base can be Lewes, Hailsham or Hastings
Salary
£55,690 - £62,682 pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
27/08/2025 08:00

Employer heading

Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust logo

East Sussex CAMHS Lead Nurse

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Come and join us

We're looking for people who share our values (compassion, accountability and optimism) to help us provide high quality care to the patients, carers, families and local communities we serve. We specialise in providing NHS mental health and learning disability services.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Lead Nurse to join our East Sussex Community CAMHS on a full-time basis. This exciting role, offered as a secondment or fixed-term contract until 30th June 2026, will form a key part of the service’s leadership team, providing clinical and professional leadership across the CAMHS nursing team. The successful applicant will bring a high level of clinical expertise, particularly in working with children and young people presenting with moderate to severe mental health needs, and will play a pivotal role in maintaining and enhancing high standards of care.

As Lead Nurse, you will offer professional and clinical supervision to nursing staff, contribute to service development, and work directly with young people experiencing high levels of complexity and acuity. You will be a visible, compassionate leader, supporting staff through a collaborative and trauma-informed approach, while ensuring safe and effective care pathways. This is a unique opportunity to influence and shape high-quality service delivery in a progressive and supportive team environment.

Main duties of the job

The Lead Nurse will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care across the community CAMHS pathways. You will lead on complex case discussions, contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings, and support clinical decision-making for young people presenting with high risk, acuity, or diagnostic complexity. Working closely with the Consultant Nurse, General Manager, and wider leadership team, you will contribute to service improvement initiatives and help embed clinical standards, governance processes, and best practice models across the service.

In addition to direct clinical work, the role includes oversight of professional development and clinical supervision for nursing staff, promoting a culture of continuous learning, reflective practice, and professional accountability. You will support the implementation of key priorities across CAMHS, such as reducing waiting times, improving care, and strengthening risk management processes. Your leadership will help foster a supportive and inclusive team environment where staff are empowered and young people receive safe, effective, and compassionate care.

Working for our organisation

We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex.

Working in Sussex:

  • Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns there’s always new experiences to be enjoyed
  • Embrace the city life with great access to visit Brighton and London
  • With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there is plenty of opportunity for adventure

We’d love you to join our organisation that is rated ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ for caring by the Care Quality Commission. Our staff agree, with 82% of people in our recent staff survey telling us that they recognise that care for patients is our top priority.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

REQUIREMENTS

  • Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
  • Significant experience of practice in CAMHS setting at band 7 or equivalent.
  • Proven record  of  innovation  and  evidence based practice development.
  • Experience of service development.
  • Wide knowledge of local and national policy
  • Up to date clinical knowledge and skills.
  • Evidence of advanced clinical skills

MAIN DUTIES

  • To provide professional and clinical nursing leadership across the service; to contribute to the development and review of the CAMHS Nursing Strategy and to lead on its delivery and review within the locality area.
  • To develop and deliver specialist training, education and development opportunities for nursing staff and, as agreed, others.
  • To lead within the service on promoting clinical innovation and delivering continual development of nursing practice based upon evidence and relevant research. To ensure excellence in nursing practice and that service delivery is based on NICE guidelines and other relevant documents and guidance.
  • To provide clinical leadership of CAMHS nurses. 

See attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Recognised professional qualification in Mental Health Nursing e.g. RMN or equivalent
  • Evidence of continued professional development
  • Appropriate leadership qualification or equivalent vocational experience
  • Educated to master's degree level or willingness to undertake appropriate training
Desirable criteria
  • Teaching qualification e.g. ENB 998

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Significant experience of practice in CAMHS setting at Band 7 or equivalent
  • Proven record of innovation and evidence based practice development
  • Up to date clinical knowledge and advanced skills
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of using the THRIVE model

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Good interpersonal skills, able to negotiate, professional compassionate and well-mannered
  • Skills for analysis of service, patient/client, organisational and staffing issues
  • Ability to plan and organise a broad range of complex activities, formulate or adjust plans or strategies
  • IT literate

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardStep into healthPride In Veterans

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
Viki Ashby
Job title
General Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07738757504
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