Charge Nurse – Deputy Ward Manager: Sponsorship Available

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

Join Us as We Reopen Our New CAMHS Inpatient Unit

We are recruiting a Band 6 Charge Nurse / Deputy Ward Manager to join our newly redesigned Children and Young People’s Mental Health Inpatient Unit, reopening in Autumn 2026.

Following extensive co-design with young people, families and staff, and significant investment in our workforce and therapeutic model, this is an exciting opportunity to be part of a modern, recovery-focused inpatient service delivering high-quality, purposeful care to young people (aged 12-up to 18th birthday) with acute mental health needs.

Listen to our EBE podcast here:

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LocationThe unit is based in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, with on-site parking and offering excellent rail links to London (under 45 minutes), close proximity to Gatwick Airport, and easy access to both the Sussex coast and South Downs.

Main duties of the job

About the unit

Our refreshed clinical model includes purposeful admissions, structured care with early review points, strong links with COAST (Crisis Outreach Acute Support Team), and a 7-day therapeutic timetable including evenings and weekends.

You will work as part of a highly skilled multidisciplinary team, supporting young people, families and carers through assessment, treatment and discharge planning in a therapeutic inpatient environment.

This role is ideal for an experienced registered nurse ready to take the next step in leadership within CAMHS inpatient care.

Main duties of the job

  • Undertake comprehensive mental health and risk assessments for young people with complex needs
  • Act as named nurse and care coordinator, contributing to care review processes and mental health tribunals
  • Deliver and evaluate person-centred, trauma-informed nursing interventions
  • Provide clinical leadership and act as a senior decision maker during shifts
  • Regularly take charge of the ward, coordinating care delivery and staffing
  • Support the Ward Manager with operational duties, including rota coordination, staff supervision and quality monitoring
  • Supervise, mentor and support junior staff and students
  • Work closely with families, carers and partner agencies to support effective discharge planning
  • Contribute to service development, audit and quality improvement initiatives
  • Maintain high standards of documentation, governance and safeguarding practice

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional qualification ? Diploma in Mental Health Nursing
  • Registered Nurse with current registration (mental health / LD/ Adult) appropriate to the job role.
  • Completion of Mentorship Course/ENB equivalent
  • Evidence of continuous professional development

IT

Essential

  • IT literate and willing to enhance skills ? Computer literate. Sound working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word and PowerPoint ? Ability to use clinical information systems

Physical

Essential

  • Ability to carry out PMVA techniques ? Ability to administer IM medication as required. ? Ability to use manual handling techniques.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Significant post qualifying experience relevant to the care group
  • Experience of working alongside people with severe mental health problems particularly in their acute phase of illness
  • Experience of supervising staff
  • Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
  • Experience of conducting clinical assessments including risk assessments
  • Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non statutory teams and agencies

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills ? Ability to communicate in a clear and unambiguous way
  • Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills
  • Ability to develop effective professional relationships with others
  • Establish and maintain communication with individuals and groups about difficult or complex matters overcoming any differences in communication
  • Participate in partnership working with individuals, groups, communities and agencies

Analytical

Essential

  • Skills of assessing and interpreting mental health service user conditions, communicating that with others and taking appropriate action.

Planning

Essential

  • Organising and co-ordinating the activities of others within the ward environment ? Planning off duty rotas ? Co-ordinating ward meetings

Leadership

Essential

  • Experience of handling patient property and valuables ? Experience of acting as authorised signatory for staff timesheets ? Ordering stock and equipment as and when required

Approach and Values

Essential

  • Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
  • Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care Group and those of the Trust ? I ? Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 23 August 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.