Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist: Sponsorship Available

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

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 varied 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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Current and relevant registration on NMC Register (RMN)
  • Additional clinical qualification
  • Evidence of continuous professional development
  • Management training

Desirable

  • Relevant post graduate qualification
  • Dual qualified
  • Educated to degree level
  • Relevant general nursing experience

Experience

Essential

  • 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

  • Research experience
  • Audit experience
  • NHS experience

Knowledge

Essential

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

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: 20 September 2026

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