Job summary
The post holder will provide strategic, clinical, operational, and professional leadership for the Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit, holding 24-hour responsibility for the delivery of safe, effective, recovery-focused, and person-centred care. They will ensure high standards of patient safety, quality, dignity, therapeutic engagement, and clinical excellence while promoting positive outcomes, independence, and social inclusion for service users.

Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, community services, social care, commissioners, carers, and partner organisations, the post holder will support integrated care pathways, effective patient flow, and timely discharge planning.

The post holder will provide visible, compassionate leadership, fostering a culture of wellbeing, psychological safety, accountability, and continuous professional development. They will contribute to service improvement, transformation, clinical governance, risk management, workforce performance, and resource management, ensuring compliance and value for money.

Through strong leadership and partnership working, the post holder will drive innovation, promote recovery-focused practice, and deliver excellent outcomes for service users, carers, and families.

Main duties of the job
Quality of Care

• Lead safe, recovery-focused, person-centred care that delivers positive outcomes.
• Maintain high standards of patient safety, quality, and clinical practice.
• Promote integrated working, compassion, and continuous improvement.

Leadership and Workforce Management

• Provide effective leadership to multidisciplinary teams.
• Support staff wellbeing, development, and performance.

Communication and Partnership Working

• Build strong partnerships with service users, carers, stakeholders, and partner agencies.
• Communicate effectively with individuals with complex mental health needs.

Governance, Quality and Service Improvement

• Ensure compliance with professional, regulatory, and Trust standards.
• Lead quality improvement, innovation, and evidence-based practice.

Health, Safety and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with health and safety, safeguarding, and risk management requirements.
• Maintain a safe and therapeutic environment.

Overall Accountability
The post holder will lead the Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, recovery-focused services. They will be accountable for patient care, workforce leadership, governance, quality improvement, and effective resource management.

About us
At CNWL, we are committed to delivering exceptional, patient-centred care that is safe, compassionate, and effective, whether in our hospitals, community clinics, or within patients' own homes. Everything we do is guided by our patients' needs, experiences, and wellbeing, ensuring they remain at the heart of every decision we make.

Delivering outstanding care starts with our people. We are dedicated to attracting, developing, and retaining talented individuals who share our values and are passionate about making a positive difference. We seek exceptional people who are willing to go the extra mile for our patients, colleagues, teams, and communities. Every new colleague brings fresh potential, and we are committed to supporting their professional growth through learning, development, and career progression opportunities that help shape the leaders of tomorrow.

As one of the most diverse NHS trusts, CNWL offers a rich and inclusive culture alongside a wide range of rewarding career opportunities across mental health, community health services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities, and many other specialist areas. Whether you are just starting your career, looking to take the next step, or seeking a new challenge, you will find opportunities to grow, thrive, and make a meaningful impact at CNWL.

Join us and become part of a team that is committed to excellence, innovation, and improving lives every day.

Job responsibilities

• Promote the health and well-being of patients and maintain a safe, caring and therapeutic environment.
• Ensure nursing practice on the ward is in accordance with the NMC guidance, Mental Health Legislation and Trust Policies, which incorporates and respects differences in respect of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, culture and disability.
• Work within agreed levels of resources both human and financial.
• To assist and support the Matron in the establishment of an efficient working environment, making the most effective and efficient use of staff, supplies, equipment and services.
• Ensure open channels of communication with both internal and external agencies.
• Posses excellent communication skills and be able to form a positive, therapeutic relationship with people who are experiencing acute crisis or distress in the context of partnership and trust
• Help promote Team cohesiveness, multidisciplinary working and always work collaboratively with colleagues in all parts of the Trust to achieve healthy and effective communication.
• Ensure that the environment is safe and laid down in the Health and Safety Act (1974) and the Trust Health and Safety manual.
• Ensure that the environment is safe as laid down in the Health and Safety at Work Act (1998) and that agreed safety procedures are carried out, and a safe environment is maintained for staff, patients and visitors

Person Specification
Essential

• Degree or Diploma In Mental Health Nursing(RMN).
• NMC registered
• Mentorship in practice or equivalent

Desirable

• Postgraduate/degree in nursing/management.
• Masters or willingness to undertake study

Experience
Essential

• Substantial experience of working in mental health services
• Experience of providing line management supervision and clinical supervision
• Practical experience of providing high-quality care and exceeding expectations.

Desirable

• Experience in Working in Mental Health rehabilitation settings.

SKILLS & ABILITIES
Essential

• Leadership skills (motivating, using initiative, change management). Under minimal supervision
• Knowledge of the treatment models and management approaches for individuals with complex, severe and enduring mental health who pose a high level of risk.
• Ability to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills.
• Ability to treat patients with respect and dignity.
• Excellent verbal & written communication skills
• Demonstrates the ability to manage work under pressure Sensitive to colleagues and able to promote a positive motivating environment.

Desirable

• Able to undertake Project work

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Essential

• Trained in and able and willing to actively participate in TMVA (Therapeutic Management of aggression and Violence).
• Knowledge and understanding Principles of Rehabilitation and Recovery in Mental Health
• Knowledge of the rehabilitation process and approaches and the need to be motivated in order to motivate staff and patients
• Working knowledge of Mental Health Act 1983/2007; inc Part III of the Act
• Knowledge of, and ability to follow, NMC code of conduct
• Knowledge of current developments in mental health care and nursing practice.
• Ability to think and work creatively and sensitively with clients to improve their living skills and adapt to their limitations as a result of their illness.
• Ability to work in MDT, Multi-professional and multiagency Approach

Desirable

• Experience of working within a multicultural framework.

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