Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Lead Nurse (Acute Inpatient)
The closing date is 16 July 2026

Job summary
This is a great opportunity for a full time Band 6 Lead Nurse to join our team at Dove Ward on a 6 month secondment, a state of the art female acute mental health ward, based at Kingsway Hospital, Derby.

Dove Ward is an 18 bedded female acute mental health ward focused on therapeutic interventions and delivering care to the national standards.

We put a high emphasis on quality of care, peer support and on clinical engagement in service development and management. We will welcome candidates who bring an enthusiasm for innovation, teaching and development and can work closely with colleagues from different professional backgrounds.

Main duties of the job

• Providing strong clinical leadership, ensuring evidence-based practice is delivered to improve the quality of and shape responsive services.
• Monitoring and ensure maintenance of standards of care that support safe high quality practice throughout the twenty-four hour period.
• Supporting junior colleagues within the multi-disciplinary process.
• Supervising and promoting staff development.
• Be part of the Bleep Holder rota.

About us
Join 'Team Derbyshire Healthcare' and become part of a talented, compassionate and enthusiastic workforce committed to a vision of 'making a positive difference in people's lives'.

Benefits include:

• Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
• 27 days annual leave/year plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years & 33 days after 10 years' service
• Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
• Health service discounts and online benefits
• Incremental pay progression
• Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
• Access to our LGBT+ network, BAME Network and Christian Network
• Health and wellbeing opportunities
• Structured learning and development opportunities

Job responsibilities

• Ensure a high clinical profile that includes the provision of direct nursing care, with a global overview of all care packages and clinical activity within a defined area.
• Embed the Clincial Model and the Operational pathways for PICU and deputise in the absence of the Ward Manager.
• Provide strong clinical leadership and support to junior colleagues.
• Provide regular clinical supervision for junior colleagues in line with Trust policy.
• Facilitate junior colleagues to deliver high quality assessment / formulation / person-centred care planning / risk assessment and management is firmly embedded within clinical practice and in line with best practice evidence.
• Exercise professional accountability and responsibility, taking into account the actions of other professional who are responsible / accountable to you.
• Act as a role model and as a senior clinician to promote high standards of professionalism representing both the Trust and the profession in the exercise of their duties.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training
Essential

• NMC Registered Nurse - RNMH
• Educated to Diploma Level (ie Dip HE Nursing) or evidence of post qualification education/training
• Mentorship qualification

Desirable

• Previous, recent, relevant experience

Leadership Skills
Essential

• Demonstrate leadership skills such as motivation, facilitation, mentorship, etc. Demonstrate up-to-date evidence-based
• Experience in managing and leading a team in difficult clinical situations

Desirable

• Evidence of being able to work independently
• Experience of leading development of staff's progression and development

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.

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

Employer details
Employer name: Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Dove Ward, Kingsway Hospital, Derby, DE22 3LZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: http://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Ward Manager
Ellie Hawkes
eleanor.hawkes1@nhs.net

Details
Date posted: 09 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year, per annum, pro rata
Contract: Secondment
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 383-ACA-7554-26
Job locations: Dove Ward, Kingsway Hospital, Derby, DE22 3LZ, United Kingdom