Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Manager - Health Based Place of Safety.
The closing date is 24 November 2026
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Job summary
We are seeking an experienced, compassionate leader to manage the Health Based Place of Safety (HBPoS) at Wonford House.

This is an exciting role requiring strong operational leadership and clinical expertise. The post holder will provide visible, effective leadership to staff while promoting the delivery of safe, high-quality and patient-centred care.

You will lead the day-to-day running of the HBPoS and provide clinical oversight, ensuring people detained under Section 136/140 of the Mental Health Act receive safe, timely and high-quality care at a time of crisis.

What we are looking for:

• Proven experience leading teams in a mental health/acute or crisis setting, with the confidence to be a visible, supportive leader.
• Clinical credibility and a commitment to person-centred, trauma-informed care.
• Sound working knowledge of the Mental Health Act particularly Section 136/140 and an ability to make safe, timely decisions under pressure.
• Strong partnership-working skills, with experience collaborating across agencies
• A focus on quality, safety and governance, with the ability to use data and feedback to drive improvement.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills to ensure collaborative work with patients, utilising the well-being and recovery model, to provide the highest quality of care.
• Resilience, organisation and a flexible approach to meet service needs, including shift cover as required.

Main duties of the job

• You will inspire and lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver a responsive, trauma-informed and legally compliant service.
• You will drive high standards by monitoring quality, safety, performance and patient experience, ensuring the HBPoS consistently meets national and local expectations.
• Working closely with Police, Ambulance Services, Crisis Teams, AMHP services, Emergency Departments and inpatient services, you will strengthen partnership working and help create smooth pathways, effective handovers and safe transitions of care.
• This post calls for confident, visible leadership, calm decision-making under pressure and excellent communication to build trust across teams and agencies.
• Interacting with patients and the public you will be confident in giving non-clinical information and advice that improves their experience. Dealing with sensitive information daily, you will understand the importance of data security.
• You will often work under pressure and without direct supervision, so we are looking for someone confident and capable. You will prioritise tasks, and manage your own workload, providing support for your colleagues where required.

About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Details
Date posted: 11 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: C9369-26-0861
Job locations: Place of Safety - Wonford House, Dryden Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 5SN, United Kingdom

Person Specification
Knowledge

• Essential: Previous experience of leadership and management within a clinical environment.
• Essential: Knowledge of the MHA,(1983,1985) MCA and DOLs.
• Essential: Knowledge of Quality Improvement process and change management.
• Essential: Understanding of good physical health, how to undertake physical observations (inc. non-contact) recognising the deteriorating patient and application/intervention, escalation process.
• Essential: Able to assess plan treatment and review nursing care needs, supervise other in the same.
• Essential: Recognise performance issues on the ward and how to address them.
• Essential: Motivated to promote highest standards in a changing service.

Qualifications

• Essential: A professional Mental Health Nursing qualification or appropriate professional qualification with current registration.

Experience

• Essential: Substantial post registration experience / Experience as a Band 6 in an inpatient setting.
• Essential: Experience working within an MDT.
• Essential: Clinical/management Supervision and Mentoring Experience.

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Address: Place of Safety - Wonford House, Dryden Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 5SN, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Senior Nurse Manager, Donna Budd, donna.budd@nhs.net