Job summary
The Physical Health Nurse will work collaboratively with the Band 7 Ward Managers, working alongside clinical staff to support delivery of effective, high quality and safe patient centred physical health care within the Forensic and Specialist Directorate.

Please be aware this role requires on-site presence and is not available as a hybrid or remote working position.

The role supports inpatient mental health staff across the directorate in developing their competencies and skills in physical healthcare.

You will support the development and drive forward physical health promotion to ensure that nursing staff acquire the professional standards and competencies which are essential when caring for our patients with mental health needs.

You will play a crucial role in supporting the provision of comprehensive care to patients, focusing on their physical health needs. You will work in collaboration with a multidisciplinary healthcare team to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care, with a strong emphasis on physical health promotion, prevention, and management.

Main duties of the job
To ensure that physical health is viewed on par with mental health needs as they are intrinsically linked and develop staff so that they are confident and competent to be able to address the physical health needs of their patients. This includes developing their ability to collaboratively develop a person-centred care plan.

Staff will be confident and competent to perform the relevant nursing physical health assessments, which includes the 6 parameters of the Lester Tool for all patients within 72 hours of admission, including all vital signs.

Review BI reports for compliance of elements of the physical health portal such as NEWS2, VTE and falls risk assessments

Education is offered and provided either in a group setting or on a one-to-one basis for our patients concerning living a healthier lifestyle including substance abuse.

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

About us
We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.

Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.

Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's working well together.

Details
Date posted: 14 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 380-FR0704-A
Job locations: Trevor Gibbens Unit, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, ME16 9PL, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description for full details and main responsibilities of the role.

Person Specification
Essential

• Registered General Nurse currently on the NMC register.
• Mentorship qualification/ENB 998
• Evidence of continued professional development/short courses e.g. diabetes, COPD, wound care, ECG
• Experience of supporting practice development in clinical areas.
• Significant relevant clinical experience (3 years post registration).
• Experience as a mentor/preceptor.

Desirable

• Experience of assessing physical health needs in a mental health setting
• Experience of engaging or supporting clinical research projects.
• Knowledge of mental health conditions and treatments with a demonstrable understanding of perinatal mental health issues

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).

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.