Job summary
Join Us as We Reopen Our New CAMHS Inpatient Unit

We are pleased to invite applications for Bank Band 5 Mental Health Nurses to join our newly redesigned Children and Young People's Mental Health Inpatient Unit, reopening in Autumn 2026.

Following extensive co-design with young people, families and staff, and significant investment in our workforce and therapeutic approach, this is an exciting opportunity to work in a modern, recovery-focused inpatient service delivering high-quality, purposeful care to young people with acute mental health needs.

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About the unit
Our refreshed CAMHS inpatient service is built around:

• Purposeful admissions with early review points
• Structured, therapeutic care programmes delivered across 7 days
• Strong links with crisis and community services, including COAST(Crisis Outreach Acute Support Team),
• Trauma-informed and autism-aware practice
• A focus on least restrictive practice and improving experience and outcomes
• Supportive MDT working, safe staffing and strong clinical leadership

You will work as part of a skilled and supportive multidisciplinary team, delivering therapeutic care to young people and working closely with families and carers from admission through to discharge.

Main duties of the job
The role

As a Band 5 Mental Health Nurse, you will deliver high-quality, evidence-based inpatient nursing care for children and young people (aged 12- up to 18th birthday) experiencing acute mental health difficulties.

This is a developmental role, ideal for newly qualified nurses or nurses wishing to expand their skills. The service will be offering preceptorship support, CAMHS specific training, structured clinical supervision, and learning and progression opportunities.

You will work under the guidance of the ward manager, Clinical Nurse Specialist and senior nurses, while building confidence in assessment, care planning, safety management and therapeutic engagement.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver compassionate, person-centred and trauma-informed nursing care
• Act as primary (named) nurse for young people during their inpatient admission
• Complete comprehensive assessments, care plans and risk assessments in collaboration with the MDT
• Implement, monitor and review nursing interventions and therapeutic care plans
• Support young people and families during periods of distress and crisis
• Administer and monitor medication in line with NMC and Trust policy
• Take charge of shifts as appropriate, with senior support available
• Work collaboratively with families, carers and partner agencies to support discharge planning
• Maintain clear, accurate and timely clinical documentation
• Participate in supervision, appraisal, mandatory training and development opportunities

About us
Location The unit is based in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, with on-site parking and good transport links to London and across Sussex, and close proximity to Gatwick Airport.

Working for our organisation
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust delivers specialist mental health, learning disability and neurodevelopmental services across Sussex.

This post sits within our Specialist CAMHS Services, providing opportunities to gain experience across acute, crisis and community pathways as part of your career development.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to creating a compassionate and supportive working environment where staff feel valued, developed and able to thrive.

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to be part of a newly reopened CAMHS inpatient unit
• Comprehensive induction programme prior to opening where all new staff train together and contribute to the team's therapeutic approach
• A welcoming and supportive team culture with strong clinical leadership
• Structured preceptorship (where applicable) and high-quality clinical supervision
• Access to CAMHS-specific training and ongoing CPD
• Clear development and progression pathways into senior nursing roles
• NHS Pension Scheme and Agenda for Change benefits

If you are looking to start or develop your career in CAMHS inpatient nursing and want to make a meaningful difference to young people and their families, we would love to hear from you.

Details
Date posted
13 August 2026

Pay scheme
Agenda for change

Band
Band 5

Salary
£17.69 an hour
per hour. Enhancements for evening/nights/weekends/bank holidays

Contract
Bank

Working pattern
Full-time

Reference number
354-Bank-CS-20127

Job locations
New CAMHS inpatient site
Lewes Road
Haywards Heath
RH16 4EX
United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
As a Band 5 Mental Health Nurse, you will work as part of the multidisciplinary team to deliver safe, effective and person-centred care to children and young people within the inpatient setting.

You will contribute to assessment, care planning, risk management and therapeutic interventions, supporting young people through their admission and working collaboratively with families and partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes. You would be supporting CYP with a range of mental health difficulties who will be struggling with acute symptoms related to anxiety, depression, OCD, eating disorders and psychosis. Many of the CYP that we support are also living with Neurodiversity.

You will be supported through supervision, preceptorship (where applicable) and ongoing professional development to build your skills, confidence and clinical practice within CAMHS inpatient services.

You would be expected to work a mixture of nights and days (12-hour shifts) and would be supported by a Band 6 nurse on each shift.

You would be working alongside a full MDT including psychiatry, Psychology, Occupational therapy, dietetics, Support workers, family therapy and social work.

Person specification
Essential criteria

• Registered Mental Health Nurse (or newly qualified nurse awaiting registration)
• A genuine interest in working with children and young people in an inpatient setting
• A compassionate, recovery-focused and trauma-informed approach
• Good communication and team working skills
• Willingness to learn, develop and reflect on practice
• Commitment to providing safe, high-quality and inclusive care

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse with current registration (mental health / LD/ Adult) appropriate to the job role.

Desirable

• Other post-basic professional qualifications relative to the role and to the care group.

Knowledge/Experience
Essential

• Knowledge of MHA (1983/2007). Knowledge of Mental Capacity Act (2005), to include practical knowledge of FACE documentation, DOLS and Best Interest decisions.
• Child and Adult safe guarding procedures.
• Demonstrate ability to enhance care through evidence based knowledge.
• Demonstrates ability to assess and manage clinical risk

Skills
Essential

• Effective written and verbal skills. Effective team worker. Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Analytical skills to assist in diagnosing or highlighting an unmet health need. Understanding clinical information to formulate recommendations and appropriate intervention/action or referrals to be made. Undertaking initial patient assessments
• Change management skills. Leading projects, chairing and running of regular meetings
• Supervising junior staff, co-ordinating training to carers and service users
• Computer literate. Sound working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Outlook
• Ability to administer injections with good hand to eye co-ordination. ? Able to carry out PMVA interventions

Abilities
Essential

• Ability to prioritise/cope with pressure. Ability to assess health needs in an initial assessment and prioritise them in order as soon as assessment is completed. Ability to deal with an unpredictable work pattern and deal with deadlines
• Ability to deal with distressing and emotional circumstances which can happen unpredictably throughout a working day.

Approach and Values
Essential

• Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care Group and those of the Trust
• Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
• Team working
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required

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).

Employer details
Employer name
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address
New CAMHS inpatient site
Lewes Road
Haywards Heath
RH16 4EX
United Kingdom

Employer's website
https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Head of Service
Nicola Chainey
Nicola.Chainey1@nhs.net
07391415265

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)