Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Restraint Reduction and Search Lead
The closing date is 29 November 2026

Job summary
Are you passionate about reducing restrictive practices, improving patient safety and promoting therapeutic trauma-informed care?

We are looking for an experienced and motivated individual to join our Clinical Governance Team as the Restraint Reduction and Search Lead. This is an exciting opportunity to support the Trust's commitment to reducing restrictive interventions, preventing violence and aggression, and ensuring safe and effective search and contraband management across our services.

Working closely with the Reducing Restrictive Practice Lead and senior clinical leaders, you will provide specialist expertise, leadership and operational oversight across a range of priority programmes. You will lead the Restraint Reduction Team, support clinical services following incidents involving violence or restrictive practice, and contribute to policy development, governance, audit and quality improvement initiatives.

The successful candidate will have substantial experience within mental health, learning disability or a related setting, with a strong understanding of violence reduction, restrictive practice and trauma-informed care. You will be a confident leader with excellent communication skills, capable of building effective relationships and influencing positive change across multidisciplinary teams.

If you are committed to promoting safer, compassionate care and want to help shape the future of restraint reduction across the organisation, we would welcome your application.
Main duties of the job

• Lead and coordinate the Trust's work relating to restraint reduction, violence reduction, PMVA, searching and contraband management.
• Provide operational and professional leadership to the Restraint Reduction Team, ensuring delivery of an effective, responsive and high-quality service.
• Deliver specialist advice and support to clinical services following incidents involving violence, aggression, restraint or restrictive practices, identifying learning and recommending improvements.
• Lead on the development, implementation and review of policies, procedures and standards relating to restrictive practice reduction, searching and contraband management.
• Monitor, analyse and report on data and incidents to identify trends, drive learning and support continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care.
• Support the delivery, quality assurance and ongoing development of PMVA and violence reduction training programmes across the Trust.
• Work collaboratively with clinical teams, service users and partner organisations to promote evidence-based practice and safer, more therapeutic care environments.
• Contribute to governance, audit, quality improvement and service development initiatives that support the Trust's patient safety agenda.

About us
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health, learning disability and neurodevelopmental services across Sussex. We are committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care and creating environments where people can thrive.

As part of the Clinical Governance Team, you will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with clinical and operational colleagues across the Trust to improve patient safety, reduce restrictive practices and support the delivery of safe, effective and therapeutic care. You will join a supportive team committed to continuous improvement, learning and innovation, with opportunities for professional and personal development.

This role offers the chance to make a meaningful impact on Trust-wide quality and safety priorities while helping to shape and influence practice across a diverse range of services.
Details
Date posted: 13 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 354-CO-22032-1
Job locations: Portland House, Worthing, BN11 1HS, United Kingdom

Job description
Please see attached job description and person specification for more details on the main duties of the role.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
Professional qualification Mental Health Nursing, Social Work or Allied health Profession or equivalent experience.
Experience
Essential
Experience of supporting staff and services following incidents involving violence, aggression, restraint or restrictive interventions.
Experience of developing and delivering training and education programmes aimed at reducing the use of restrictive interventions.
Experience of managing a team.
Knowledge
Essential
Knowledge of PMVA methodologies, restrictive practice reduction, de-escalation techniques and trauma-informed care.
Detailed knowledge of reducing restrictive practice.
Current knowledge of relevant NHS policy initiatives within subject speciality.
Extensive knowledge of specialist areas within Mental Health.
Skills
Essential
Ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
Skills for direct line management and job management.
Desirable
Ability to influence senior clinicians and managers on matters relating to violence reduction, restrictive practice and PMVA governance.
Approach/Values/Personal attributes
Essential
Commitment to continuing professional 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.

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.

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.

Employer details
Employer name: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Portland House, Worthing, BN11 1HS, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Business Manager, Clinical Governance, Liz Chamberlain, liz.chamberlain2@nhs.net, 01903382620

Supporting documents
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