Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Mental Health Nurse to help lead the development of our mental health strategy at Cambridge University Hospitals. This role supports clinical leadership and service transformation, enabling you to make a meaningful impact on patient care in an acute hospital setting.

You should have prior experience in service improvement and working collaboratively with diverse health partners. This position allows you to integrate mental health expertise within acute care, delivering holistic, safe and compassionate support to patients. A key aspect involves supporting staff in managing mental health challenges across varied clinical areas. Education and training are also central to the role; you'll deliver regular sessions and help shape CUH’s mental health education programme. You’ll enhance staff confidence and knowledge in supporting patients facing mental health difficulties. This is a dynamic and rewarding role offering variety and growth, alongside a supportive, experienced team. Initiative is welcomed, aligning with our goal to provide the best patient care.

While weekend shifts are not routinely rostered, occasional support may be requested during high demand periods, with unsocial hours payments applicable. Optional weekend bank shifts may also be available.

Main duties of the job

The post is based at Cambridge University Hospitals, Addenbrookes, as part of the Mental Health Team and aims to promote safe and effective mental health care.

To maintain a visible and engaged professional presence throughout the hospital departments and services.

Support and advise the workforce in the management and care of patients with mental health challenges.

Contribute to multidisciplinary decision making regarding patient care.

To promote and contribute to collaborative working with other departments, services and agencies, including other mental health services internal and external to the hospital.

Actively contribute to the delivery and development of the mental health education programme for CUH staff.

Contribute to service developments in line with national policies and drivers including the 10 year plan promoting mental health care.

Liaising with mental health providers to support transfers of care to appropriate care pathways.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

All roles in the Trust include a mandatory 12-week training period. Therefore successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have: - applied for a Graduate visa - or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

This vacancy will close at midnight on 20th September 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on 6th October 2026.

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.