Job overview
Join Us as We Reopen Our New CAMHS Inpatient Unit
We are pleased to invite applications for 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
Detailed job description and main 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
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.
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.
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
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
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Nurse Mental Health - Inpatient with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Worthing, South East, England. It is listed as a Band 5 Nurse (adult and children) role. The advertised salary is £32,073 - £39,043 Enhancements for evening/nights/weekends/bank holidays. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 26 Jul 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (10 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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