Band 8 Mental Health Jobs in the NHS
Band 8 covers four sub-bands (8a through 8d) ranging from experienced specialists and small team leads to heads of department and associate directors. Applications at this level need a clear track record of impact: service improvement, governance, budget management, or advanced clinical expertise.
138 live vacancies at this grade · 57 NHS employers · salary £57,528 - £108,814
138
Open Positions
£49k - £109k
Salary Range
57
NHS Trusts
73
New This Week
What to expect from Band 8 Mental Health roles
Band 8 covers four sub-bands (8a through 8d) ranging from experienced specialists and small team leads to heads of department and associate directors. Applications at this level need a clear track record of impact: service improvement, governance, budget management, or advanced clinical expertise. For mental health candidates, this usually means matching the advertised responsibilities to your evidence before applying: the same band can cover different service settings, rota patterns, and levels of supervision across NHS employers.
Job Clerk is currently tracking 138 live band 8 mental health vacancies across 57 NHS employers. Use this page to compare the broad market, then narrow into a city page when you need local salary expectations, employers, and closing-date pressure.
Recent salary data for band 8 mental health roles ranges from about £49,387 to £108,814 per year, depending on employer, setting, rota pattern, and high-cost area supplements.
Band expectations
- Professional registration and advanced qualifications
- Extensive experience in specialist area
- Proven leadership and management track record
- Master's degree or equivalent (often required)
Role evidence to prepare
- Risk assessment, safety planning, and safeguarding decisions
- Care coordination and CPA (Care Programme Approach) management
- Delivering or supporting specific therapeutic interventions (CBT, DBT, family work)
- Mental Health Act assessments and knowledge (for approved roles)
Typical requirements
- Professional registration relevant to the role (NMC for nurses, HCPC for psychologists/OTs, Social Work England for social workers)
- Post-qualification experience in a mental health setting
- Specialist training relevant to the team or service (e.g. CBT, AMHP, approved clinician)
- Enhanced DBS with barred list check
Hiring locations
Current band 8 mental health demand is visible in London, Leatherhead, Oxford, Manchester, and Plymouth. Location pages help you compare local trusts, travel expectations, and live job counts before applying.
Employer mix
Recent listings include employers such as Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. Review each advert for the person specification, application method, and whether the post closes early after enough applications.
Band 8 Mental Health Jobs by City
Browse band 8 mental health jobs in the UK's biggest NHS hubs.
Where Band 8 Mental Health Roles Are Hiring
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 8 Mental Health roles
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Top NHS Employers
- Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust8 jobs
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust7 jobs
- Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust6 jobs
- Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust6 jobs
- Devon Partnership NHS Trust5 jobs
- East London NHS Foundation Trust5 jobs
- South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust NHS Trust5 jobs
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust4 jobs