Deputy Ward Manager (Avalon) | South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Nurse to join our National Inpatient Eating Disorder Service. This role is ideal for:

• An experienced Band 5 nurse ready to develop managerial skills, or
• A confident and experienced Band 6 nurse seeking a new challenge.

We are looking for a highly motivated, skilled individual to join our senior team and contribute to the continued development of our service.

What We Are Looking For:

• Be clinically competent with strong leadership potential
• Demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Be forward-thinking, adaptable, and resilient
• Have the ability to mentor, coach, and support colleagues
• Build team morale and encourage high performance
• Be committed to delivering compassionate, patient-centred care

Avalon Ward is a 15-bedded specialist inpatient ward for adults with moderate to severe eating disorders. Many of our patients present at a very low weight and often have a high level of co-morbidity. We work closely and collaboratively with our community eating disorder teams to support patient recovery and ensure safe, seamless discharge pathways.

We are a forward-thinking team committed to continuously improving our clinical model and patient offer to ensure we deliver the highest quality care and patient experience possible. Our approach centres on collaboration with patients, carers, and lived experience experts to ensure continuous learning and delivery of the highest standard of care.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our service at a pivotal time, contributing to the development and shaping of our future direction. Uniquely, our ward includes a dedicated Practice Development Nurse, committed to the ongoing learning, development, and clinical excellence of our specialist team. We actively share learning and provide mutual support across our SWLSTG Eating Disorders Provider Collaborative, as well as with our CAMHS inpatient eating disorder colleagues, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

Unless expressly stated in the job advert this role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust. We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'. This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together.

We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027. We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti-racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive. Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.

As a Band 6 Nurse on Avalon Ward, you will:

• Support the leadership of a diverse, experienced team
• Promote a positive team culture through calmness, consistency, and resilience
• Lead and contribute to quality improvement initiatives
• Foster a culture of reflection, learning, and continuous improvement
• Participate in rota management and staffing coordination
• Manage staff sickness and support recruitment processes
• Supervise and mentor junior staff members
• Act as deputy in the absence of the Ward Manager

Clinical & Professional Development:

This post offers an excellent opportunity to enhance your skills in:

• Mental and physical health assessment
• Risk and crisis management
• Multidisciplinary and inter-agency working
• Leadership and management development

If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form. Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure. Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role. Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.

This advert closes on Tuesday 28 Jul 2026.