Mental Health Nurse

We are looking to expand our clinical workforce and are seeking applications from experienced mental health nurses (ideally with a prescribing qualification) to join our dedicated First Contact Team (FCT) supporting healthcare professionals working in the NHS. The role involves triage, assessment, case management and liaison with other providers in a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Review new registrations, identifying eligibility and an appropriate pathway.
• Assess patients identified as suitable for an early contact assessment and carry out risk assessments on patients where a high level of risk is identified at registration.
• Offer triage appointments to assess suitability for those presenting as high risk.
• Provide evidence‑based mental health and addiction interventions to sick health and care professionals.
• Case‑manage a group of patients who may or may not be in active treatment elsewhere.
• Effectively manage risk and share concerns with the wider team, and report back to the First Contact Lead or Lead clinician as necessary.
• Work with patients in active addiction and support them towards abstinence.
• Have the skills to support people with mental health issues and those with addictions.
• Work with the medical and clinical directors in developing and delivering health promotion and teaching projects, including psychoeducation.
• Contribute towards wider Practitioner Health and Hurley Group activities and projects.

You will need to be a confident decision maker, skilled in undertaking risk assessments of health and care staff with mental health and addiction issues, and able to confidently discuss medication initiation, dose changes and make suitable recommendations.

Qualifications

• Essential: Registered with the NMC with at least 5 years post‑qualification experience; evidence of continuing professional development.
• Desirable: Evidence of postgraduate study in substance misuse, RCGP Certificate in Substance Misuse or equivalent; qualified non‑medical prescriber.

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

• Able to utilise different and innovative modalities to consult with patients including text and email via a secure platform.
• Confident in discussing pharmacological options.
• Knowledge of the needs of health professionals, including relevant epidemiology, natural history, assessment, treatment and prognosis.
• Understanding of help‑seeking behaviour and access to health care by health professionals.
• Be aware of the full range of treatment models for the management of different mental health problems.
• Knowledge of behavioural, medical, social and psychological factors prevalent in health professionals.
• Aware of boundary issues when dealing with practitioner‑patients.
• Understanding of the roles of other health professionals.
• Understanding of the professional regulation and standards environment for healthcare professionals.
• Ability to raise mental health problems sensitively, refer practitioner‑patients to appropriate services, minimise risk and support personal wellbeing.
• Understanding of the education and training environment for doctors, dentists and other HCPs.
• Ability to work in an integrated multi‑professional team.

Desirable Skills

• Provide support and advice to other practitioners on the management of practitioner‑patients.

Experience

• Experience of working in mental health and/or addiction at a senior level.
• Experience of working with, or commitment to sick health professionals.
• Experience of producing reports, assessments and presentations involving highly complex information.
• Experience of providing, receiving and processing sensitive or contentious information and communicating this effectively.
• Experience of building and developing effective working relationships and networking with senior professionals.
• Personal clinical supervision. (Desirable) Experience of working in primary care.

Key Details

• Salary: £46,816 to £55,662 a year
• Contract: Fixed term, 1 year
• Working pattern: Full‑time
• Location: NHS Practitioner Health, Riverside Medical Centre, Hobart House, London, SW8 2JB
• Applications close: 24 December 2025

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Applicants must have a current UK professional registration and must undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.