Staff Nurse | Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Overview

Are you a dedicated, compassionate RMN or RNLD committed to providing great care? We are creating Kent and Medway’s first, and only, NHS Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for women, and are seeking talented RMNs/RNLDs to help us deliver this vital service. We have several vacancies available, these can be full time or part time (22.5 hrs per week minimum for part time).

As a key member of the multidisciplinary care team, you will have continuing responsibility to assess, plan, deliver and evaluate care, communicate findings, influence change and promote health, best practice, patient safety and experience.

Please note that the start date for this post will be February 2026, to allow for sufficient time for onboarding, induction, and training before the anticipated arrival of the first patient in April 2026.

We are unfortunately unable to accept applications from newly qualified nurses at this stage. Given the high acuity and complexity of the environment, our priority is to establish a core team of experienced nurses to support the safe opening of the new PICU.

If this sounds like the opportunity you have been waiting for, come and join our diverse and compassionate team committed to delivering excellent care and support for service users and their loved ones.

All positions also benefit from a High Cost Area allowance. Previous applicants need not apply.

Responsibilities

• Carry out comprehensive, systematic nursing assessments which take account of relevant mental, physical, social, cultural, psychological, spiritual, and environmental factors, in partnership with the patient and others through interaction, observation and measurement.
• Work collaboratively with other disciplines, patients and their carers to agree a holistic person-centred care plan that addresses the needs identified through assessment.
• To deliver and evaluate safe, competent patient centred-care in partnership with the service user and their carers to support recovery.

Working in PICU

Working in a PICU is rewarding but demanding. It is likely to be needed by people with severe and complex mental health conditions (e.g. Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder and may be associated with Personality Disorder, Substance Misuse and PTSD).

While emotionally challenging, the opportunity to support critically unwell women back to their communities, ensuring “right care, in the right place, at the right time”, is immense, and your skilled, multidisciplinary team will be there to support you. You would be working as part of a team of mental health experts, dedicated to making sure the most unwell women in our communities have the same access to specialist care as men.

We are recruiting now to make sure our new female PICU team is in place with enough time to train, form team bonds and prepare. So you can all make a profound difference to patient outcomes from day one.

Professional Development and Benefits

We also offer ongoing professional development to help you adapt and progress your career, including bespoke training and a comprehensive induction program.

What is High Cost Area Allowance?

The High-Cost Area (HCA) allowance, also referred to as London Weighting, is a payment made to employees who work in London and the surrounding areas. As this post is based in Dartford, Gravesham or Swanley, the successful applicant will receive an additional payment each month. 5% of basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £1,303 per year and a maximum payment of £2,198 per year (the agreed annual amount will be divided into 12 equal amounts and paid monthly) (2025 figures).

Notes

Please refer to the attached job description for full details and main responsibilities of the role. This advert closes on Wednesday 12 Nov 2025.