Senior Mental Health Nurse- Enhanced Therapeutic Observations and Care

We are seeking 3 Band 6 Registered Mental Health Nurses who will deliver specialist mental health nursing support to patients identified as requiring enhanced therapeutic observation and care following triage and assessment by the ETOC Team Leader. This patient group will, in most cases, involve the care of patients with mental illness or risks associated with a mental health condition, and may also include:

• Learning disability, autism or other neurodiversity
• Dementia
• Intoxication

Main duties of the job:

• The Senior ETOC Nurse will be expected to support expert assessment and review of patients triaged by the ETOC team leader.
• The Senior ETOC Nurse will be required to work a 24/7 shift pattern, and will be expected to deputise for the ETOC Team Leader on occasion, completing triage assessments for all ETOC referrals across the Denmark Hill Site.

Key responsibilities include:

• Proactively identify and assess causes of behavioural escalation and, using excellent de-escalation skills, develop, deliver and contribute to care plans to manage these.
• Provide direct care, especially to complex patients requiring ETOC, and support activities of daily living.
• Formulate and deliver meaningful therapeutic engagement in partnership with activity coordinators and the wider ETOC team.
• Provide core nursing care and support physical health within scope of competence.
• Assist in restricting movement of patients where necessary, using the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards 2005, and Mental Health Act 1983.
• Use hands-on care including one-to-one enhanced therapeutic observations, care engagement, rolling mental state examinations, psychotherapeutic interventions where indicated.
• Deputise for the ETOC Team Leader and provide a responsive triaging service to wards and departments at Denmark Hill, including risk formulation and decision-making on level and duration of ETOC.
• Act as shift coordinator, allocating resources across site, supporting the team and ensuring effective handovers and risk management.
• Encourage and support recovery, healthy lifestyles and psychosocial activities.
• Advocate for patients' needs and rights.
• Assist with activities of daily living, nutritional needs and use of special diets.
• Engage patients presenting with challenging behaviour using verbal de-escalation skills.
• Lead on, provide and contribute to rolling risk assessments using tools such as DASA, DASA-YV or BVC.
• Escort patients off ward where appropriate.
• Ensure electronic notes and incident reports are completed accurately and timely.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary team handovers with comprehensive nursing observations.
• Assist in safekeeping of patients' property according to Trust policy.
• Welcome patients and relatives, orientate them to the environment, and facilitate contact with support networks.
• Engage in reflective practice, supervision and staff support sessions, and maintain personal mental wellbeing and boundaries.
• Support management of mental health or behaviour emergencies involving ETOC patients.

Knowledge and Frameworks:

• Comprehensive understanding of mental health disorders, assessment, risks, management, and treatment, integrating mind and body care.
• In-depth knowledge of causes of challenging behaviour, including trauma, dementia, delirium, learning disability, autism, and other neurodiversity or cognitive impairments.
• Knowledge of behavioural management approaches, techniques, and pharmacology.
• Working knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Communication:

• Effective communication with patients, carers, families, and colleagues; active listening, cultural sensitivity, and appropriate language.
• Encourage respectful, empathy-based communication in clinical environment.
• Maintain timely and accurate written patient records and use care plans and information systems appropriately.
• Promptly report safety or security concerns to appropriate authorities and organisations.
• Report safeguarding concerns as per Trust policy.
• Respond to patient or carer complaints, escalating in line with Trust policies.
• Maintain confidentiality following Trust policies.

Team working and Professional Development:

• Maintain clean and safe environment, support audit and compliance.
• Demonstrate respectful and courteous support for colleagues within team, maintaining professional boundaries.
• Attend and participate in team meetings.
• Provide supervision to junior colleagues as required.
• Support teaching commitments of the team.
• Engage in reflective practice, evidence-based patient care, and attend staff training.
• Act as role model for others.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with band and role.

Person Specification:

• Education and Qualifications:
• Registered Mental Health Nurse at Level 1.
• Further professional studies in Mental Health or equivalent experience.
• Mentorship programme or equivalent teaching qualification.
• Registered General Adult, Paediatric or Learning Disability Nurse.
• Further education or qualification related to management of violence and aggression.
• Degree in Nursing or equivalent.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Demonstrable clinical expertise in mental health.
• Significant experience working with people presenting challenging behaviours.
• Experience in DSN roles or mental health emergency teams.

Skills, Competencies and Personal Qualities:

• Excellent verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Excellent risk assessment and management skills, including for suicidal or self-harm risk.
• Strong communication skills across professions and cultures.
• Team-building and leadership ability.
• Experience with service user involvement and co-production.

Additional Requirements:

• Must have appropriate UK professional registration.
• This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (exceptions) and the Disclosure and Barring Service requirements.