Staff Nurse in Plymouth

We are delighted to invite a motivated & compassionate Registered Mental Health Nurse to join our highly successful & supportive team at Syrena House which is soon to known as The Cove. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, person-centred care to individuals with severe, enduring & complex mental health needs, eg, schizophrenia, bi-polar & often with co‑morbid complexities

In July we will be moving to the Mount Gould site & will be increasing our beds to incorporate 6 additional step down beds

Syrena House is currently a 9-bedded male inpatient recovery unit, where our core focus is to empower patients on their journey toward greater independence & to prepare them for a fulfilling life within the community

We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for recovery‑focused practice, who is committed to helping people achieve their optimum level of functioning. You will work collaboratively with our multidisciplinary team, utilise therapeutic resources within the inpatient setting & engage proactively with community services to support seamless transitions in care

Main duties of the job

Assessment/Care PlanningComplete the assessment, planning, implementation & evaluation of individualized programmes of care using the Personalised Care Framework

Keyworking ResponsibilitiesAct as a Keyworker for identified patients, ensuring delivery of high‑quality, co‑produced personalized care plans

Clinical LeadershipTake charge of shifts on a regular basis, ensuring safe & effective coordination of the ward environment

Therapeutic RelationshipsDevelop & maintain respectful, consistent & reliable therapeutic relationships that support service users to build social networks, reduce social exclusion, identify strengths & interests & engage in meaningful activities

Discharge PlanningSupport safe & effective discharge pathways through collaborative working with the wider multidisciplinary team, undertaking robust risk assessment & involving carers where appropriate

Supporting Learning & DevelopmentContribute to a positive learning environment for junior staff, undertaking the role of Practice Supervisor/Assessor as required

Professional StandardsWork at all times in accordance with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Code, relevant Trust policies & procedures

Flexible Working Across ServicesAlthough based at Syrena House, be prepared to work within the wider Recovery Service as required by the Manager, in response to clinical need or as part of personal development

Please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award‑winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programmes, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programmes ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro‑diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

The Post holder will be responsible, for the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of programmes of care using the CPA process and will be required to act as the named nurse for identified individual patients. The post holder will be required to take charge of the unit on a regular basis and will have sole responsibility during night shifts, with the support of the Mental Health Rehabilitation and the Livewell Southwest on‑call system.

The post holder will have the ability to sustain respectful, consistent, and reliable therapeutic relationships with patients that enhances their ability to build social networks and diminishes their social exclusion, maximises their strengths and interests and increase their participation in meaningful activities.

The post holder will be required to create and maintain a learning environment for the development of junior staff and be able to mentor/educate qualified and unqualified staff, including pre and post registration students. The post holder will also be responsible for their own professional development.

The post holder will always work within the guidelines of the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and LSW Policy.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities of the Post

Clinical/Professional

• To act as the named nurse for an identified group of patients following the procedures of the Care Programme Approach (CPA) or Personalised Care Framework (PCF).
• To deliver a high standard of individualized care, which will include the assessment, planning, implementation, review, and evaluation of care following the CPA process. This should be in partnership with the patient, carers and multi‑agency professionals as appropriate. This requires a complex level of communication in the receiving and transmitting of information to patients carers, colleagues, the wider service, and the general public on an individual or group basis. This will be over a wide range of complex and sensitive issues and will need to consider barriers to understanding.
• To ensure comprehensive risk assessment, history, planning, and management is recorded and communicated to the team and the wider service if appropriate, for individual patients. This will require the electronic recording of risk and relapse indicators and warnings as per the Livewell Southwest SystmOne policy. This may require sharing of information, negotiating care and monitoring of risk in the wider context of a multi‑agency approach e.g. with probation and with the coordinators of both vulnerable adult and child protection.
• To contribute to and be an effective member of the Multidisciplinary team. Which requires the attendance and contribution to MDT meetings, to be involved in the assessment of new referrals and to attend and contribute to reviews, clinical meetings, and case conferences. It is the role of the RMN to convene necessary meetings, invite the relevant stakeholders, communicate, and record outcome and be responsible for the allocation of individual aspects of care.
• To work in partnership with carers of patients, offering support, advice, and reassurance on often quite sensitive and emotional issues and at times of high levels of distress. Wherever possible involving carers in planning care as appropriate. Offer advice on where best to seek expert support from organisations both within Livewell Southwest and from local and national voluntary agencies.
• To direct and support junior staff in the delivery of high standards of individually planned care. To create and maintain a learning environment for the development of junior staff and be able to mentor/educate qualified and unqualified staff, including pre and post registration students.
• To maintain accurate, legible, and contemporaneous clinical notes, CPA and other relevant paperwork in line with the NMC guidelines and with the Livewell Southwest SystmOne and CPA policies.
• Maintain and regularly update knowledge of The Mental Health Act 1983 and be aware of own responsibilities and patients rights under the Act. To always work within the Code of Practice and Livewell Southwest policies.
• To be responsible and accountable for the safe storage and administration of medication as per national and Livewell Southwest policies and procedures. To educate patients and carers regarding the potential benefits and side effects of medication and feedback information to the medical staff/community pharmacist.
• To comply with all infection control policies and guidance, attend relevant updates and report issues of concern to their immediate line manager (if no action or explanation received, then it is the individual's responsibility to elevate to Director of Operations/Chief executive Office.)
• You may be expected to support other LSW inpatient services during times of staff shortages, subject to risk assessment of Syrena and suitability.

Managerial

• To take responsibility for the management of the unit in the absence of more senior staff, including the planning and organisation of the daily clinical activity, covering sickness and adjustment of staff rotas and attendant paperwork, flexible changes to routines in response to individual patient need and changing staff levels and to maintain the safety of staff and patients.
• To encourage staff development using all training resources available and demonstrate work activities to new or inexperienced staff. Provide advice and informal clinical supervision for staff and direct to appropriate resources which facilitate evidence‑based nursing practice.
• To be aware of and appropriately implement national and Livewell Southwest policies and procedures governing a wide range of clinical and non‑clinical practices i.e. Clinical guidelines such as the safe administration of medicines, NICE guidelines, CPA etc. Non‑clinical policies and procedures such as Health and Safety legislation, COSHH, Fire regulations and Food Hygiene. To comment on and propose changes to draft policies and procedures.
• To be responsible in attitude towards economy of resources and care of equipment and property including; the day to day financial management of petty cash; safe storage and recording of patient monies; stock control of all supplies e.g. stationary, medicines, food office supplies etc and the health and safety of the environment.
• To be responsible for the safe use of unit vehicles and the accurate recording of mileage. To be responsible for carrying out risk assessments and planning to reduce risk when transporting patients.
• To undertake appraisal and line management supervision of junior staff.

Professional Development and Education

• To undertake mandatory and other training as directed by the Livewell Southwest and Unit Manager or Deputy Unit Manager. This will include Physical Intervention Training.
• To be responsible for the development of their own practice, managerial development and to keep up to date with evidence‑based developments in mental health nursing or their sphere of practice in line with revalidation, as part of participating in the Livewell Southwest appraisal system.
• To ensure they receive line management support and participate in clinical supervision.

Clinical Governance

• To understand responsibilities under clinical governance and to contribute to the delivery of an appropriate and good quality service in a safe environment.
• To contribute to any audit process within the Livewell Southwest as appropriate.

Corporate Responsibilities

• The post holder will behave in a manner that does not bring the service and Livewell Southwest into disrepute.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• RMN/Dip HE
• BSc Mental Health
• RNLD
• and
• active registration with the NMC
• Supervision of Students

Experience

• Multi-disciplinary working.
• Relevant transferable healthcare experience of working with adults with a history mental health issues.
• Supervising junior staff
• Undertake line Management and appraisals
• Networking with other agencies.
• Experience of care coordination/named worker role/Lead professional
• Experience of working and supporting students

Knowledge

• Confidentiality.
• Knowledge base of psychiatric illnesses
• Current knowledge of developments and nursing in healthcare
• Safeguarding and MCA processes and frameworks
• Knowledge of the Care Programme Approach
• Knowledge of Personalised Care Framework
• MCA/DOLS.
• Mental Health Act.
• Completion of CPA and Care
• Physically fit and able to undertake physical Intervention training and annual updates
• Knowledge of NICE guidelines in relation to mental health and the ability to apply evidence‑based practice.
• Physical Health/Health promotion initiatives
• Ethical issues in relation to Mental Health.
• Familiarisation in working with electronic patient record systems
• Interest and awareness of national and local services developments.
• Knowledge of substance misuse and the impact of this on mental and physical health

Skills

• Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner within a team including:
• Communication and liaison skills.
• Self‑management ability.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Crisis management.
• Lone working.
• Ability to recognise and support stress in others.
• Group Interaction Skills.
• Specific Therapeutic interventions.
• Good working knowledge of the Care Quality Commission.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working