Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team providing care for young people in a mental health inpatient unit.
- Company: Join Oxford Health, a trusted provider of mental health and social care across the region.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days annual leave, NHS discounts, and excellent career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on young lives while developing your nursing skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Must have RMN qualification; management training is a plus.
- Other info: Contact Tom Waterfield for an informal chat or to arrange a visit.
The predicted salary is between 38682 - 46580 £ per year.
Job overview
Are you looking for a leadership role within a specialist adolescent mental health service?
Marlborough House in Swindon, Wiltshire is seeking a Charge Nurse to join our 12-bed Tier 4 inpatient unit for young people aged 11 to 18. The team provides evidence-based care using a stepped model tailored to individual needs, focusing on stabilisation, recovery, and early discharge planning with close involvement from families and community services.
As Charge Nurse, you will support day-to-day leadership of the ward, including acting as the senior nurse during out-of-hours shifts. You will work closely with the Modern Matron and Clinical Nurse Lead to support staff development, including recruitment, induction, training, and supervision. The role also involves contributing to audits, maintaining clinical standards, and supporting service improvement.
You’ll need strong clinical judgement, a calm and reflective approach, and experience in acute inpatient care. CAMHS experience and knowledge of the Mental Health Act are desirable.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your nursing career and support the delivery of high-quality care to young people, we’d love to hear from you.
For an informal conversation or to arrange a visit, contact Maina Nyathi at Maina.Nyathi@Oxfordhealth.nhs.uk or Tom Waterfield at Thomas.Waterfield@Oxfordhealth.nhs.uk.
Main duties of the job
- Provide high-quality nursing care within a therapeutic inpatient environment for young people, supporting care planning, treatment delivery, and family involvement while working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Support communication within the team by ensuring accurate documentation, maintaining professional relationships, sharing updates from senior staff, and keeping young people and families informed and involved in care decisions.
- Contribute to the education and development of the nursing team by delivering supervision, mentoring staff and students, assisting with appraisals, and supporting clinical training and governance initiatives.
- Take on leadership responsibilities including shift coordination, staff support, policy implementation, incident reporting, recruitment, and ensuring compliance with clinical and professional standards.
- Promote a safe environment by following health and safety policies, reporting incidents or equipment faults, assessing risks, and contributing to audits and continuous service improvement.
Please refer to the job description attached for a comprehensive list of duties.
Working for our organisation
Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the “candidate guide to making an application” and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.
As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”
Our values are: “Caring, safe and excellent”
We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the “supporting statement” element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.
The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.
Person specification
Qualification
Essential criteria
- Must have RMN qualification
Desirable criteria
- Additional training in management or relevant specialism
Knowledge and skills
Essential criteria
- Good level of understanding of child protection issues
- Understanding of evidence based interventions for treating of mental illness in young people
- Management/leadership ability and experience
- Experience and ability to work with complex family dynamic\’s.
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Must be able to demonstrate core values consistent with those of the Trust.
Desirable criteria
- Must also be able to demonstrate capacity for a proactive and reflective approach and resilience as required
Documents to Download
- Charge Nurse Job Description (PDF, 311.9KB)
- Guidance Notes for Candidates Applying for a job at OHFT (PDF, 424.6KB)
Recruiter Contact Details
Name: Tom Waterfield
Title: Modern Matron
Email: thomas.waterfield@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Telephone: 01865 903480
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Charge Nurse NEW Swindon Posted today £38,682 - £46,580 Per annum | pro-rata Band 6 employer: Oxford Health
Contact Detail:
Oxford Health Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Charge Nurse NEW Swindon Posted today £38,682 - £46,580 Per annum | pro-rata Band 6
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of adolescent mental health care. Understanding the unique challenges faced by young people aged 11 to 18 will help you demonstrate your commitment and suitability for the role during any discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Reach out to current or former staff at Marlborough House to gain insights into the team dynamics and the day-to-day responsibilities of a Charge Nurse. This can provide you with valuable information to discuss in your interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and experiences in managing teams, especially in high-pressure environments. Highlighting your ability to support staff development and maintain clinical standards will be crucial.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your understanding of the Mental Health Act and its application in a clinical setting. Being able to articulate how you would ensure compliance and advocate for young people's rights will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Charge Nurse NEW Swindon Posted today £38,682 - £46,580 Per annum | pro-rata Band 6
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure your supporting statement is specifically tailored to the Charge Nurse role. Highlight your relevant experience in adolescent mental health, leadership skills, and understanding of the Mental Health Act.
Address Essential Criteria: Carefully review the essential and desirable criteria listed in the job description. Ensure you address each point in your application to demonstrate how you meet these requirements.
Showcase Relevant Experience: Include specific examples from your past roles that showcase your clinical judgement, ability to work with complex family dynamics, and experience in acute inpatient care. Use clear and concise language.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, thoroughly proofread your application for any spelling or grammatical errors. A well-presented application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism.
How to prepare for a job interview at Oxford Health
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Charge Nurse, you'll be expected to lead a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, particularly in high-pressure situations. Highlight your ability to support staff development and maintain clinical standards.
✨Demonstrate Your Clinical Knowledge
Familiarise yourself with evidence-based interventions for treating mental illness in young people. Be ready to discuss your understanding of the Mental Health Act and how it applies to your role, as this will show your preparedness for the position.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your clinical judgement and decision-making skills. Think about scenarios you might face in the role and how you would handle them, especially regarding family involvement and multidisciplinary teamwork.
✨Align with the Trust's Values
Research Oxford Health's values of 'Caring, safe and excellent'. Be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with these and provide examples from your experience that demonstrate your commitment to delivering outstanding care.
