Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Practice Development Nurse - Mental Health

The closing date is 24 December 2025

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Mental Health Practice Development Nurse (Band 7) to support the education, professional development, and clinical practice standards of nursing staff within Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC), including the Emergency Department, and Acute and General Medicine (AGM) inpatient wards.

Working as part of the Mental Health Enhanced Care Team, and closely with Departmental Sisters/Charge Nurses and the wider multidisciplinary teams, you will ensure staff are skilled, confident, and competent in delivering safe, compassionate, person-centred, trauma-informed, and least-restrictive care to patients with complex mental health needs.

You will lead and deliver specialist training, mentorship, and clinical supervision, supporting staff development, statutory and mandatory training, and preceptorship programmes. You will monitor and evaluate clinical practice, contribute to quality improvement initiatives, and help embed evidence-based standards across the directorates. You will work clinically, driving improvements in the standard and quality of care being delivered, leading by example.

This is a unique opportunity to shape mental health care in a fast-paced acute hospital environment, bridging mental and physical health pathways, enhancing staff confidence, and improving outcomes for patients experiencing mental health crises.

Closing date: 24/12/2025

Main duties of the job

The Mental Health Practice Development Nurse (PDN) will lead and coordinate education, training, and professional development for nursing staff across UEC and AGM wards, supporting patients with complex mental health needs. Working closely with non-mental health PDNs, Matrons, and multidisciplinary teams, the post holder will help staff build the skills, knowledge, and confidence required to deliver high-quality, person-centred mental health care. They will champion compassionate, trauma-informed, and least-restrictive approaches.

Key duties include designing, delivering, and evaluating specialist training, alongside providing clinical supervision, mentorship, and preceptorship. The PDN will monitor practice standards, support quality improvement activity, contribute to audits, and embed evidence-based care. They will identify learning needs, promote reflective practice, and support staff following challenging incidents to sustain a psychologically safe environment.

The PDN will support statutory and mandatory training, the development of new and existing staff, and the integration of mental and physical health pathways. Acting as an expert resource for clinical problem-solving, they will escalate concerns appropriately and contribute to service development. This role provides a vital link between clinical education, practice improvement, and frontline mental health care in a fast-paced acute hospital setting.

About us

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation. See www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk.

We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark. See www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk

We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research's biomedical research centres, established with King's College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities. See www.kingshealthpartners.org

We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.

Date posted

10 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum inc HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

196-NM13481-M

Job locations

St Thomas' Hospital

Westminster Bridge Road

London

SE17EH

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Spec for more detailed description of the role of a PDN in GSTT/

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Spec for more detailed description of the role of a PDN in GSTT/

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Registered Mental Health Nurse or dual registered RN/ RN(MH) or RN(LD)/ RN(MH). To hold the appropriate level for the area of speciality.
Specialist professional knowledge of mentorship, education and development practice to post-graduate level or equivalent

Desirable

Postgraduate Certificate Advanced Practice

Experience

Essential

Experience of designing, delivering and evaluating training sessions / programmes
Significant post registration experience within mental health
Experience of mentoring/ supervising/ assessing students and junior colleagues in practice
Leadership/ management experience

Desirable

Experience working in an Acute Hospital

Skills/ Abilities

Essential

Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal & communication skills
Excellent time management and organisational skills, particularly re: working to deadlines
Ability to confidently and articulately present to large audiences

Knowledge

Essential

Understanding of the principles of teaching and learning and their application within the practice setting
Understanding and knowledge of curriculum design and development.
Knowledge of local, regional and national policies pertaining to practice experience and education
Knowledge of recruitment, selection, performance management and disciplinary procedures.
Understanding of the interface between physical and mental health

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Registered Mental Health Nurse or dual registered RN/ RN(MH) or RN(LD)/ RN(MH). To hold the appropriate level for the area of speciality.
Specialist professional knowledge of mentorship, education and development practice to post-graduate level or equivalent

Desirable

Postgraduate Certificate Advanced Practice

Experience

Essential

Experience of designing, delivering and evaluating training sessions / programmes
Significant post registration experience within mental health
Experience of mentoring/ supervising/ assessing students and junior colleagues in practice
Leadership/ management experience

Desirable

Experience working in an Acute Hospital

Skills/ Abilities

Essential

Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal & communication skills
Excellent time management and organisational skills, particularly re: working to deadlines
Ability to confidently and articulately present to large audiences

Knowledge

Essential

Understanding of the principles of teaching and learning and their application within the practice setting
Understanding and knowledge of curriculum design and development.
Knowledge of local, regional and national policies pertaining to practice experience and education
Knowledge of recruitment, selection, performance management and disciplinary procedures.
Understanding of the interface between physical and mental health

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Thomas' Hospital

Westminster Bridge Road

London

SE17EH

Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Thomas' Hospital

Westminster Bridge Road

London

SE17EH

Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)