Oxford Health NHS Trust

Deputy Ward Manager - Cherwell Ward

The closing date is 19 February 2026

Job summary

Are you a Registered Mental Health Nurse, with an experience of leading and managing a team, or an aspiring leader ready to take on leadership and management responsibilities as well as motivated by the prospect of working with a supportive and dynamic team?

Then, Cherwell Ward is a place for you!

Cherwell ward is an 17 bedded acute ward for older women who have acute or severe or enduring mental illnesses, often with physical co-morbidities, which require monitoring and treatment which would otherwise not be able to be given in the community.

You will become part of a dynamic team for female patients requiring assessment, care and nursing interventions, within an environment that is fast paced, dynamic and high in engagement.

This will also include leading on the completion of audits

We have strengthened our nurse leadership, have clear and exciting nursing pathways with training and development to support aspirations alongside a range of pathways to choose and you will have access to training at Masters level.

What can you expect from us?

You will have a structured induction and ongoing support from managers and senior clinicians. We understand everyone has different commitments outside of work, so can offer flexibility around working hours and patterns.

Main duties of the job

We need your skills to support service users and to guide staff in planning care, monitoring risk and developing safe systems of working.

Our practice is guided by compassion, kindness and patience; and you will have a critical role in supporting this.

Particularly important to us is the respect for diversity, psychological safety and environmental safety, for which your contribution will be greatly valued by the MDT and service users. By adopting a QI methodology, you and the team will bring new and innovative ideas to this very special area of care.

Everyday Leadership also requires you to support a trauma informed approach to care planning. This offers a great opportunity to guide and teach the team and students to understand the importance of recognising the person in your care and managing the distress of that individual in a humanistic and least restrictive way.

Demonstrate ability to engage proactively with clients and their families/carers/significant others to build positive working alliances.
Demonstrate commitment to work alongside clients and their families/carers/significant others.
Ability to work with assessed needs embracing the wishes of the client in the acute inpatient setting.
Demonstrate ability to work collaboratively with community services in keeping with the recovery model.

About us

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application you are encouraged to read the "candidate guide to making an application" which is attached to all roles.

Please include details around qualifications (including years these were gained particularly if we need to assess for clinical roles that these are still valid) and ensure that the supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses the essential criteria found in the JD.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East 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"

At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

Excellent opportunities for career progression
Individual and Trust wide learning and development
27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
NHS Discount
Pension scheme
Lease car scheme
Employee Assistance Programme
Mental Health First Aiders
Staff accommodation (waiting lists may apply)
Staff networking and support groups

Date posted

05 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

267-OA7771859

Job locations

Cherwell Ward

Fulbrook Centre, Churchill Hospital Site

Headington

OX3 7JU

Job description

Job 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.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.

Job Description Subject to Evaluation.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Description Subject to Evaluation.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Registered Mental Health Nurse or Registered Learning Disability Nurse
Ability to communicate with a high level of effectiveness both verbally and in writing
Ability to work effectively in acute situations in order to maintain the safety of staff and patients.

Desirable

Have experience in a leadership and management role
Has previous experience in working as a qualified nurse in a mental health care setting
Has experience of facilitating teaching/learning sessions with junior staff
Experience of supporting student nurses as a practice supervisor and/or assessor

Knowledge

Essential

Theoretical knowledge of MHA legislation including the Mental Health Act 1983
Knowledge of safeguarding children and adults policy
Knowledge of neurodiversity and the impacts experienced by neurodiverse patients when admitted to mental health hospitals
Understands and works effectively within the principles of and structures for clinical governance

Personal Qualities

Essential

Effective leadership and motivational skills
Excellent communication and presentational skills
Able to take direction, instruction and appropriately delegate tasks to colleagues.
Able to organise and prioritise own time effectively.
Works effectively as part of MDT

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Registered Mental Health Nurse or Registered Learning Disability Nurse
Ability to communicate with a high level of effectiveness both verbally and in writing
Ability to work effectively in acute situations in order to maintain the safety of staff and patients.

Desirable

Have experience in a leadership and management role
Has previous experience in working as a qualified nurse in a mental health care setting
Has experience of facilitating teaching/learning sessions with junior staff
Experience of supporting student nurses as a practice supervisor and/or assessor

Knowledge

Essential

Theoretical knowledge of MHA legislation including the Mental Health Act 1983
Knowledge of safeguarding children and adults policy
Knowledge of neurodiversity and the impacts experienced by neurodiverse patients when admitted to mental health hospitals
Understands and works effectively within the principles of and structures for clinical governance

Personal Qualities

Essential

Effective leadership and motivational skills
Excellent communication and presentational skills
Able to take direction, instruction and appropriately delegate tasks to colleagues.
Able to organise and prioritise own time effectively.
Works effectively as part of MDT

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.

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

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

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

Cherwell Ward

Fulbrook Centre, Churchill Hospital Site

Headington

OX3 7JU

Employer's website

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

Cherwell Ward

Fulbrook Centre, Churchill Hospital Site

Headington

OX3 7JU

Employer's website

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)