Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Modern Matron - Older Persons Mental Health

The closing date is 30 July 2025

Job summary

Following the retirement of the current postholder, there is an exciting opportunity for a talented and highly motivated senior nurse leader with a background in Mental Health to join the team. The applicant should have an interest in improving the quality and safety of mental health services, be willing to work collaboratively and develop strong links with the acute wards to ensure that our patients needs are treated holistically.

This post covers the Older Persons Mental Health inpatient wards (Cragside and Sunniside), and the Older Persons Psychiatric Liaison Team, with some flexibility as required to meet the service need. The ideal applicant will have a background of working in older persons mental health inpatient or liaison services, although this is not essential.

The postholder will be expected to working in partnership with the Clinical Business Manager, Clinical Lead, and rest of the senior leadership team to suppor the delivery of this service, improving quality, safety and patient experience and ensure compliance with CQC regulations and Mental Health Act.

Informal contact to express interest in the role welcomed. Part time hours of 30hours per week would be considered for the right candidate.

Main duties of the job

The main purpose of the job is to lead and support the provision of high quality, safe and effective patient care and services and continuous improvement of the patient experience by providing effective, professional nurse leadership to the Division.

Provide strong dynamic management and leadership working in collaboration with the Clinical Business Manager, Chief Matron, Matrons, Ward managers / Clinical Nurse Lead / Charge nurses / Specialist nurses and other clinicians.

Take a lead role in developing and improving nursing practice and education throughout the service, to ensure high quality, safe and effective health care services for patients.

Support the Clinical Business Manager in delivering high quality effective services within budget, identifying opportunities for cost improvement where possible.

Accountable for the monitoring and maintenance of professional standards within the service and contribute to the strategy for Nursing and Midwifery, which delivers excellence in nursing and midwifery care.

Responsible and accountable for ensuring a safe, clean clinical environment, including leading on infection prevention and control and safeguarding priorities for the business unit.

Responsible and accountable, along with the Clinical Business Manager, for ensuring the service meets statutory, regulatory and legal requirements associated with the service.

About us

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronymICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

Details

Date posted

16 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year Occasional enhancements if working outside of core business hours

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

297-7264279

Job locations

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Windy Nook Road

Gateshead

NE9 6SX


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Personal Specification for full information:

Registered Mental Health Nurse 1st level and current NMC Registration

Degree in Health related subject

Evidence of Post Graduate study

Masters Degree relevant to nursing practice (or willing to complete within 3 years)

Significant experience managing inpatient services.

Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal and communication skills

Leadership qualification

Significant senior nurse experience

Teaching qualification and the ability to facilitate learning to others

Experience in change management

Ability to cope with and diffuse difficult and stressful situations

Excellent organisational skills

Risk management knowledge

IT skills

Flexible approach to work

Budget management skills

Conflict management skills

Clinical Governance knowledge

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Personal Specification for full information:

Registered Mental Health Nurse 1st level and current NMC Registration

Degree in Health related subject

Evidence of Post Graduate study

Masters Degree relevant to nursing practice (or willing to complete within 3 years)

Significant experience managing inpatient services.

Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal and communication skills

Leadership qualification

Significant senior nurse experience

Teaching qualification and the ability to facilitate learning to others

Experience in change management

Ability to cope with and diffuse difficult and stressful situations

Excellent organisational skills

Risk management knowledge

IT skills

Flexible approach to work

Budget management skills

Conflict management skills

Clinical Governance knowledge

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Registered Mental Health Nurse , with current registration
  • Degree in Health Related Subject
  • Masters Degree relevant to practice
  • Leadership Qualification
  • Evidence of ongoing CPD
  • Teaching Qualification or similar
  • Full Clean Driving Licence

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience at Band 7 or above in Mental Health
  • Sigificant experience of working in mental health inpatients
  • Sigificant experience of effectively managing people and resources
  • Demonstratable experience of change mangagement
  • Demonstratable experience of managing a budget
  • Experience of delivering clinical and management supervision
  • Experience of audit and research

Skills, knowledge and aptitude

Essential

  • Demonstratable experience in managing conflict
  • Awareness of current policy drivers for mental health
  • Experience of managing risk
  • Attention to detail

Desirable

  • Experience in writing policies
Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Registered Mental Health Nurse , with current registration
  • Degree in Health Related Subject
  • Masters Degree relevant to practice
  • Leadership Qualification
  • Evidence of ongoing CPD
  • Teaching Qualification or similar
  • Full Clean Driving Licence

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience at Band 7 or above in Mental Health
  • Sigificant experience of working in mental health inpatients
  • Sigificant experience of effectively managing people and resources
  • Demonstratable experience of change mangagement
  • Demonstratable experience of managing a budget
  • Experience of delivering clinical and management supervision
  • Experience of audit and research

Skills, knowledge and aptitude

Essential

  • Demonstratable experience in managing conflict
  • Awareness of current policy drivers for mental health
  • Experience of managing risk
  • Attention to detail

Desirable

  • Experience in writing policies

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

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Windy Nook Road

Gateshead

NE9 6SX


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Windy Nook Road

Gateshead

NE9 6SX


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Business Manager

Kate Clark

kate.clark12@nhs.net

07713759887

Details

Date posted

16 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year Occasional enhancements if working outside of core business hours

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

297-7264279

Job locations

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Windy Nook Road

Gateshead

NE9 6SX


Supporting documents

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