Job summary
About the Role
South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dynamic and experienced Band 7 Physical Health Nurse to lead the Forensic Directorate Physical Health Team. This role is mainly based at River House, Bethlem Royal Hospital, a modern, purpose-built environment designed to support high-quality care and collaborative working.
This pivotal role combines advanced clinical practice with operational leadership to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care for individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) across eight inpatient wards and five community services, including Forensic Integrated Psychological Therapy Team (FIPTS).
You will join a dedicated multidisciplinary team that values professionalism, compassion, and innovation. Our culture is built on respect, inclusivity, and continuous improvement, creating an atmosphere where staff are empowered to lead change and deliver outstanding care. Working within the Forensic Directorate means being part of a supportive network of Matrons, Consultants, Service Managers, and allied professionals who share a commitment to excellence and patient safety.
You will play a key role in shaping physical health provision, driving service development, and ensuring compliance with national standards and the Trust's Physical Health Strategy.
Main duties of the job
Main Duties of the Role Include (but are not limited to):
- Deliver expert physical health assessments, interventions, and ongoing monitoring for individuals with Serious Mental Illness in forensic settings.
- Lead and coordinate physical health services across inpatient and community pathways, ensuring consistent, high-quality standards of care.
- Oversee the GP suite operations and establish physical health clinics within community teams.
- Maintain accurate clinical records and produce performance reports using digital systems and dashboards.
- Manage staff and patient vaccination programs and ensure compliance with Infection Prevention and Control policies.
- Drive quality improvement initiatives, service development, and clinical governance activities.
- Provide training, supervision, and professional development for staff and trainees to embed physical health competence across the workforce.
- Build strong relationships with service users, carers, and external partners to improve access to physical healthcare.
- Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of care delivery.
The role requires close collaboration with senior clinical and operational leaders, external healthcare providers, and internal Trust teams such as digital and analytics, IPC, and medical devices governance. Working together, you will ensure safe, compliant, and data-driven physical health services that meet the needs of forensic patients and support the Trust's commitment to excellence in care.
About us
Why Join Us?Working in our Forensic Services offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference in a challenging yet rewarding environment. You'll benefit from strong team support, access to professional development, and the chance to work in a service that values innovation, collaboration, and compassionate care.
About You
- Registered Nurse (RGN/RMN) with post-graduate training in physical health assessment and management.
- Significant clinical experience in acute or forensic settings.
- Strong leadership, data analysis, and quality improvement skills.
- Excellent communication and ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Clinical Expert Practice
- Provide advanced assessment, investigations, and interventions for people with SMI in forensic settings, ensuring care is evidence-based and trauma-informed.
- Deliver timely physical health screening, monitoring, and treatment, including long-term condition management and equitable access to primary/secondary care.
- Act as a physical health specialist, supporting diagnosis, treatment planning, and prescribing (where qualified).
- Provide specialist interventions (e.g., complex wound care, catheter care) and respond to early signs of deterioration.
- Promote sexual and reproductive health through screening and referral pathways.
Operational Leadership
- Lead the physical health agenda across inpatient and community forensic pathways.
- Oversee GP suite operations and establish physical health clinics within CMHTs.
- Support medical devices governance and compliance.
Digital, Data & Reporting
- Maintain accurate clinical records and manage scheduling, referrals, and DNA follow-up.
- Design and maintain physical health monitoring systems; produce performance reports and dashboards.
Vaccination & IPC
- Coordinate staff and patient vaccination programs and ensure compliance with IPC policies.
Quality Improvement & Governance
- Lead QI projects, audits, and pathway redesign; maintain protocols and risk assessments.
- Manage contracts with external providers and oversee resources.
Education & Workforce Development
- Deliver training, supervision, and professional development for staff and trainees.
Stakeholder Engagement & EDI
- Build strong relationships with service users, carers, and external partners.
- Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of care delivery.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Clinical Expert Practice
- Provide advanced assessment, investigations, and interventions for people with SMI in forensic settings, ensuring care is evidence-based and trauma-informed.
- Deliver timely physical health screening, monitoring, and treatment, including long-term condition management and equitable access to primary/secondary care.
- Act as a physical health specialist, supporting diagnosis, treatment planning, and prescribing (where qualified).
- Provide specialist interventions (e.g., complex wound care, catheter care) and respond to early signs of deterioration.
- Promote sexual and reproductive health through screening and referral pathways.
Operational Leadership
- Lead the physical health agenda across inpatient and community forensic pathways.
- Oversee GP suite operations and establish physical health clinics within CMHTs.
- Support medical devices governance and compliance.
Digital, Data & Reporting
- Maintain accurate clinical records and manage scheduling, referrals, and DNA follow-up.
- Design and maintain physical health monitoring systems; produce performance reports and dashboards.
Vaccination & IPC
- Coordinate staff and patient vaccination programs and ensure compliance with IPC policies.
Quality Improvement & Governance
- Lead QI projects, audits, and pathway redesign; maintain protocols and risk assessments.
- Manage contracts with external providers and oversee resources.
Education & Workforce Development
- Deliver training, supervision, and professional development for staff and trainees.
Stakeholder Engagement & EDI
- Build strong relationships with service users, carers, and external partners.
- Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of care delivery.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- First level nursing qualification-registration or Dual Registration (RMN, RGN)
- Post-graduate training and experience in the assessment and management of physical health conditions.
Desirable
- Clinical Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor training (NMC 2018)
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-qualification RGN experience in acute inpatient settings or equivalent.
- Experience working as a Registered Nurse/care coordinator/community practitioner; collaborative MDT working to assess, plan and implement car
- Clinical governance and audit
- Experience of providing clinical supervision and appraisal in a clinical setting.
- Experience of working independently without supervision and develop work plans that improve clinical delivery
Desirable
- Experience of assessment and treatment of people with SMI and co-morbid physical health conditions.
- Demonstrable leadership in QI/service development and compliance reporting (e.g., dashboards, board reports).
- Experience teaching / training others.
Knowledge / Skills
Essential
- Strong working knowledge of diabetes, hypertension, delirium, wound care and Desirable Requirements ? Phlebotomy qualification and current skill infection (including sepsis); risk assessment and clinical judgement.
- Understanding of aggravating/ maintaining factors in physical health with comorbid mental disorders; safeguarding children & vulnerable adults; confidentiality/information sharing.
- Excellent written and verbal communication; time management; digital literacy and data entry across clinical systems (e.g., ePJS).
- Ability to interpret, analyze and present data for governance and performance monitoring; apply NICE guidance and evidence-based practice.
- Leadership and change-management skills; effective MDT working in complex, changing environments.
Desirable
- Phlebotomy qualification and current skill
- Advanced clinical Skills
- Ability to work as part of a team offering support to those with different professional backgrounds
- Knowledge of relevant research and its application to assessment, treatment and case management.
- Research informed and evidencebased methods of assessment, treatment and case management.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- First level nursing qualification-registration or Dual Registration (RMN, RGN)
- Post-graduate training and experience in the assessment and management of physical health conditions.
Desirable
- Clinical Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor training (NMC 2018)
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-qualification RGN experience in acute inpatient settings or equivalent.
- Experience working as a Registered Nurse/care coordinator/community practitioner; collaborative MDT working to assess, plan and implement car
- Clinical governance and audit
- Experience of providing clinical supervision and appraisal in a clinical setting.
- Experience of working independently without supervision and develop work plans that improve clinical delivery
Desirable
- Experience of assessment and treatment of people with SMI and co-morbid physical health conditions.
- Demonstrable leadership in QI/service development and compliance reporting (e.g., dashboards, board reports).
- Experience teaching / training others.
Knowledge / Skills
Essential
- Strong working knowledge of diabetes, hypertension, delirium, wound care and Desirable Requirements ? Phlebotomy qualification and current skill infection (including sepsis); risk assessment and clinical judgement.
- Understanding of aggravating/ maintaining factors in physical health with comorbid mental disorders; safeguarding children & vulnerable adults; confidentiality/information sharing.
- Excellent written and verbal communication; time management; digital literacy and data entry across clinical systems (e.g., ePJS).
- Ability to interpret, analyze and present data for governance and performance monitoring; apply NICE guidance and evidence-based practice.
- Leadership and change-management skills; effective MDT working in complex, changing environments.
Desirable
- Phlebotomy qualification and current skill
- Advanced clinical Skills
- Ability to work as part of a team offering support to those with different professional backgrounds
- Knowledge of relevant research and its application to assessment, treatment and case management.
- Research informed and evidencebased methods of assessment, treatment and case management.
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.
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.
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).
