Job summary
Lead Our Newly Reopened CAMHS Inpatient Unit
We are recruiting a Ward Manager for our newly redesigned Children and Young People's Mental Health Inpatient Unit, reopening in Autumn 2026.
Following extensive engagement, co-design and investment in our clinical model, workforce and environment, this is a unique opportunity to lead a modern, therapeutic CAMHS inpatient service where young people (aged 12-17) receive safe, purposeful and high-quality care.
About the unit
Our refreshed CAMHS inpatient service is built around:
- Purposeful admissions with early review points
- A structured, therapeutic 7-day programme, including evenings and weekends
- Strong integration with crisis and community services, including COAST (Crisis Outreach Acute Support Team)
- Trauma-informed and autism-aware practice
- A clear focus on reducing restrictive practice and improving outcomes
- Strengthened MDT working, safe staffing and robust clinical governance
As Ward Manager, you will have overall responsibility for creating and sustaining a therapeutic, well-led and compassionate ward culture, ensuring excellent clinical standards and staff wellbeing.
Main duties of the job
- Provide overall leadership and management of the CAMHS inpatient ward
- Ensure delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, trauma-informed nursing care
- Lead and support a multidisciplinary workforce, promoting a positive and inclusive team culture
- Maintain safe staffing, effective rota management and workforce planning
- Ensure robust clinical governance, risk management and safeguarding practice
- Take responsibility for quality, safety, complaints and learning from incidents
- Support service development, innovation and implementation of new ways of working
- Manage the ward within agreed budgets and resources
- Work in partnership with families, carers and external agencies to support effective care and discharge pathways
- Act as a visible clinical leader and role model for professional practice
You would work alongside a Band 7 Clinical Nurse Specialist who would lead on Quality Improvement and developing and maintaining high quality nursing care standards. Jointly, and with support from the matron, you would hold accountability for quality, safety and culture on the ward
This is an exciting opportunity to develop a new team and to lead on ensuring compassion driven values and excellent ward processors around patient care, family and career involvement, team communication and staff supervision and development
About us
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust delivers specialist mental health, learning disability and neurodevelopmental services across Sussex.
This post sits within the Specialist Services Division, working alongside CAMHS, forensic services, perinatal services, Early Intervention in Psychosis and neurodevelopmental pathways.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to creating a supportive environment where staff feel valued, developed and able to deliver their best care.
What we can offer you
Opportunity to work in a dynamic Acute CAMHS pathway
Comprehensive induction programme prior to opening where all new staff train together and contribute to the team's therapeutic approach
- Strong MDT working and supportive senior leadership
- High-quality supervision and reflective practice
- Opportunities for career development and progression
- Access to training, CPD and leadership development
- NHS Pension Scheme and Agenda for Change benefits
If you are an experienced nurse looking to develop your impact as a senior clinician and nurse leader and want to make a real difference to the lives of young people and families, we would love to hear from you.
LocationThe role is based in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, with on-site parking and excellent rail links to London (under 45 minutes), close proximity to Gatwick Airport, and easy access to both the Sussex coast and South Downs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As Ward Manager, you will provide overall leadership for the inpatient ward, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and person-centred care.
You will be responsible for workforce management, clinical governance, quality improvement and service development, working closely with senior nursing, medical and multidisciplinary colleagues.
You will play a key role in establishing and embedding a positive team culture, supporting staff development and ensuring high standards of professional practice across the service.
Person specification
Essential criteria
- Registered Mental Health Nurse with significant post-registration experience
- Strong background in acute mental health care
- Demonstrable experience of leading teams within inpatient or comparable settings
- Proven clinical leadership and people management skills
- Confidence in managing quality, safety and operational performance
- Commitment to trauma-informed, recovery-focused care
- Resilience, integrity and the ability to lead through change
- Passion for improving outcomes for children, young people and families
Job description
Job responsibilities
As Ward Manager, you will provide overall leadership for the inpatient ward, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and person-centred care.
You will be responsible for workforce management, clinical governance, quality improvement and service development, working closely with senior nursing, medical and multidisciplinary colleagues.
You will play a key role in establishing and embedding a positive team culture, supporting staff development and ensuring high standards of professional practice across the service.
Person specification
Essential criteria
- Registered Mental Health Nurse with significant post-registration experience
- Strong background in acute mental health care
- Demonstrable experience of leading teams within inpatient or comparable settings
- Proven clinical leadership and people management skills
- Confidence in managing quality, safety and operational performance
- Commitment to trauma-informed, recovery-focused care
- Resilience, integrity and the ability to lead through change
- Passion for improving outcomes for children, young people and families
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree/ diploma level with a relevant qualification or equivalent experience
- A / C Registered Nurse with current registration (mental health / LD/ Adult) appropriate to the job role
- Evidence of CPD
- A Completion of Mentorship Course/ENB equivalent
Knowledge/Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience of acute care in the care group and demonstrable achievement in clinical practice
- Experience of providing professional support/supervision and motivation of staff
- Understanding of Health and Social Care Governance
- Experience of managing staff
Desirable
- Previous experience in similar role
Skills
Essential
- Ability to provide and receive complex and emotive information with staff, service users, carers and other stakeholders
- An open and facilitative style of leadership which can be adapted when necessary to ensure delivery of objectives
- An understanding of effective systems for integrated governance and the management of clinical and non-clinical risks
- Good performance management skills combining clarity around expectations, direction and holding others to account
Approach and Values
Essential
- Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care Group and those of the Trust
- Resilient and self motivated with drive and vision that is able to work on own initiative and manage a range of priorities across competing agendas
- Empathy towards the needs of people using mental health and related services, and a vision of how services can make step changes for improvement
- Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree/ diploma level with a relevant qualification or equivalent experience
- A / C Registered Nurse with current registration (mental health / LD/ Adult) appropriate to the job role
- Evidence of CPD
- A Completion of Mentorship Course/ENB equivalent
Knowledge/Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience of acute care in the care group and demonstrable achievement in clinical practice
- Experience of providing professional support/supervision and motivation of staff
- Understanding of Health and Social Care Governance
- Experience of managing staff
Desirable
- Previous experience in similar role
Skills
Essential
- Ability to provide and receive complex and emotive information with staff, service users, carers and other stakeholders
- An open and facilitative style of leadership which can be adapted when necessary to ensure delivery of objectives
- An understanding of effective systems for integrated governance and the management of clinical and non-clinical risks
- Good performance management skills combining clarity around expectations, direction and holding others to account
Approach and Values
Essential
- Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care Group and those of the Trust
- Resilient and self motivated with drive and vision that is able to work on own initiative and manage a range of priorities across competing agendas
- Empathy towards the needs of people using mental health and related services, and a vision of how services can make step changes for improvement
- Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
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).
