Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

EIP (PATH) Clinical Nurse Specialist

The closing date is 22 March 2026

Job summary

An exciting opportunity to cover maternity leave for the post of Clinical Nurse Specialist has become vacant within the Early Intervention in Psychosis service (PATH) , a countywide service in Hertfordshire.

Taking responsibility for making a significant contribution to the nursing input, participating fully in the referral and allocation process, assessments, treatment, risk management, safeguarding vulnerable children and adults, care coordination of service users as well as contributing to monitoring physical health, medication management, case discussions and service related meetings.

Offering consultations and supervision to colleagues and students as well as staff in other services.

Main duties of the job

Provide the nursing perspective to the clinical work of the team and to the delivery of all aspects of the service, advising on the appropriateness of referrals for a nursing oriented approach, and maintaining a small clinical caseload of highly complex and demanding cases.

To provide a highly specialist, holistic assessment of referrals in order to formulate and implement plans for the treatment and management of care based on an appropriate conceptual framework employing research based evidence, NICE guidelines and EIP standards.

To use highly specialist knowledge and experience to identify, analyse and interpret highly complex problem behaviour and inter-actionable patterns making appropriate formulations to prioritise, engage and intervene effectively to assist service users, carers and families.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission

Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Details

Date posted

13 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

Depending on experience per annum, pro rata + 5% of basic salary (min £1,192 max £2,011)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

10 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

367-ACMS-10151

Job locations

99 Waverley Road, St Albans, AL3 5TL

99 Waverley Road, St Albans, AL35TL

St Albans

AL3 5TL


Job description

Job responsibilities

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (Band 7) provides highly specialist nursing leadership within the PATH Early Intervention in Psychosis service. The post holder will deliver expert assessment, treatment, risk management and care coordination for service users with complex mental health needs, ensuring safe, effective and recoveryfocused care in line with national guidance and Trust policies.

The role includes managing a small caseload of highly complex cases, contributing specialist nursing expertise to MDT formulation and decisionmaking, and supporting alternatives to inpatient admission through assertive, flexible communitybased interventions. The post holder will lead on physical health monitoring, medicines management, infection prevention and control, and the safe use of medical devices, working closely with the medicines management team.

The Clinical Nurse Specialist will provide clinical supervision, consultation, training and leadership to nursing staff and MDT colleagues, supporting professional development, student nurse placements, and the embedding of high standards of nursing practice across PATH. The role also contributes to service development, quality improvement, audit and innovation, working collaboratively with operational managers and senior clinicians.

The post holder will demonstrate advanced clinical judgement, autonomy, and accountability, ensuring robust safeguarding practice, effective risk assessment and management, highquality documentation, and compliance with professional, ethical and organisational standards

For a more indepth Person and Job Description please read the attached documents before applying

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (Band 7) provides highly specialist nursing leadership within the PATH Early Intervention in Psychosis service. The post holder will deliver expert assessment, treatment, risk management and care coordination for service users with complex mental health needs, ensuring safe, effective and recoveryfocused care in line with national guidance and Trust policies.

The role includes managing a small caseload of highly complex cases, contributing specialist nursing expertise to MDT formulation and decisionmaking, and supporting alternatives to inpatient admission through assertive, flexible communitybased interventions. The post holder will lead on physical health monitoring, medicines management, infection prevention and control, and the safe use of medical devices, working closely with the medicines management team.

The Clinical Nurse Specialist will provide clinical supervision, consultation, training and leadership to nursing staff and MDT colleagues, supporting professional development, student nurse placements, and the embedding of high standards of nursing practice across PATH. The role also contributes to service development, quality improvement, audit and innovation, working collaboratively with operational managers and senior clinicians.

The post holder will demonstrate advanced clinical judgement, autonomy, and accountability, ensuring robust safeguarding practice, effective risk assessment and management, highquality documentation, and compliance with professional, ethical and organisational standards

For a more indepth Person and Job Description please read the attached documents before applying

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse ( Mental Health/Learning Disability)
  • Teaching certificate including annual update (ENB 998), or equivalent.
  • Evidence of CPD
  • Nurse Independent Prescriber

Desirable

  • MSc in specific therapeutic treatment modality e.g. systemic practice, cognitive behavioural therapy.
  • Post graduate clinical and therapeutic qualification related to the community.

Experience

Essential

  • Sound experience of working in a range of settings relevant to the post
  • Experience of nurse independent prescribing for relevant service user group
  • Experience of working with service users presenting with emotional/psychological difficulties and challenging behaviour with their families and wider networks in situations of crisis and emotionally demanding environments.
  • Experience and knowledge of implementing safeguarding procedures for children and adults
  • Experience of teaching and training in practice

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of recent developments in mental health/learning disability provision for specific service user group including government initiatives for working with a range of service users with challenging antisocial behaviour in education and the community
  • Knowledge of current developments in research and its application with the specific service user group

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to teach and train others using multi-media materials suitable for presentation within public, professional and academic settings
  • Facilitating clinical supervision
  • Skills in the use of complex methods of assessment and treatment of individual, couples, families and groups frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
  • Prescribing medication for a group of service users, reviewing effectiveness and side effects.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse ( Mental Health/Learning Disability)
  • Teaching certificate including annual update (ENB 998), or equivalent.
  • Evidence of CPD
  • Nurse Independent Prescriber

Desirable

  • MSc in specific therapeutic treatment modality e.g. systemic practice, cognitive behavioural therapy.
  • Post graduate clinical and therapeutic qualification related to the community.

Experience

Essential

  • Sound experience of working in a range of settings relevant to the post
  • Experience of nurse independent prescribing for relevant service user group
  • Experience of working with service users presenting with emotional/psychological difficulties and challenging behaviour with their families and wider networks in situations of crisis and emotionally demanding environments.
  • Experience and knowledge of implementing safeguarding procedures for children and adults
  • Experience of teaching and training in practice

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of recent developments in mental health/learning disability provision for specific service user group including government initiatives for working with a range of service users with challenging antisocial behaviour in education and the community
  • Knowledge of current developments in research and its application with the specific service user group

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to teach and train others using multi-media materials suitable for presentation within public, professional and academic settings
  • Facilitating clinical supervision
  • Skills in the use of complex methods of assessment and treatment of individual, couples, families and groups frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
  • Prescribing medication for a group of service users, reviewing effectiveness and side effects.

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

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

99 Waverley Road, St Albans, AL3 5TL

99 Waverley Road, St Albans, AL35TL

St Albans

AL3 5TL


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

99 Waverley Road, St Albans, AL3 5TL

99 Waverley Road, St Albans, AL35TL

St Albans

AL3 5TL


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Matron for PATH

Piers Mundy

Piers.mundy@nhs.net

07971850503

Details

Date posted

13 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

Depending on experience per annum, pro rata + 5% of basic salary (min £1,192 max £2,011)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

10 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

367-ACMS-10151

Job locations

99 Waverley Road, St Albans, AL3 5TL

99 Waverley Road, St Albans, AL35TL

St Albans

AL3 5TL


Supporting documents

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