Registered Mental Health / Learning Disabilities Nurse Band 5

Job description

About

A Vacancy at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

Are you a newly qualified or experienced Registered Nurse seeking a rewarding challenge within a supportive, expert Multi-Disciplinary Team? The National Autism Unit (NAU) offers opportunity to develop specialist competencies in autistic spectrum disorders, supporting adults men through acute and complex recovery pathways.

The NAU is a specialist 15 bedded inpatient service that provides assessment and treatment to men with autism (ASD), offering support in regards:

• Comorbid mental illness associated with severe functional impairment​ 

• Complexity and/or risk that necessitate an inpatient environment​ 

• Expertise in adapting evidence-based treatments

• Expert care and treatment for complex presentations

• Comprehensive MDT assessment, diagnosis and formulation of developmental and mental health conditions. Incl. sensory and information processing factors associated with neurodiversity.

• Psychological interventions

What We Are Looking For

Academic Qualifications (Essential):

BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing (or equivalent Level 6 degree), OR

Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) in Mental Health Nursing, OR

MSc / Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing (via an accredited graduate-entry program)

Professional Registration (Essential):

Active registration on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register as a Registered Nurse – Mental Health (Part 1)

Desirable Criteria:

Mentorship qualification 

Evidence of post-registration training (e.g., CBT, DBT, or trauma-informed care)

As a Registered Nurse your role encompasses the direct care of service users on the ward as well as the co-ordination of care given by colleagues. You will need to be responsive and adaptive to the wards needs with a strong ability to engage with service users and their families. Alongside the multi-disciplinary team, you will be expected to develop individualized, recovery focused plans and ensure best practice to comply with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code of professional conduct.  There is a strong emphasis on communication, an openness to learn and reflect and to have a proactive engagement work style, with a commitment to supporting the team.  

 

The main duties of your role will include holding the position of Nurse in Charge on shift as well as completing; dynamic and individualised risk assessments and management of risk incidences, clinical handovers and planning, leadership and decision making, safe medication management, communication and team working and the supervision and support of junior staff where required. 

 

 

SLaM has the largest and most specialised  NAU services in the country and is on the forefront of personalised support for Adults with comorbid presentation of autistic spectrum disorder  and enduring Mental Health Needs. We pride ourselves in delivering personalised support to service users and their families / carers.

 

We are currently recruiting for The National Autism Unit (NAU) at the Bethlem Royal Hospital.

 

We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family. We want you to feel like you are part of a close knit team at SLaM. It’s important to us that you valued and appreciated and that is why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer

 

Some of our benefits are highlighted here:

 

Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.

Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options.

Career development, There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes

Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites

 

1. Carry out a full range of registered nurse duties, including assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of the patient’s condition and care. Maintain the privacy and dignity of all patients whilst adhering to Trust and department policies, reporting any difficulties with these duties to wider MDT. 

2. Works without direct supervision.

3. Maintains a safe environment when caring for patients, including those patients requiring frequent levels of monitoring.

4. Monitors all patient care and treatment, maintaining high standards and quality at all times.

5. Documents incidents on Datix in real time and escalated these to nurse in charge and is area of trust risk management and how to raise concerns policies

6. Is able to prioritise nursing care, recognise deterioration in a patient’s condition

7. Maintains accurate, contemporaneous and legible written records of care.

8. Uses effective communication, written and verbal with all levels of staff including the multidisciplinary team, patients and relatives.

9. Adheres to the agreed procedures as identified, and promotes by example, a high standard of good quality nursing care in the department.

10. Fosters good relationships with other departments, the multidisciplinary team and visitors to the unit. Helps to achieve and maintain morale for both staff and patients.

11. Participates in the health education and explanation of treatment to patients and relatives

12. Adheres to the Trust’s dress code policy.

13. Responsible as a trained nurse for the control and administration of drugs within the regulations outlined in SLaM’s Medicine Policy and the NMC and completes the medication competency

14. Participates in ward projects, enhancing the standards of care. 

15. Contribute to the learning environment conducive for nursing students and other staff in training.

16.. Attend all Mandatory training and ensure that updates are booked in a timely fashion and agreed by the Ward Manager

 

This advert closes on Monday 26 Oct 2026