Job Description

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Mental Health Practice Development Nurse (Band 7) to support the education, professional development, and clinical practice standards of nursing staff within Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC), including the Emergency Department, and Acute and General Medicine (AGM) inpatient wards.



Working as part of the Mental Health Enhanced Care Team, and closely with Departmental Sisters/Charge Nurses and the wider multidisciplinary teams, you will ensure staff are skilled, confident, and competent in delivering safe, compassionate, person-centred, trauma-informed, and least-restrictive care to patients with complex mental health needs.



You will lead and deliver specialist training, mentorship, and clinical supervision, supporting staff development, statutory and mandatory training, and preceptorship programmes. You will monitor and evaluate clinical practice, contribute to quality improvement initiatives, and help embed evidence-based standards across the directorates. You will work clinically, driving improvements in the standard and quality of care being delivered, leading by example.



This is a unique opportunity to shape mental health care in a fast-paced acute hospital environment, bridging mental and physical health pathways, enhancing staff confidence, and improving outcomes for patients experiencing mental health crises.

Closing date:

24/12/2025



The Mental Health Practice Development Nurse (PDN) will lead and coordinate education, training, and professional development for nursing staff across UEC and AGM wards, supporting patients with complex mental health needs. Working closely with non-mental health PDNs, Matrons, and multidisciplinary teams, the post holder will help staff build the skills, knowledge, and confidence required to deliver high-quality, person-centred mental health care. They will champion compassionate, trauma-informed, and least-restrictive approaches.



Key duties include designing, delivering, and evaluating specialist training, alongside providing clinical supervision, mentorship, and preceptorship. The PDN will monitor practice standards, support quality improvement activity, contribute to audits, and embed evidence-based care. They will identify learning needs, promote reflective practice, and support staff following challenging incidents to sustain a psychologically safe environment.



The PDN will support statutory and mandatory training, the development of new and existing staff, and the integration of mental and physical health pathways. Acting as an expert resource for clinical problem-solving, they will escalate concerns appropriately and contribute to service development. This role provides a vital link between clinical education, practice improvement, and frontline mental health care in a fast-paced acute hospital setting.



Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation. See www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk.



We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark. See www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk



We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research's biomedical research centres, established with King's College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities. See www.kingshealthpartners.org



We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.



Please see attached and Person Spec for more detailed description of the role of a PDN in GSTT/