Job Description

Join Our Forensic Inpatient Team



We are the only forensic inpatient service within our Trust, offering a unique and rewarding opportunity for Band 5 Registered Nurses to make a real difference.

Our 20-bedded male low secure forensic unit includes:

8-bedded Admissions and Assessment Ward - providing initial assessments and stabilisation.



12-bedded Rehabilitation Ward - supporting skill development, risk management, and progress toward safe discharge.



We provide 24-hour, specialist care for individuals with severe and enduring mental illnesses, often with a forensic history and risks requiring a low secure setting.

As a Band 5 Nurse, you will:

Work within a close, multidisciplinary team.



Deliver high-quality, evidence-based care throughout the low secure pathway.



Balance clinical needs with risk management, aiming for safe rehabilitation into the community.



We work closely with Forensic Community Teams, the IMPACT Provider Collaborative , other secure services, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Quality Network , ensuring we meet and exceed national standards.



Forensic or secure service experience is an advantage but not essential - we welcome those with a genuine interest and commitment to learning. You must be passionate about supporting recovery, promoting wellbeing, and enabling safe community reintegration.



This is more than a nursing role - it's a chance to be part of a skilled, supportive team shaping recovery journeys and safer futures.



Key Responsibilities



The post holder will act as a professional role model , promoting the delivery of high-quality, compassionate, evidence-based nursing care .



Care Planning and Risk Management



Maintain accurate, up-to-date care plans tailored to individual needs.



Create, review, and update care plans, risk assessments, risk management plans, safety plans, and Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) plans.



Use current research to guide assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care.



Service User and Carer Involvement



Embed the Care Programme Approach (CPA) into practice, maximising service user and carer involvement in decision-making.



Promote collaboration and person-centred care that supports recovery.



Multi-Disciplinary and Legal Responsibilities



Attend MDMs, CPA reviews, and Mental Health Tribunals, presenting updates for named patients and deputising where needed.



Ensure compliance with the Mental Health Act , Mental Capacity Act , and Medicines Code .



Communication and Teamwork



Build respectful, therapeutic relationships with service users, carers, and colleagues.



Maintain a strong multi-professional and multi-agency approach to care.



Health Promotion and Recovery



Support healthy living choices, self-management, and personal responsibility.



Enable service users to shape their own recovery within a health promotion framework.



Join Team Derbyshire Healthcare

Become part of a talented, compassionate, and enthusiastic workforce committed to our vision of "making a positive difference in people's lives."



Our team combines a wide range of expertise to deliver the highest standards of care and recovery. You will work alongside:



An Operational Manager and Clinical Lead



Lead Nurses , Registered Nurses , and Support Workers



A dedicated Occupational Therapy team including a Lead OT, Higher Technical Instructor, and OT Assistant



A skilled Psychology team



Two Consultant Psychiatrists - one per ward



What We Offer

We value our people and provide a supportive, inclusive, and flexible working environment with benefits including:



Flexible working options wherever possible



27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 after 10 years' service



Annual appraisal and commitment to professional development



NHS Pension Scheme and generous family leave benefits



Health service discounts and online benefits packages



Incremental pay progression (Agenda for Change)



Free, confidential Employee Assistance Programme 24/7



Access to staff networks including LGBT+, BAME, and Christian networks



Health and wellbeing initiatives and structured learning opportunities



This is more than a job - it's an opportunity to work in a values-driven organisation where your contribution is recognised, your growth is supported, and your wellbeing matters.



Please review the and Person Specification. To apply, please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB - this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.



1. CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL ISSUES



1.1 The post holder will provide a professional role model for the delivery of high-quality care.



1.2 Ensure evidence-based practice and research awareness is used as the foundation for the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care.



1.3 Maintain and develop knowledge of advances in nursing practice, or theory in practice and act as the catalyst for innovation.



1.4 Promote service user and carer involvement, autonomy and choice are embedded into the philosophy of the clinical area.



1.5 Be responsible for ensuring the Care Programme Approach is applied to practice and that opportunity is fully provided to support service user/carer involvement in decision-making processes.



1.6 Ensure appropriate evidence based clinical risk assessments are delivered.



1.7 Ensure all service users have an up-to-date evidence-based care plan that meets the needs of service users.



1.8 Ensure legislative requirements are maintained (Mental Health Act, Code of Practice etc).



1.9 Ensure good practice is maintained taking the lead in challenging practice that requires change or development.



1.10 The post holder will demonstrate expertise knowledge in their chosen speciality, ensuring this is disseminated in a constructive and effective way.



1.11 Use effective interpersonal skills that relate to service users, carers, and team members on an equal basis.



1.12 Ensure a multi-professional/agency approach to care is maintained, valuing the interface of professional roles and responsibilities.



1.13 Promote the use of critical analysis skills and innovative approaches to ensure care is reviewed according to service user needs/perspectives.



1.14 Facilitate service user responsibility and choices for healthy living, and the ability to determine their own lifestyle within the notion of health promotion and health protection.



1.15 Post holder will have a high clinical profile that includes the provision of hands-on care, having a global overview of all care packages and clinical activities within a defined area.



1.16 Ensure trust professional guidelines are maintained for record keeping.



1.17 Post holder will support the development of the Nursing Service.



1.18 Post holder will ensure the Trust Policy for Clinical Supervision is Implemented; this will include having personal Clinical Supervision from a suitable person.



1.19 Post holder will proactively explore opportunities for and take lead on developing reflective practice within clinical areas.



1.20 The post holder will support the development of standards set within 'The Essence of Care'.



1.21 The post holder will actively explore opportunities to enhance health promotional interventions in their widest sense.



1.22 Post holder will supportively challenge practice that does not meet required standards. Ability to adjust practice to changing circumstances. (Ref. N.M.C. 2000 and Strategy for Nursing - D.M.H.S. 2002).



1.23 The post holder will ensure person-centred care is delivered.



1.24 Ensure where necessary the Child/Adult safeguarding Procedures are adhered to.



1.25 Ensure that all providers of care throughout the health community are involved in planning delivering and evaluation care where indicated, i.e., CMHT's, Social services, Voluntary Organisations etc.



1.26 The post holder will support patients with physical health monitoring/promotion, including healthy lifestyle, smoking cessation , and empowering patients to be involved in there own care.



2. PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY



2.1 Exercise professional accountability and responsibility, taking into account the actions of other professionals who are responsible/accountable to you.



2.2 Ensure care is delivered to incorporate health and social care policy.



2.3 Ensure care is delivered in person centred manner ensuring gender, ethnic, cultural, and spiritual needs of service users are adhered to.



2.4 Ensure carers/significant others are included in the planning implementation delivery and evaluation of care.



2.5 Demonstrate ability to weigh up the interests of service users in complex situations using professional knowledge, judgements, and skills to enable you to account for the decisions you make, and the clinical leadership you provide for others.



3. LEADERSHIP



3.1 Demonstrate the ability to adapt leadership theory according to needs of patients.



3.2 Empower all team members to participate in implementing change to improve the unit.



3.3 Nurture a culture of respect for others, and an environment that values and is pro-actively respectful of ethnicity, gender, culture and individuality for service users and staff.



3.4 Ensure trust policies, procedures. And legislative directives are advocated. i.e., Equal Opportunities, Human Rights Act, Disability Discrimination Act, Race Relations, sex Discrimination etc.



3.5 Ensure service users/carers participate in developing and shaping the service where possible. 3.8 Promote the strategy for nursing within a multi-professional framework.



3.6 Post holder will ensure good communication systems are in operation within the clinical area, that support and enhance high quality care, (i.e.: IT, verbal Inter-personal, written).



3.7 Post holder will support the development of Improving Working Lives Initiatives.



3.8 Facilitate the development of evidence-based standards of care that include service users, carers, and team members.



4. PRACTICE/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT



4.0 Ensure personal professional development, promote good practice, prevents poor practice, intervening in unacceptable practice.



4.1 The post holder will ensure they and those responsible/accountable to them, function within the parameters of their professional role, extending and expanding these where appropriate to meet the service user's needs.



4.2 The post holder will ensure that the staff they are responsible for attend relevant statutory training as identified by the Trust.



4.3 Through mentoring and coaching the post holder will actively participate in clinical practice development.



4.4 The post holder will complete annually IPR's and PDP's as per trust policy.



5 INFORMATION GOVERNANCE



5.1 The Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust requires its staff to always comply with Information Governance related standards and policies when dealing with confidential information, which includes any information relating to the business of the Trust and its service users and employees.



5.2 All NHS employees are bound by a duty of confidentiality and must conduct their duties in line with the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice, Data Protection Act and Freedom of information Act.



5.3 post-holders must maintain high standards of quality in corporate and clinical record keeping ensuring information is always recorded accurately and kept up to date. The post-holder must only access information, whether paper, electronic or in other media, which is authorised to them as part of their duties.



5.4 All Information obtained or held during the post-holder's period of employment that relates to the business of the Trust and its service users and employees will remain the property of the Trust. Information may be subject to disclosure under legislation at the Trust's discretion and in line with national rules on exemption.



5.5 Any breach of confidentiality or computer misuse could lead to disciplinary action, and in serious cases could result in dismissal. Breaches after the post-holder's employment has ended could result in the Trust taking legal action against them.



5.6 post-holders must ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities by attending the Trust Mandatory Training and Induction programme.



6. INFECTION CONTROL



6.1 All staff have a responsibility to appraise themselves of how the prevention of the spread of infection relates to their role. They have a responsibility to ensure they are aware of Trust policies and procedures in relation to infection prevention and control and ensure that they comply with them in fulfilling their role.



7 SAFEGUARDING ADULTS AND CHILDREN



7.1 The Trust is committed to ensuring adults and children are protected and come to no harm from abuse. All employees have a responsibility to be aware of national and local policies, their individual responsibilities with regards to the protection and safeguarding of both adults and children and must always adhere to them.



8 Health and Safety



8.1 All post holders have a responsibility, under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and subsequently published regulations, to ensure that the Trust's health and safety policies and procedures are complied with to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors, and employees.



OTHER ISSUES



9.1 This job description will be reviewed annually with the post holder; alterations will only be made after consultation and agreement.



9.2 The post holder may be asked to undertake duties not directly highlighted within this job description. This will only be done when the skills and experience of the post holder meet the require