Lead Nurse - Primrose Lodge

Position: Lead Nurse - Addiction/Rehabilitation
Location: Primrose Lodge, Guildford, GU3 3RF

Salary: £40,000 - £45,000 per annum
Shifts: Monday to Friday (40 hours per week)

Job Summary

Primrose Lodge, part of the UK Addiction Treatment Group (UKAT), is seeking a Lead Nurse to join our experienced clinical team and play a key role in delivering exceptional detox and recovery care.

As Lead Nurse, you’ll clinically lead our support teams, ensuring that every client receives safe, effective, and person-centred care throughout their detox and treatment journey. You’ll take pride in upholding high standards, providing clinical supervision, and supporting the development of others all within a caring and collaborative environment.

• Career Progression: Amazing growth opportunities within UKAT
• Training & Development: Free access to ongoing training and development
• Birthday Off
• Pension Scheme: Secure your future with our company pension plan
• Free On-site Parking
• Wellness Programme: 24/7 free counselling support via BUPA
• Blue Light Card: Enjoy thousands of retail discounts
• Employee of the Month: Earn up to £100 in monthly vouchers
• Small Client Caseload: Maximum of 19 clients

At the heart of everything we do are our four core values:

• Understanding – listening, empathising, and responding to individual needs.
• Kindness – treating everyone with dignity, respect, and compassion.
• Accountability – taking responsibility for our actions and maintaining high standards.
• Teamwork – working collaboratively to achieve the best outcomes for our clients.

• Clinically lead our support teams
  , providing guidance, supervision, and expertise to ensure high-quality care at all times.
• Assess, plan, and implement detox programmes
  , including alcohol detox tapers, Librium (Chlordiazepoxide) protocols, and withdrawal monitoring
  .
• Conduct and oversee COWS (Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale) and CIWA-Ar assessments to guide safe detox progression.
• Monitor and interpret vital signs (BP, pulse, respiration, O2 sats, and temperature) to identify early signs of deterioration.
• Respond effectively to clinical and medical emergencies, ensuring client safety and adhering to clinical best practice.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation, support audits, and contribute to quality improvement initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with doctors, therapists, GPs, and external professionals to deliver integrated treatment.
• Mentor and develop support workers, promoting continuous learning, detox knowledge, and best practice across the team.
• Oversee daily clinical operations, stepping into centre management responsibilities when required.

• NMC-registered nurse (RGN/RMN) with post-registration experience.
• Strong clinical leadership and communication skills.
• A proactive, compassionate professional who thrives in a multidisciplinary setting.
• Experience in detoxification, substance misuse, mental health, or acute clinical settings
  .
• Strong working knowledge of withdrawal management tools (e.g.
  COWS, CIWA-Ar
  ) and detox medications such as Librium
  .
• Confident in risk assessment, triage, and emergency response
  .
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accurate clinical record-keeping.

• Competitive salary of £40,000 – £45,000 (DOE).
• Monday to Friday schedule – no regular weekend or night shifts.
• Opportunities for professional development and training.
• Supportive team culture with a focus on staff wellbeing and clinical excellence.
• The chance to make a real difference in people’s lives every day.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer, committed to making our recruitment process inclusive and accessible to all.