Mental Health Nurse

Mental Health Nurse

The closing date is 19 January 2026

To provide Mental Health nursing support to patients in the Emergency Department including ensuring their safety within clinical areas and/or during escort duties.

To be responsible for the initial provision and/or the maintenance of high standards of care for patients in the ED.

To provide professional leadership in relation to the day-to-day management of patients requiring Mental Health care and support.

To follow the patients' Mental Health Risk Management Plan as devised by Psychiatric Liaison staff, Lead Nurse - Mental Health or Nurse Advisor (MH), or a Duty Psychiatrist.

Where appropriate, to formulate care plans in relation to the patients mental health needs in conjunction with other mental health professionals and the patient but to adhere to plans put in place by the assessing Mental Health Team including Psychiatric Liaison services.

To fulfil the relatively autonomous role of Mental Health Nurse in a non-Mental Health setting, working to established policies and procedures but willing and able to use professional decision-making skills and discretion as required.

Roles and responsibilities

• Ensure that they have received adequate handover including any current patients mental state and nature of mental health difficulties, details of current or planned Mental Health Act Assessments and plans for physical/medical care.
• Using their therapeutic skills, through engagement with the patient, make an initial Psychosocial assessment and advise the ED Majors Co‑ordinator and the Psychiatric Liaison Nurse.
• Complete the Mental Health Triage and Risk Assessment form for all Mental Health Patients and those that require 1:1 Observations, ensure that the hourly observation and behaviour summary is completed.
• Promote therapeutic relationships which take account of the patient’s customs, values and spiritual beliefs and facilitate dignity, independence and choice.
• Be fully aware and adhere to the Trust Engagement and Observation of patients with Mental Health Needs Policy, as well as any other policies or guidelines relevant to the role.
• Be aware of the patient’s history including any risk factors and commence and maintain timely risk management to manage any known or unknown risks; liaise closely with the ED medical team and refer to the PLN if psychiatric assessment is required when risks or concerns are evident.
• Ensure that any Risk Management Plan put in place by Mental Health services (Psych Liaison and/or Lead Nurse for Mental Health) is adhered to and utilise own clinical skills to advise if changes are indicated in relation to the implementation of these.
• Ensure that the environment around the patient is as safe as possible, actively managing risk in a changing clinical environment; it may be necessary to search the patient’s belongings in order to maintain a safe environment.
• Monitor and, if appropriate, restrict access to any item that could be used by the patient to harm themselves or others.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by the nurse in charge of the clinical area; if no mental health patients present in the ED then assist with other reasonable requests such as helping to clean/stock areas, prepare cubicles between patients etc.
• Provide teaching sessions to Emergency Department staff on relevant Mental Health subjects, and attend any Emergency Department teaching to assist them in their role.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of patient information at all times.

Our Trust is one of England's top‑performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites–Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award‑winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an…