Senior Staff Nurse

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is growing and changing. We provide specialist mental health, learning disability and community services across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. We’re looking for people who care about others, take responsibility, treat people with respect and have the confidence to speak up and shape what comes next.

We’re focused on the future, with a clear Trust Strategy and our Best for the Black Country programme driving improvement across our services and communities.

What we do

· Adult and older adult mental health

· Children and young people’s mental health

· Specialist learning disability services

· Community healthcare for children, young people and families in Dudley

Why join now

We’ve got real momentum. Clear priorities and our Best for the Black Country work mean things are moving in the right way, fast.

Our culture is built around being compassionate, accountable, respectful and empowering each other - you’ll see this in how teams support patients and colleagues every day.
You’ll be looked after. Flexible working, family-friendly policies, supportive teams, proper wellbeing support and opportunities to learn and develop.

There’s room to grow. A wide range of services, space to try ideas and a voice that’s heard.

It’s a great place to live. Diverse communities, good transport links, strong schools and green space, with a lower cost of living than many city regions.

What it’s like to work here

You’ll join friendly, skilled teams who look out for each other. We plan together, share pressures and celebrate wins. You’ll be encouraged to take ownership, speak up and learn from experience. New starters get a warm welcome and clear induction; early careers colleagues have preceptorship and buddying; experienced staff can lead, teach and innovate.

Who we are

We’re 4,000+ colleagues from many backgrounds, committed to improving health and wellbeing for our communities and for each other. If you’re interested in the role but don’t meet every requirement, please apply — we value potential, different perspectives and people who want to grow.

As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application—especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions—is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Job overview

Macarthur Ward Team have got vacancy for the post of Senior Staff Nurse (Band 6).

The successful candidate would be able to pursue a more clinical pathway in their career.

Reporting to the Ward Manager, you would be working in a multi-faceted role encompassing training and development, clinical governance and quality and continuous improvement as well as a heavy focus on developing and implementing comprehensive care plans, not to mention research and being an active participant in shaping the future of in-patients' services.

Advert

Professional responsibilities

• To maintain and develop own and the teams clinical skills, knowledge and professional practice via a local training template in line with professional, NICE, SCIE (social care institute for excellence) and KSF guidelines and service need, ensuring the maintenance of effective evidence based practice.

To support and contribute towards the organisation’s clinical governance systems, supporting quality standards and work towards the continuous improvement in clinical and service quality.

Clinical Responsibilities

• To act as a clinically focussed Senior Staff Nurse within Inpatient Wards providing support/advice; linking with Matrons and community specialist nurses and pathways.
• To act in a consultative role for junior staff, supporting the upskilling of staff knowledge and skills.

Working for our organisation

These are exciting times for Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as we’re building a high-calibre, diverse and inclusive mental health workforce. One that will give talented professionals like you the opportunity to shape an outstanding service that will transform in-patient mental healthcare and deliver happier and healthier lives across our communities.

The Trust is rated ‘Good’ from CQC (Care Quality Commission) and in July 2022 became the lead provider for mental health services across the Black Country. We have recently invested in newly created clinical divisions and are currently developing new models of integrated primary and secondary care for adults and older adults, as well launching a far-reaching inpatient strategy, including multi-million pound investment in building new facilities and work-force models.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To be conversant with and practice within the realms of the 1983 Mental Health Act.

To engage in clinical supervision both as a provider and receiver
To be responsible for supporting the maintenance of clinical standards regarding assessment of care needs.
Work with the ward managers to ensure equitable use of all resources to support an effective service.
To support the instigation and continuation of CQC standards, infection control standards, National patient safety standards and standards for better health.

Please see attached detailed Job description and specification in advert.

Applying and timelines

We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of applications, so please apply soon. We shortlist after the closing date and will contact shortlisted candidates usually within two weeks. If you haven’t heard by then, you haven’t been shortlisted. Please check your email for updates and contact Recruitment for feedback.

As part of our commitment to fairness, openness and accountability, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar or formatting, we expect that the content of your application especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions is written by you.

Pay and contracts

Most NHS roles are paid under NHS Agenda for Change. With us, your starting point is set against the advertised band and your relevant NHS service, with progression through annual increments.

Medical and Very Senior Manager roles follow separate national pay frameworks, not Agenda for Change. Details are provided in each advert and during recruitment.

Standards and checks

· Clinical posts up to and including Band 4 are expected to hold the Care Certificate. If you don’t have it yet, we’ll support you to complete it in post.

· Some roles require a Standard or Enhanced DBS check under part V of the Police Act 1997. Having a criminal record won’t automatically prevent employment - we consider the role and individual circumstances.

· We are an equal opportunities employer, offer flexible working, and are a smoke-free Trust.

Inclusion, equality and adjustments

· We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to creating an environment where everyone is treated with dignity, feels respected and is able to thrive.

· We are an anti-racist, disability-inclusive and LGBTQ+-inclusive Trust.

· We welcome applications from under-represented groups and people with lived experience relevant to our services.

· Disabled applicants can request consideration under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme where essential criteria are met, and you can ask for reasonable adjustments at any stage.

Our culture and values

Best for the Black Country is our improvement journey. Our values Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful and Empowered guide how we work every day.

That means:

• taking time to understand people and respond with kindness
• being open and taking responsibility for our actions
• listening and valuing different perspectives
• supporting each other to speak up, improve and make a difference

You’ll see this in how teams work together and in the impact you can have on local people.