Band 5 Staff Nurse

Job summary
Oakwood Ward is an all male acute ward for adults of working age, for service users experiencing an acute episode of mental illness. Working on Oakwood would give you a wealth of learning opportunities to develop new skills in working with service users from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.

This 6 month post would give a Staff Nurse the opportunity to work in a different or new environment, in either a fixed term contract or secondment position if already working within AWP.

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Band 5 Staff Nurse to join our experienced and cohesive team. We pride ourselves on delivering high quality, evidence-based individualised and person centred care with the emphasis being on providing a therapeutic environment, allowing our service users a space for assessment, treatment and recovery.

All nursing staff are expected to work a mixture of shifts, consisting of earlies, lates, nights and weekends. All staff are expected to have undertaken or undertake RRI training and PERT.

Main duties of the job
Your role as a Band 5 Staff Nurse will include co-ordinating shifts, attending MDT meetings, completing medication rounds, supervising students and HCSW's. You will work closely with service users in the key working role, supporting both service users and their carers during their admission and discharge back in to the community.

We are keen to develop our Staff Nurses; you will receive relevant training and supervision, and have the opportunity to work with a wide Multi Disciplinary Team.

About us
We are the lead provider of healthcare for people with serious mental illness, learning disabilities and autism across Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), Swindon and Wiltshire, and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

We aim to provideHigh Quality, Compassionate Careeverywhere, every day. This means our services will be safe, clinically effective and provide a positive all round experience for our patients, families and carers. And we believe passionately in treating everyone with kindness, respect and empathy.

Key to this is providing a supportive and safe environment for our 4,000 staff where we all feel welcome and able to do the best we can for those we support. Our staff and teams work incredibly hard delivering services across more than 90 locations, covering 2,200miles, to more than 1.8million people.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Details
Date posted: 13 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 6 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 342-BR110-0826
Job locations: Southmead Hospital, Southmead Road, Bristol, BS10 5NB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
1. Clinical Practice Management
To carry out clinical practice within designated clinical areas, ensuring that high quality evidence-based nursing assessment, care planning, interventions and evaluations for patients is provided.

This will include:

• Undertaking a comprehensive, person-centred, nursing assessment and prepare care plans in consultation with the service users to provide the best nursing care.
• Implementation of care and rehabilitation programme.
• Evaluation of effectiveness of care provided in partnership with users.
• Ability to implement research-based practice.
• Following successful completion of preceptorship, ability to supervise junior and unqualified staff.
• Ability to administer medicine within relevant Trust and legislative guidance e.g. NMC Standards for Medicines Management 2010 and the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
• Ability to undertake risk assessment and develop risk management strategies for individual clients; ICPA/SAP to people who present with mental health problems.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the key elements of relevant Mental Health Legislation.
• Ensure the ordering storage, administration and disposal of medication complies with relevant trust and legislative guidance e.g. NMC Standards for Medicines Management 2010,Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and MHA (1983).

2 Teaching, Education & Health Promotion
To use own skills, knowledge and resources to provide mentoring opportunities for staff within designated areas and promote positive attitudes towards mental health.

This will include:

• Regular provision of advice and mentoring to staff.
• Support the provision of an appropriate learning environment for pre- and post-registered students, novice practitioners, and new team members as directed.

3 Continuing Professional Development
To maintain and develop professional knowledge, skills and expertise to ensure that practice reflects best practice, remains evidence based, is current and responsive to meet changing patient and NHS service needs, as outlined in the NHS Plan (2000).

Abide by the legal rules, statutory regulations and professional responsibilities relating to practice as outlined in the NMC's 'The Code': Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for Nurses and Midwives.

Take responsibility for post-registration education and for continuing professional development as outlined in NMC Standards.

To receive clinical supervision in accordance on a contracted and regular basis from an identified Senior Practitioner, as per trust Clinical Supervision Policy.

To be aware of the need for appropriate management support and supervision from the line manager, and to maintain records of these meetings.

Maintain Health and Safety in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974).

Work to the Clinical and Personnel Policies and Procedures of AWP Trust.

Maintain up to date knowledge of relevant medicines, related medication management issues and act in accordance with the appropriate NMC standards and Trust policy, and ensure that others also work within these guidelines.

4. Finance and Workforce
To make best use of available workforce resources based on agreed staffing models ensuring provision of best care possible.

Follow Trust and Service Policies in regard to the security of the building/clients, to ensure safe practice and protection of clients, staff, visitors and members of the general public.

To take part in PEAT and environmental risk assessments as requested so that best use is made of resources.

Manage temporary staffing resources in line with AWP best practice guidance.

Ensure that service provision is both safe and therapeutic within span of knowledge.

Effective time management.

Utilize electronic rostering systems (Rosterpro).

Participate in education and training opportunities.

To take charge of the Unit in the absence of the Charge Nurse or Clinical Team Leader.

To be familiar with and comply with all Policies & Procedures operational within the Trust.

5 Record Keeping and Administration
To maintain standards of record keeping and associated administration in accordance with AWP Trust Policy and local joint arrangements and professional guidelines.

This will include:

• The upkeep of contemporaneous, chronological and accurate mental health records in accordance with relevant NMC Guidelines and Trust Policy.
• Work under the direction of Essence of Care lead.
• Contribute to the achievement of Controls Assurance Standards relating to Records Management within their span of control.
• Maintain safety of clients and staff within the Unit and ensure legal obligations are fulfilled.

6 Evidence-Based Nursing, Practice Development & Clinical Audit
To contribute to practice development activity and evidence-based mental health nursing.

This will include:

• Undertake relevant practice development/research activity.
• Take part in a rolling programme of audit.
• Comply with activity as outlined in The Essence of Care.
• Work within the framework of AWP and Department of Health Research Governance.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Mental Health Nursing Degree
• NMC Pin
• Ability to maintain accurate, appropriate records
• Knowledge of medication rounds and safe administration and disposal of drugs
• De-escalation and listening skills
• Able to communicate effectively and efficiently

Desirable

• Experience as a Band 5 Staff Nurse

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Address: Southmead Hospital, Southmead Road, Bristol, BS10 5NB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Ward Manager
Annabel Parry
View email address on meeveem.com
View phone number on meeveem.com

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.