About this role
Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Community Psychiatric Nurse to lead our Clozapine and Depot Clinic. The role is based in the Merton Wilson Wellbeing Clinic in Mitcham and requires autonomous working alongside a nursing associate to plan and coordinate the Clozapine & Depot clinic. The post holder won't hold a specific caseload but will lead the Depot Clinic on Monday & Wednesday, and the Clozapine Clinic on Tuesday and Thursday. Friday is an administrative day.
Applicants should have post-qualification experience within a mental health setting, ideally within a community team, alongside a solid understanding of antipsychotic medication and its administration in the community. You will need to be flexible, motivated, and able to work autonomously.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, along with the ability to work collaboratively, think creatively, and apply problem-solving approaches in practice. A commitment to multidisciplinary and partnership working is key, including building effective links with the Recovery College and a range of voluntary, statutory, and independent sector organisations.
Main duties of the job
This role plays a key part in improving patient health outcomes by providing stability, continuity of care, and high-quality clinical oversight. The postholder will be expected to work competently in physical health monitoring and ensure safe, effective clinical practice within the clinic setting. While prior experience in clozapine and depot monitoring is desirable, we recognise that this is a specialist area. We are committed to supporting staff to develop into the role, including providing training and supervision once a foundational understanding of the core principles of clozapine and depot monitoring is established.
Successful applicants will work as part of a multidisciplinary team and be based in the clinic with primary support from Nursing Associates and the Borough Advanced Clinical Practitioner. Although there is no allocated caseload, the postholder will be responsible for ensuring that all patients attending the clinic are appropriately risk assessed, receive their medication safely, and that any urgent concerns are identified and escalated promptly.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Unless expressly stated in the job advert the role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.
Job description Job responsibilities
1. To take blood samples from patients ensuring consent is obtained before undertaking the procedure.
2. Ensure that blood samples are analyzed using the PocHi and where required sent to the laboratory within specified time scales.
3. Managing blood results and take actions needed when results are outside normal parameters, following policy and national guidance.
4. To escalate concerns around service users physical health to the GP, MDT, and onsite pharmacist.
5. To escalate any concerns regarding IT failure and or the running of the clinic.
6. Managing clozapine applications like ZTAS and reporting issues to IT or managers when systems fail.
7. Ensure venipuncture is undertaken safely and in line with Infection Control Procedures.
8. Assess the general wellbeing of patients attending the clinic and discuss any concerns with relevant practitioners including pharmacy.
9. Provide physical and mental health monitoring and interventions in line with NICE guidelines such as ECGs.
10. Maintain regular contact with the pharmacy dept ensuring they are aware of patients who have not attended clinic.
11. Ensure that the clinic is fully stocked with the necessary forms, consumables, sundries and equipment.
12. Take responsibility for checking the cleaning, of all equipment and medications used in the clinic.
13. Ensure all equipment is safe and in working order.
14. Ensure that service users and carers are treated with dignity and respect.
15. To provide teaching and training to student nurses allocated to the Community Team.
16. To respond, sometimes at short notice, to requests to see patients either individually, or jointly with other team members (e.g. when a patient who is unwell or non-compliant with medication).
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications Essential
RMN (current NMC registration) Evidence of continuing Professional Development
Experience Essential
Demonstrated experience of working with people who experience serious ongoing mental health problems Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team Experience of assessing and managing crisis with those with a severe mental illness. Knowledge and experience of Clozapine, side effects and patient management.
Desirable
Phlebotomy training Previous experience of working with service users on Clozapine
Knowledge & Skills Essential
Ability to assess clinical situations quickly and use initiative Clinical supervision skills Ability to work as an active member of the multidisciplinary team. Ability to complete and interpret physical health checks.
Desirable
Clear understanding of the Mental Health Act, and National Policy Research and audit skills
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 South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
Address The Wilson Hospital
Cranmer Rd
Mitcham
CR4 4TP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)