Senior Mental Health Nurse Jobs in Durham, UK – Band 6 NHS Visa Sponsorship Available
Are you an experienced mental health nurse looking for a rewarding NHS career in the United Kingdom? Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Senior Mental Health Nurse (Band 6) to join its Durham and Darlington Community Rehabilitation and Recovery Team in Durham, England.
This is a permanent, full-time opportunity for a qualified mental health nursing professional who wants to support people recovering from mental health conditions and help them achieve greater independence. The position offers an annual salary of £39,959 to £48,117, with UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship potentially available for eligible international applicants.
Successful applicants will work across community mental health services, inpatient wards and rehabilitation settings, helping patients receive personalised care and support throughout their recovery journey.
Job Overview
- Job Title: Senior Mental Health Nurse
- Employer: Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
- Location: Lanchester Road Hospital, Durham, DH1 5RD, United Kingdom
- Salary: £39,959 – £48,117 per year
- Pay Band: NHS Band 6
- Job Type: Permanent
- Working Pattern: Full-time
- Visa Sponsorship: Potential Skilled Worker visa sponsorship
- Additional Benefits: Lease car scheme and enhanced payments for eligible working arrangements
- Reference Number: 346-DDA-159-26-A
- Date Posted: 12 November 2026
About the Senior Mental Health Nurse Position
The Durham and Darlington Community Rehabilitation and Recovery Team provides specialist support to individuals who need ongoing mental health rehabilitation. The service focuses on improving patients' quality of life, promoting independence and helping people participate more fully in their communities.
As a Senior Mental Health Nurse, you will play an important role in assessing patients, identifying their rehabilitation needs and developing individual care plans. You will manage a community caseload while also providing support to patients in acute inpatient and rehabilitation wards.
You will work closely with multidisciplinary professionals, community mental health teams, patients, families and external agencies to ensure that each person receives appropriate and effective care.
The successful candidate should demonstrate excellent clinical knowledge, compassionate leadership, strong communication skills and the ability to work independently while contributing positively to the wider team.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Your responsibilities as a Senior Mental Health Nurse will include:
- Preparing and carrying out comprehensive assessments to identify patients' mental health rehabilitation needs.
- Managing an allocated caseload of patients receiving support within community settings.
- Providing in-reach support to acute inpatient and rehabilitation wards.
- Supporting patients during their transition from inpatient services back into the community.
- Working alongside community mental health teams to assess individual rehabilitation requirements.
- Developing personalised rehabilitation care packages based on patients' needs and circumstances.
- Working collaboratively with patients, relatives, carers and other healthcare professionals.
- Maintaining effective communication with referring professionals and external organisations.
- Promoting recovery, independence, wellbeing and social participation.
- Supporting clinical supervision, student development and professional learning.
- Contributing to service improvements and maintaining high standards of clinical practice.
- Demonstrating compassionate leadership and acting as a positive role model within the team.
Essential Qualifications and Registration
Applicants must meet the professional registration and qualification requirements for this NHS Band 6 nursing position.
- Current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMNH) or Registered Learning Disability Nurse (RNLD).
- Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD).
- Recognised Practice Supervisor, Practice Assessor, clinical educator qualification or equivalent. This must be achieved within six months where applicable.
- Clinical supervision training and experience, or willingness to complete the required training within six months.
Required Nursing Experience
Candidates must have at least 18 months of post-qualification experience, including successful sign-off of an appropriate preceptorship or competency framework at the time of application.
Applicants should also demonstrate experience in the following areas:
- Working collaboratively with patients and their families or carers.
- Providing clinical supervision to individuals or groups, where professionally appropriate.
- Supervising or assessing nursing students during clinical placements.
- Working effectively within a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
- Participating in quality improvement activities.
- Delivering safe, effective and patient-centred nursing care.
Desirable experience: Previous experience working in community mental health services with patients who have mental health conditions would be an advantage.
Essential Knowledge and Clinical Skills
Applicants should have a good understanding of mental health legislation, clinical procedures and professional responsibilities, including:
- Knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
- Understanding of safeguarding principles and their application in clinical practice.
- Clinical risk assessment and risk management.
- Clinical governance and maintaining patient safety.
- Research and development methodologies.
- Psychological models of care and treatment.
- Clinical medicines management, including the administration of injections.
Salary and Employee Benefits
The successful candidate will receive an annual salary between £39,959 and £48,117, in accordance with NHS Agenda for Change Band 6 pay arrangements stated in the vacancy.
Other benefits mentioned by the employer include:
- Permanent, full-time employment.
- Potential UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for eligible applicants.
- Access to a lease car scheme.
- Enhanced payments associated with the service's seven-day working arrangements, subject to applicable conditions.
- Opportunities for professional development and clinical supervision.
- Experience working within an established NHS mental health organisation.
- Opportunities to contribute to service development and quality improvement.
About the Employer – Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is an NHS mental health and learning disability provider serving communities across County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.
The organisation provides a wide range of services, from mental health education and prevention to crisis intervention and specialist treatment. Its teams work alongside patients, families, carers and local partners to deliver compassionate, person-centred support.
The Trust aims to help people improve their mental health, recover from difficult circumstances and achieve the best possible quality of life. Employees are encouraged to contribute ideas, develop their professional skills and support improvements in local mental health services.
Official employer website: Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.
UK Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship
International applicants requiring UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship are welcome to apply and will be considered alongside other candidates. However, the employer states that sponsorship may be available only where applicants satisfy the relevant UK immigration and job eligibility requirements.
Having sponsorship mentioned in a vacancy does not guarantee that every applicant will qualify. International nurses should check their professional registration, job eligibility, salary requirements and other applicable immigration conditions before submitting an application.
For official information about eligibility, application requirements and the Skilled Worker immigration route, visit the UK government's website:
✓ UK Skilled Worker Visa – Official GOV.UK Guidance
Important Requirements for Overseas Applicants
- Applicants must hold current UK professional registration with the NMC in the relevant nursing category.
- The required 18 months of post-qualification experience must be completed at the time of application.
- Applicants must provide evidence of their professional qualifications and relevant clinical experience.
- Overseas applicants may need criminal record certificates from countries where they have lived for the required periods during the previous 10 years.
- Adult dependants aged 18 or over may also be subject to applicable criminal record certificate requirements.
- Successful applicants must satisfy the employer's recruitment checks and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) requirements.
For information about nursing registration and working as a nurse in the UK, applicants can also visit the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration guidance.
How to Apply for This NHS Nursing Job
Interested candidates should review the complete job description and person specification before submitting an application. Make sure your application clearly demonstrates your NMC registration, post-qualification experience, clinical supervision skills and knowledge of community mental health services.
Applications should be submitted through the official NHS recruitment platform using the vacancy reference number 346-DDA-159-26-A.
Important: The employer may close the vacancy earlier than expected if it receives a high number of applications. Interested candidates are therefore encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does this Senior Mental Health Nurse job offer UK visa sponsorship?
Yes. The vacancy states that applications from candidates requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome. However, sponsorship is subject to the applicant meeting the relevant eligibility requirements.
2. What is the salary for this NHS Band 6 nursing position?
The advertised annual salary is between £39,959 and £48,117.
3. Where is the job located?
The position is based at Lanchester Road Hospital, Inglewood, Durham, DH1 5RD, United Kingdom.
4. What nursing registration is required?
Applicants must have current NMC registration as a Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMNH) or Registered Learning Disability Nurse (RNLD).
5. How much professional experience is required?
Candidates must have at least 18 months of post-qualification experience, including sign-off of an appropriate preceptorship or competency framework at the time of application.
6. Is this a permanent or temporary position?
This is a permanent, full-time NHS nursing position.
7. Can overseas nurses apply?
Yes. International applicants who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship are welcome to apply, provided they meet the professional registration, experience and immigration requirements.
Final Thoughts
This Senior Mental Health Nurse vacancy offers an opportunity for experienced mental health nursing professionals to develop their careers within an established NHS Trust. With a Band 6 salary of up to £48,117, permanent employment and potential Skilled Worker visa sponsorship, the position may be worth considering for eligible UK-based and international applicants.
Before applying, carefully review the essential qualifications, NMC registration requirements and 18-month experience criteria to ensure that you meet the employer's expectations.
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