Job summary
The Depot Service Nurse plays a key role in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care through the administration of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medication.
Working across Greenwich, Bexley, and Bromley, the nurse supports service users transitioning from psychosis teams by providing depot injections, annual mental health reviews, physical health checks, and wellbeing services.
The role is part of a multidisciplinary team and contributes to improving personal outcomes, population health, and service quality.
The post holder will be expected to travel across sites and work collaboratively with internal and external partners to ensure continuity of care and uphold Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust's values of kindness, fairness, listening, and caring.
Main duties of the job
- Administer depot/LAI antipsychotic medications in line with Trust policies and NMC guidelines
- Conduct pre-injection assessments including mental state, physical health monitoring, and side-effect screening
- Monitor and document service user responses, escalate concerns, and support adherence through psychoeducation
- Maintain accurate clinical records using RiO and contribute to MDT reviews and care planning
- Mentor junior staff and students, participate in audits, and support service improvement initiatives
- Uphold legal and professional standards including safeguarding, consent, and confidentiality
- Collaborate with partner agencies and contribute to risk assessments and crisis response
- Promote health and wellbeing through education and annual reviews
About us
Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
- We're Kind
- We're Fair
- We Listen
- We Care
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will lead safe, efficient, and evidence-based care delivery for service users receiving depot medication. Responsibilities include conducting assessments, administering treatment under legal frameworks (e.g., MHA, CTO), and supporting discharge planning. The nurse will engage in clinical supervision, service evaluation, and research, while maintaining up-to-date knowledge of psychotropic medication and best practices. They will manage junior staff, contribute to quality improvement, and ensure infection control standards are met. The role requires flexibility, emotional resilience, and the ability to work across multiple sites. The nurse will also facilitate learning, support students, and uphold the Trusts commitment to equality, sustainability, and safeguarding.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will lead safe, efficient, and evidence-based care delivery for service users receiving depot medication. Responsibilities include conducting assessments, administering treatment under legal frameworks (e.g., MHA, CTO), and supporting discharge planning. The nurse will engage in clinical supervision, service evaluation, and research, while maintaining up-to-date knowledge of psychotropic medication and best practices. They will manage junior staff, contribute to quality improvement, and ensure infection control standards are met. The role requires flexibility, emotional resilience, and the ability to work across multiple sites. The nurse will also facilitate learning, support students, and uphold the Trusts commitment to equality, sustainability, and safeguarding.
Person Specification
Education - Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) with current NMC registration.
- Clinical Supervision Course
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Experience of giving depot and working in a clinic setting
- Understanding of physical health conditions
Experience
Essential
- Minimum 2 years' post-registration experience
- Experience in depot or LAI medication administration.
- Demonstrable knowledge of mental illness, medication side effects, and relapse indicators.
Desirable
- Experience working in a community setting.
- Phlebotomy or physical health monitoring skills (e.g., ECG, BP, blood glucose monitoring). - Familiarity with electronic patient record systems.
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to assess mental health needs, risk and manage appropriately
- Understanding of the MHA, Capacity and safeguarding
- Ability to manage own workload / work autonomously - Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships and communicate complex information sensitively
Desirable
- Ability to work in a rapidly changing, challenging and complex environment
- Strong IT and computer skills
Person Specification
Education - Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) with current NMC registration.
- Clinical Supervision Course
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Experience of giving depot and working in a clinic setting
- Understanding of physical health conditions
Experience
Essential
- Minimum 2 years' post-registration experience
- Experience in depot or LAI medication administration.
- Demonstrable knowledge of mental illness, medication side effects, and relapse indicators.
Desirable
- Experience working in a community setting.
- Phlebotomy or physical health monitoring skills (e.g., ECG, BP, blood glucose monitoring). - Familiarity with electronic patient record systems.
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to assess mental health needs, risk and manage appropriately
- Understanding of the MHA, Capacity and safeguarding
- Ability to manage own workload / work autonomously - Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships and communicate complex information sensitively
Desirable
- Ability to work in a rapidly changing, challenging and complex environment
- Strong IT and computer 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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
