Mental Health Nurse (Qualified)

Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, the joining process is as follows:

• Submit an application

  Once you’ve registered your interest and have satisfied the basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form

• Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)

  You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
  To prepare, you can practise the DAA

• Interview

  A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform

• Medical and eye tests

  These are quite comprehensive and must be completed by one of our Ministry of Defence-approved doctors

• Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT)

  This involves completing a 2.4km run on a treadmill within a certain time, at a fitness centre near you

• Qualified Mental Health Nurse Assessment Board

  This is a 1 day Assessment board where you will be asked to deliver a 10 minute presentation on a clinical subject, participate in a team working task and sit a 30-40 minute competency-based interview with the Nurse Education Advisor and Medical Specialist Recruitment Team. These take place anytime throughout the year, subject to requirement.

• Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)

  This four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, including a Swimming Test and a fitness assessment, is a pass or fail course

• Start training

  Once you’ve passed a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh

Your Royal Navy career begins with 10 weeks’ basic training at HMS Raleigh, a shore base in Torpoint, Cornwall. The discipline, teamwork, organisational, firefighting and weapon handling skills you learn here will stay with you right through your career.

Aim to get yourself as fit as possible before you arrive. You’ll be doing a lot of physical exercise, and you’ll find it much easier if you’re already in shape.

There's also a swimming test, so if you can't swim, make sure you learn by the time you join us.

On completion of Basic Training, you will be fast tracked, taking a 2-week military transition course and earning promotion to Local Acting Leading Hand. You will then work in the Royal Navy led Departments of Community Mental Health in Portsmouth, Plymouth or Scotland. There you will complete your preceptorship. There is also an opportunity to complete further post-graduate study in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, alcohol, addictions and substance misuse.