At a glance
Naval operations are unique. They bring new challenges, pressures and responsibilities every day. Join our team and you’ll use your expertise to ensure our personnel are mentally fit to tackle them head on.
Job Role
Mental Health Nurse Reserve
Naval operations are unique. They bring new challenges, pressures and responsibilities every day. Join our team and you’ll use your expertise to ensure our personnel are mentally fit to tackle them head on.
- Undergraduate Degree
- Surface Fleet
- Royal Naval Reserve
- Rating level
Paid Leave
Proportionate to attendance
Tax-free
Annual bounty for training commitment
Extra
Pay if mobilised
Pension
Excellent pay and promotion prospects as your career progresses
Travel
All around the world
Since I finished my degree I’ve been deployed all over the world, helping some amazing people.
Role details
What you’ll do
Naval operations are unique. They bring new challenges, pressures and responsibilities every day. Join our team and you’ll use your expertise to ensure our personnel are mentally fit to tackle them head on.
As a Mental Health Nurse (Reserve), you’ll continue your civilian career, but for 24 days a year, you’ll also provide vital care to our people. That might mean offering occupational mental health treatments on global operations or helping them adjust to life back home.
Your role
- Deliver world class healthcare as part of a highly skilled and motivated team.
- Provide vital support to maritime and wider military operations across the globe.
- Provide support in a range of challenging conditions at sea, on land or in the air. Adapt to a variety of platforms including state of the art warships such as the new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier.
- Travel the world as part of the front line medical services team.
Pay & benefits
- Annual tax-free bounty subject to meeting the minimum training commitment
- Paid leave in proportion to the number of training days attended
- Membership of the non-contributory Armed Forces Pension Scheme
- Expenses and allowances when training
- Access to the Royal Navy’s superb sports and fitness facilities
- Extra pay and allowances if you’re mobilised
Skills for life
Qualifications you'll gain
- The opportunity to complete further post-graduate study in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, alcohol, addictions and substance misuse
- Leadership and management qualifications
Skills you'll develop
- Unique mental health care, assessment, treatment and management
- Learn to be adaptable, flexible and disciplined
Eligibility
- You must be aged 20 and up to 52, (or 56 if you're serving or an ex-regular), when you start training
- 5 GCSEs grades C/4, which must include English Language and Mathematics
- You need to be a registered Mental Health Nurse with the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC), without restrictions but can also apply in your last year of nurse training to be selected on a conditional offer, subject to receiving an NMC PIN
- BSc/MSc or BA in Mental Health Nursing
- Currently working in a clinical setting
- You must be a British or Irish national, a Commonwealth citizen, or a Dual National
- You need to be within the healthy range for Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Pass the Naval Swimming Test
Skills & Interests
- A nursing professional
- A skilled medical professional
- A confident and well-organised practitioner
- A team player
Joining Process
From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.
Step 1
Submit an application
Your first step is to request and fill in your online application. If you have any questions beforehand, you can phone us on 0345 600 3222
Step 2
Presentation
You will be invited to attend an Initial Maritime Reserves Presentation (IMRP) at your nearest Unit. This is your chance to have a look around, meet the team, ask any questions and find out about life in the Reserves
Step 3
Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) and interview
You will be invited to an interview, which is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform, where we will check your eligibility and outline the joining process. See more advice here. You will then sit the DAA, which assesses: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension. You will also be invited to have an interview with the medical recruiting team
Step 4
Join your local Unit
You will then be invited to join your Unit for Attestation. This involves swearing allegiance to His Majesty The King and signing the Official Secrets Act. At this point you’ll be a Phase 0 recruit, and will attend weekly drill nights, however you won’t be able to start formal training until you pass your medical and fitness test
Step 5
Medical and fitness test
The medical tests are carried out by your nearest Ministry of Defence approved doctor, but eye tests can be completed at selected high street centres. The Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT) requires you to complete a 2.4km run on a treadmill at a local approved fitness centre.
Step 6
Phase 1 training
You’ll now be a signed-up member of the Royal Naval Reserve as a Phase 1 recruit. At this stage you’ll be given your Royal Navy identification card and uniform, and be able to conduct formal basic training
Step 7
Training
During your Phase 1 training you will learn about life in the Royal Navy. This takes place on weekly drill nights. You’ll also spend two weekends learning about life in the military and what it is like at sea
Step 8
Confirmation course
This two-week course is held at HMS Raleigh. Once you’ve completed this you will go on to specialise in your chosen discipline
Got a question?
Our virtual recruiter is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day