Clinical Lead - Initial Response Service
Go back Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
The closing date is 27 April 2026
Since its launch, the Initial Response Service has consistently demonstrated itself to be an integral part of secondary mental health services. It is improving access to mental health support for individuals who need it, whilst reducing demands on care and treatment delivery services. IRS is a 24/7 single point of access for Mental Health Services across Lancashire.
We are seeking to recruit an aspiring Team Leader to take responsibility for Clinical leadership and first line management for the Central and West. The Clinical Lead plays an integral role within the IRS and is a key force in improving safety, service and quality. Along with the Team Leader, you will be tasked with overseeing a large team of Mental Health Practitioners, Call Handlers and Administrators. The Clinical Lead plays a critical role in overseeing the shifts, ensuring resources are balanced and reflective of demand which varies day to day.
You will be able to reflect LSCFT values of being kind, respectful, working as part of a team and always learning. You should have experience of working as a Band 6 and demonstrate evidence of leading teams & individuals through change.
Experience of working within the community Urgent Care pathway is desirable. You should also be able to demonstrate a commitment to supporting engagement with service users and carers to support service development.
Main duties of the job
You will be responsible for providing leadership and ensuring that the care provided is safe, effective and supports service users and carers. The IRS provides services for urgent and routine mental health support, advice, triage and urgent assessment, or be signposted to relevant services where required.
You should be able to demonstrate evidence of care that facilitates a positive culture of patient engagement, a commitment to enhance the service user and carer experience and promote an environment that facilitates continued staff professional development.
You should be able to demonstrate effective, evidence based care management, risk assessment and leadership skills. You must have the ability to positively influence and adapt to a rapidly developing service that is able to meet the needs service users and carers.
About us
LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.
Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you'd like to discuss your application, please ask.
We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.
LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.
The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work.
Job responsibilities
Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Nursing, OT or Social Work professional qualification
* Post-registration experience and/or evidence of formal courses and training at post graduate diploma level
* Clinical Supervision Training
* Significant demonstrable post qualification experience at Band 6 working in a mental health / specialist inpatient setting or equivalent.
* Experience of developing, delivering and evaluating specialist programmes of care and risk management plans.
* Evidence of successful mentoring and/or supervision of junior members of staff including students.
Skills and Abilities
* Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to demonstrate diplomacy, tact and negotiation skills.
* Ability to manage highly stressful and emotive situations.
* Current knowledge of the policy and challenges facing NHS providers.
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.
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
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