Clinical Lead
The Clinical Lead provides senior clinical leadership and accountability for the delivery of safe, high-quality, evidence-based care within an acute mental health inpatient ward. The post holder is responsible for overseeing clinical standards, patient safety, and multidisciplinary practice, ensuring care is person-centred, recovery-focused, and compliant with statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
The role involves leading and supporting the multidisciplinary team, managing complex clinical risk, promoting effective governance, and driving continuous quality improvement. The Clinical Lead works closely with ward and service management and the Matron to support operational delivery, patient flow, and workforce development, acting as a key link between frontline clinical practice and senior leadership.
The post holder will act as a visible clinical leader, role model best practice, support staff wellbeing and development, and contribute to service development to improve outcomes for service users and carers.
Main duties of the job
* Provide visible clinical leadership to the inpatient multidisciplinary team (MDT)
* Maintain oversight of clinical standards, quality, and patient safety
* Ensure compliance with Mental Health Act (MHA)
* Ensure compliance with Mental Capacity Act (MCA)
* Ensure compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards
* Ensure compliance with NICE guidance and Trust policies
Qualifications
* Registered Mental Health Nurse with current NMC registration
* Education to a degree level or equivalent
* Minimum of 5 years post registration experience
* Safeguarding training Level 3
* Clinical supervisor or practice educator
Experience
* Significant post-registration experience within acute mental health inpatient services
* Experience of providing clinical leadership or senior clinical support to nursing teams
* Experience of managing complex and high-risk patients
* Experience of working effectively within a multidisciplinary team (MDT)
* Experience of delivering clinical supervision, mentorship, or training
* Experience in a formal lead or specialist role
* Experience of quality improvement, audit, or service development
* Experience of contributing to clinical governance processes (incidents, audits, learning reviews)
Skills
* Excellent clinical assessment and formulation skills for individuals with acute and complex mental health needs
* Advanced risk assessment and risk management skills, including suicide, self-harm, violence, and safeguarding
* Highly effective communication skills, both verbal and written, across multidisciplinary teams
* Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to support, motivate, and challenge staff appropriately
* Ability to provide effective clinical supervision, coaching, and professional guidance to nursing staff
* Ability to manage complex clinical situations, prioritise workload, and make sound clinical decisions under pressure
* Skills in multidisciplinary team (MDT) working, including leading discussions and contributing to care planning
* Ability to identify learning needs and deliver training or support professional development
* Competence in clinical documentation, care planning, and use of electronic patient record system
* Teaching, facilitation, or presentation skills
* Ability to analyse clinical data and use outcomes to inform practice
* Conflict resolution and restorative practice skills
Knowledge
* Excellent clinical assessment and decision-making skills
* Ability to provide effective clinical supervision and professional guidance
* Strong communication and interpersonal skills
* Ability to influence, motivate, and support staff
* Risk assessment and management
* Strong understanding of Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, NICE guidance and best practice standards
* Knowledge of CQC standards and inspection processes
* Skills in quality improvement methodologies
* Teaching and facilitation skills
Personal Attributes
* Exemplifies the fundamental values of the NHS: care, compassion, competence, communication, courage, and commitment (the "6Cs")
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.
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