Operational Lead / Senior Therapist
Closing date: 26 May 2026
The Ascend Service is a partnership between North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust and Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust (MPFT), offering specialist, trauma‑informed support to people across Stoke‑on‑Stent and Staffordshire affected by sexual assault and abuse.
We are seeking an experienced CBT Practitioner to provide both advanced clinical practice and strong operational leadership within our multi‑agency team. Working closely with the MPFT you will coordinate service delivery, support performance and pathway oversight, and contribute to ongoing service development across both Trusts and partner agencies.
Responsibilities
Strategic and Governance Responsibilities
* Represent the service at commissioning, contract monitoring and multi‑agency partnership meetings, ensuring the service’s performance priorities and challenges are clearly articulated and addressed.
* Prepare, analyse and present performance, outcome and quality reports, identifying achievements and areas for improvement.
* Ensure compliance with NICE guidance, safeguarding legislation and service specifications.
* Lead and contribute to audit, evaluation and research activity demonstrating service quality and impact.
* Embed learning from incidents, feedback and reviews into service delivery and practice development.
* Promote the voice of survivors in service design and quality assurance processes.
Operational Leadership and Workforce Management
* Provide visible day‑to‑day leadership, ensuring delivery of safe, compassionate and responsive services.
* Oversee all operational processes including referrals, assessments, crisis support and onward pathways.
* Line‑manage the multidisciplinary team, ensuring regular supervision, appraisal and development planning.
* Foster a supportive culture prioritising staff well‑being, reflection and accountability.
* Coordinate recruitment, induction and mentoring of new staff, embedding trauma‑informed and survivor‑centred values.
* Work collaboratively with HR and senior leadership on workforce planning, capacity management and skill mix.
Clinical Supervision and Professional Support
* Provide and coordinate high‑quality clinical supervision and reflective practice in line with professional standards.
* Offer expert consultation and oversight of complex cases, supporting multidisciplinary collaboration.
* Ensure adherence to ethical and professional codes of conduct and organisational clinical governance frameworks.
* Maintain personal clinical supervision and CPD in accordance with BABCP standards.
* Support the development of trauma‑informed, recovery‑focused models of care within the team.
Direct Clinical Duties
* Maintain a small clinical caseload, delivering specialist CBT and trauma‑informed interventions to individuals and groups.
* Conduct comprehensive assessments, develop collaborative formulations and plan evidence‑based interventions.
* Evaluate treatment outcomes using service‑specific measures and adjust plans as required.
* Undertake risk assessment and contribute to multi‑agency risk management processes.
* Liaise effectively with colleagues across health, social care and voluntary sectors to ensure continuity of care.
* Maintain accurate clinical records in accordance with professional and organisational policies.
* Remain current with national and local policy developments relating to trauma, sexual assault and mental health.
Service Development and Quality Improvement
* Lead on implementation of trauma‑informed and recovery‑focused models of care.
* Support training and development initiatives for staff and external partners.
* Participate in service development, audit and research projects contributing to continuous improvement.
* Identify and implement innovations that enhance accessibility, quality and survivor experience.
* Promote co‑production with service users in shaping and evaluating services.
General Duties
* Maintain active engagement in CPD and supervision in line with organisational and professional requirements.
* Adhere to all confidentiality, data protection and information governance policies.
* Observe Health and Safety requirements and promote a safe working environment.
* Uphold the Trust’s values and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
* Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role as required by the Service Manager or Clinical Lead.
Communications and Working Relationships
* Clinical Lead and Service Manager
* Partner agencies including police, safeguarding boards, health and voluntary sectors
* Commissioners and contract monitoring representatives
* Survivors, peer networks and lived experience partners
* Internal psychological therapies, safeguarding and governance teams
Governance and Accountability
* Responsible for ensuring service delivery meets quality, safety and performance standards.
* Accountable for reporting on activity, outcomes, incidents and safeguarding.
* Participate in local governance meetings and contribute to the wider Trust governance framework.
* Promote evidence‑based practice and contribute to policy and service development.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Professional qualification in health or social care (or postgraduate training and qualifications in another sector to enable equivalent levels of responsibility with the client group in that setting)
* Post‑graduate diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (or an equivalent course)
* Further training in trauma or EMDR; Leadership or management qualification
Experience
* Extensive post‑qualification experience delivering CBT for trauma and complex presentations
* Demonstrated clinical leadership or team management experience
* Experience in service development or quality improvement projects
* Experience of working within a multi‑disciplinary and multi‑agency health setting
Skills
* Committed to compassionate, trauma‑informed care; Promotes equality, diversity and inclusion; Reflective, resilient and adaptable
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.
Employer name
North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust
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