Job overview
The Senior Clinical Lead Nurse provides specialist knowledge and experience working with people with learning disabilities, mental health, and behaviours that challenge.
The role will provide clinical leadership to the Learning Disability Najurally Centre assessment and treatment unit (ATU), providing their expertise and advice on shift on clinical risk and mental health assessment, formulation, care planning for people requiring admission to the Najurally Centre.
The role involves recognising the importance of collaboration and effective teamwork in providing optimal patient care.
The Senior Clinical Lead Nurse will form positive relationships and open lines of communication with other healthcare providers, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration, actively contribute to care conferences, case discussions and interdisciplinary meetings, sharing insights and ensuring a holistic approach to patient care working on shift with members of the Multi-disciplinary team.
Main duties of the job
You will develop and use flexible and innovative approaches to practice that are appropriate to the needs of the client group, and which are in line with the goals of the Trust and wider integrated care system (ICS).
Provide direct clinical care and act as a role model for exemplary nursing practice in the Najurally Centre and across the wider ICS.
Support on shift in and out of hours collaborating with the ward manager and ANPs, providing expertise and specialist knowledge in collaboration with the ward manager to manage, risk, safeguarding, patient safety, and staff well-being.
Be a member of the learning disability locality collective leadership team and responsible for the delivery of safe and effective nursing practice across the inpatient pathways You will develop standard operating procedures and be responsible for communicating these policies within the team.
Closing Date: 9th November 2025
Shortlisting Date: 10th November 2025
Interview Date: 21st November 2025 (Subject to change)
Working for our organisation
Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -
We Care - We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen - We understand people’s views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver - We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners
We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :
Increase mileage rates for > 3500
A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
Plus many more.
We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate’s best interest to apply as soon as possible.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.
Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trust’s eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Registered Nurse Learning Disability/Mental Health
2. Current NMC Registration
3. Degree qualification or equivalent
4. Evidence of CPD (Continuing Professional Development)
5. Mentorship sign off Qualification or equivalent
Desirable criteria
6. Relevant Teaching Qualification
7. Clinical supervision qualification
8. Undertaken modules that support an Advanced Nurse Practitioner qualification in mental health.
9. Leadership qualification/training
10. MSc in advanced clinical nursing
11. Advanced Nursing practice; and/or specific modules relevant to area of practice
12. Positive behavioural support training
Training
Essential criteria
13. Evidence of additional training in PBS, Mental health and risk management & safeguarding and leadership
Experience
Essential criteria
14. Have experience clinically leading a team of staff, supporting, development and working with an MDT
15. Experience of working with individuals with complex health needs and behaviours that challenge.
16. Experience of managing and implementing risk plans whilst working independently and within a team
17. Experience working with safeguarding concerns and ability to demonstrate leadership on this area. Experience in supervision of clinical staff
Desirable criteria
18. Teaching, training and/or supervision of clinical staff
19. Experience of working in inpatient settings.
20. Experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment.
Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidates best interest to apply as soon as possible.
In view of Home Office Immigration Regulations all applicants must state their current immigration status, including expiry dates.
Bradford District Care Trust is an award-winning Trust that provides a range of innovative services that have been recognised as best practice nationally. As a provider of care for people of all ages who have mental and/or community health needs we are dedicated to providing a high-quality service, close to where people live and as much as possible tailored to an individual’s needs.
The Trust’s purpose is to create connected communities and help people to feel as healthy as they can be at every point in their lives and our vision is to connect people to the best quality care, when and where they need it and be a national role model as an employer and provide our staff with the best place to work.
Bradford has been awarded the coveted status of UK City of Culture 2025. The year is set to deliver more than 1000 new performances and events including 365 artist commissions, a series of major arts festivals as well as exciting national and international collaborations. Its themes will be rooted in the unique heritage and character of Bradford and will reveal the magic of the district that is held in its people, its ambition, and above all, its potential.
We would welcome applicants with lived experience of providing unpaid care and/or support to a family member or friend with a disability, health condition, frailty, mental health problem, addiction or other health and care needs.
We welcome people from all backgrounds and in particular Bradford District Care Trust is keen to reflect the population we serve, we are currently underrepresented in terms of black and minority ethnic staff. Applications are encouraged from these groups, but it must be stressed that selection will be solely on merit and in accordance with the Trust recruitment policy.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.