Overview
The Home First service brings together nurses, paramedics, therapists, health and therapy assistants, to work with the acute Multi-Disciplinary Team & Transfer of Care Hubs to promote an efficient, effective discharge from hospital to the patient's own home. The service provides a 7-day, 365-day operation between 8am and 8pm. Patients discharged from hospital into Home First receive step-down intermediate care with community-based assessments and interventions in their own homes to support recovery and monitor health in the early days post-discharge and prevent readmission. Where required, Home First may provide acute reablement for up to 10 days to help people achieve functional goals and independence in activities of daily living.
You could become part of our exciting service, bringing the wraparound recovery approach from hospital discharge, focused on enabling individuals to be as independent as possible.
Role
We are looking for a Clinical Lead (Therapist) to join us. If you are an ambitious, proactive, and experienced therapist seeking a lead role in a team that delivers cutting-edge, excellent community care, we’d love to hear from you!
Main duties
The post holder will provide Clinical and Professional Leadership and governance for staff working in Home First. They will collaborate with the AHP Head of Service and Professional Leads to ensure staff are clinically competent, services are safe and effective, and an excellent patient experience is delivered. The role includes embedding interdisciplinary working, cross-skilling, and implementing the competency frameworks. The post holder will provide specialist clinical advice for complex patients and conduct specialist assessments and interventions for highly complex cases as required. They will support an audit plan in the relevant clinical area and may participate in research to inform future service development. As an active team member, they will develop partnerships to ensure effective whole-system working through communication and networking with other disciplines, and work across professional boundaries. They will help ensure services align with Trust Strategy and act as deputy to the line manager.
About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays. Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.
Why work for us?
* Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
* Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex
* Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
* Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
* Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
* Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
* Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
* Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast
Our values
Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence guide everything we do.
Equality and inclusion
We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Details
Date posted: 11 September 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £46,148 to £52,809 a year (per annum / pro rata)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 150-GM2072-UPC
Job locations: Crawley & Horsham hospital; Crawley; RH11 7DH
Job responsibilities
For a detailed job description and main responsibilities please see the attached supporting documents. You will need to be able to drive with a full UK licence and have access to a vehicle due to the geographic area covered by the team.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Essential: Currently registered with the Health and Care Professions Council
* Essential: Post-registration qualification or training to Masters level or equivalent, or willingness to undertake
Experience
* Essential: Experience within clinical case management
* Essential: Experience working within a multi-disciplinary team
* Essential: Evidence of a consistent pattern of learning from education and training
* Essential: Experience working across the boundaries of primary, community and secondary care
Skills & Knowledge
* Essential: Up-to-date knowledge in clinical area (physio or Occupational Therapy) and health and social care policy
* Essential: Knowledge of professional code of conduct, clinical governance, risk management, and clinical audit
* Essential: Advanced reasoning, assessment, and problem-solving skills
* Essential: Ability to direct and coordinate care programs autonomously and collaboratively
* Essential: Effective communication across barriers, mentoring, and development of others
* Essential: IT proficiency (Microsoft Office, data recording)
* Essential: Ability to meet deadlines, prioritise, and manage workload; conflict resolution
* Essential: Ability to teach patients and carers to participate in and manage their own care
* Essential: Commitment to maintaining and improving standards of care
Other
* Essential: Car driver with valid UK license and access to a vehicle
* Essential: Understanding of equal opportunities principles
* Willingness to undertake training to develop within the role
* Desirable: Flexible approach to working
Disclosures
Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a DBS submission to check for criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered with all other applications. See UK Visas and Immigration for details. Guidance on overseas criminal records checks is available from the UK government.
UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. See NHS Careers for more information.
Employer details
Employer: Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Crawley & Horsham hospital, Crawley, RH11 7DH
Employer's website: https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/
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