Job overview
The Senior Operations Clinical Lead provides senior clinical leadership within the Single Point of Access (SPoA), ensuring the safe, effective and timely coordination of referrals into adult community health services across Bedfordshire. The role is central to supporting high-quality clinical triage, risk management and safeguarding at the point of access, enabling people to be directed to the most appropriate service based on assessed clinical need, risk and service availability.
Working closely with operational and senior clinical colleagues, the post-holder acts as the primary clinical escalation point for complex, high-risk or uncertain presentations and provides expert clinical advice and oversight to non-clinical staff undertaking telephone-based assessments. The role strengthens clinical governance, supports consistent and defensible decision-making, and promotes effective flow across community pathways.
The post does not hold a direct clinical caseload but focuses on senior clinical triage, pathway oversight, quality assurance and professional support within SPoA. The Senior Operations Clinical Lead also contributes to service development, pathway improvement and system-wide priorities, supporting a safe, resilient and well-governed access function for Bedfordshire Community Health Services.
Main duties of the job
1. Provide senior clinical leadership within the Single Point of Access (SPoA), ensuring safe, consistent and effective clinical triage and prioritisation of referrals into adult community health services
2. Provide expert clinical advice and decision-making support to non-clinical staff undertaking telephone-based assessments, without routinely providing direct face-to-face patient care.
3. Ensure referrals are directed to the most appropriate pathway in line with assessed clinical need, risk, safeguarding requirements and service availability.
4. Provide clinical oversight and quality assurance of SPoA assessments, decision-making and escalation processes, promoting defensible, person-centred practice.
5. Support the identification, management and escalation of clinical and operational risks at the point of access, contributing to incident review, learning and risk mitigation.
6. Work collaboratively with operational leaders and community services to support effective flow, demand management and continuity of care across pathways.
7. Contribute to the development, review and implementation of SPoA pathways, policies and standard operating procedures.
8. Provide
9., coaching and professional support to SPoA staff, promoting confidence, resilience and consistent application of pathways.
10. Use clinical insight, data and feedback to support service improvement, quality assurance and performance monitoring within SPoA.
Working for our organisation
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
11. Provide senior clinical oversight and triage of referrals received into adult community health services via SPoA.
12. Act as the primary clinical escalation point for complex presentations, clinical uncertainty, deterioration and safeguarding concerns.
13. Use advanced clinical judgement to interpret incomplete or evolving information and provide proportionate, defensible advice.
14. Determine appropriate pathways, escalation routes and onward referrals in line with clinical need and risk.
15. Ensure access decisions are clinically sound, person-centred and aligned with professional standards and safeguarding legislation.
16. Ensure individuals are safely and appropriately assessed, prioritised and guided to suitable services in a timely manner.
17. Promote a holistic approach to assessment, recognising physical, psychological, social and environmental factors.
18. Support appropriate onward referral or signposting to community, acute or specialist services where required.
19. Ensure equity of access, reasonable adjustments and compliance with mental capacity and safeguarding requirements.
20. Identify themes, learning and risks arising from referral activity and contribute to service improvement.
21. Provide expert clinical advice, supervision and decision-making support to non-clinical SPoA staff.
22. Support staff to manage clinical risk, uncertainty and complex conversations confidently and safely.
23. Act as a senior clinical role model, promoting professional standards, reflective practice and wellbeing.
24. Contribute to induction, training and ongoing competency development for SPoA staff.
25. Provide senior clinical input into administrative processes, ensuring referrals are managed efficiently and accurately.
26. Support prioritisation of referrals in line with clinical urgency and risk.
27. Monitor referral flow, identify delays or capacity pressures and escalate concerns appropriately.
28. Contribute to rota, duty and escalation arrangements to support service resilience.
29. Support delivery of access standards, KPIs and performance objectives without compromising patient safety.
30. Use clinical insight, data and feedback to identify trends, pressures and risks within SPoA.
31. Contribute to pathway development, policy review and service redesign initiatives.
32. Participate in audit, service evaluation and quality improvement activity.
33. Provide senior clinical oversight of documentation quality, information governance and data accuracy.
34. Act as a clinical advisor on the use and development of digital systems, referral platforms and dashboards.
35. Ensure compliance with GDPR, Caldicott principles and information-sharing agreements.
36. Work collaboratively with operational leads, senior clinicians and system partners to support integrated care pathways.
37. Support system-wide objectives, including care closer to home, timely discharge and demand management.
38. Deputise for senior operational leaders where required, supporting daily operational decision-making.
Person specification
Education/Qualification
Essential criteria
39. Registered General Nurse
40. NMP qualification
41. Educated to degree level or equivalent
42. Post-registration qualification in a relevant clinical field
43. Relevant teaching/mentoring qualification and evidence of teaching skills
44. Demonstrable evidence of significant post-registration nursing experience, including in a community setting
Experience
Essential criteria
45. Evidence of and commitment to multi-professional working
46. Demonstrate working within a multi-agency environment
47. Understanding of National and Local issues that impact on the population of Bedfordshire.
48. Knowledge of the principles of Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults and Children
49. Knowledge of the principles of health promotion and prevention of illness
50. Evidence of specialist holistic assessment and evaluation skills
Knowledge
Essential criteria
51. Demonstrate evidence-based practice and up-to-date clinical skills
52. Experience of clinical leadership
53. Extensive experience of complex assessment of health and social needs
54. Demonstrate excellent communication skills using a variety techniques and strategies
Other
Essential criteria
55. Ability to travel throughout Bedfordshire and access to a car for work purposes