Job summary
A 6 month secondment opportunity has become available within the Clinical and Quality Directorate for a Care Group Head of Clinical Practice, working in the Older Peoples Care Group. This is a senior clinical leadership role within the care group, responsible for driving high standards of clinical practice, patient safety, and service quality across Older Peoples Acute, assessment, and community mental health services. The postholder works as part of a triumvirate leadership team, sharing accountability for performance, quality, and delivery of services.
Key Skills and Experience
* Senior clinical leadership experience in mental health services
* Strong understanding of clinical governance, quality improvement, and regulatory standards
* Ability to lead complex change, influence stakeholders, and manage performance
* Experience of workforce management, including staffing, budgets, and professional standards
* Excellent analytical, communication, and decision‑making skills
Main duties of the job
1. Strategic and Operational Leadership
* Provide professional leadership to nursing and AHP workforce across the care group
* Work within the triumvirate to deliver clinical quality, safety, and performance objectives
* Lead service development aligned to national frameworks and Trust priorities
* Contribute to transformation programmes
2. Quality, Safety and Governance
* Ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks (CQC, MHA, safeguarding, IPC)
* Lead management of incidents, complaints, and risk, embedding learning and improvement
* Provide assurance through data analysis, reporting, and governance processes
* Contribute to key reports (quality, patient experience, restrictive practice, staffing reviews)
3. Workforce Leadership and Management
* Line manage clinical leads and support performance, appraisal, and professional development
* Lead on workforce planning, safe staffing and skill mix reviews
* Manage HR processes including disciplinary and grievance matters
* Foster a positive, inclusive culture aligned with Trust values and personal accountability charter
4. Patient Experience and Care Effectiveness
* Lead improvements in patient experience, co‑production, and feedback utilisation
* Ensure effective care pathways from admission to discharge
* Drive implementation of evidence‑based practice, audits, and quality improvement initiatives
5. Partnership and System Working
* Work collaboratively with internal teams, external agencies and inter‑council partnership partners
Personal attributes
* Values‑driven leader demonstrating caring, inclusive, collaborative behaviours
* Ability to manage competing priorities in a complex environment
* Strong commitment to patient‑centred, safe, and high‑quality care
Benefits
* Commitment to flexible working where this is possible
* 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years’ service
* Yearly appraisal and commitment to ongoing training
* Generous NHS pension scheme
* Good maternity, paternity and adoption benefits
* Health service discounts and online benefits
* Incremental pay progression
* Free confidential employee assistance programme 24/7
* Access to our LGBT+, BAME and Christian networks
* Health and wellbeing opportunities
* Structured learning and development opportunities
Qualifications
* Current registration with the relevant professional body such as NMC, HCPC or the British Psychological Society
* Master’s Degree or equivalent level of knowledge and skills gained through experience
* Specialist post‑registration clinical training/qualifications or significant relevant equivalent leadership level experience in a similar role
Experience
* Professional nursing and clinical knowledge across a broad range of complex disciplines
* Demonstrate evidence of leading clinical or nursing strategic change initiatives
* Evidence of delivery and holding others to account
* Good understanding of professional nursing and corporate issues including governance and compliance
Desirable
* Quality Improvement training
Skills
* Ability to communicate complex information to diverse audiences including senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders in a politically sensitive environment
* Demonstrates an ability to critically analyse and problem‑solve
* Strong facilitation and motivation skills
* Ability to use research and clinical audit to improve practice
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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.
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