Psychological Therapies Team Leader (Band 7)

Job responsibilities

Foster a culture of teamwork, collaboration, and mutual support. Lead staff recruitment, probation assessments, and team coordination. Provide line management, overseeing HR processes such as sickness and performance management Attend operational and business meetings representing the hospice. Set and communicate performance standards and expectations Collaborate with senior leadership to plan and deliver a locality-based care model Build partnerships with external health, social care, and third-sector organisations Identify and nurture staff potential, delegating tasks effectively Oversee the development and implementation of service-related policies Direct and administer the work of the PTT for organised service delivery Promote services internally and externally to ensure clear referral pathways Manage team budgets and financial resources effectively in collaboration with Head of PFS Identify and support applications for external funding opportunities Oversee patient referrals, ensuring alignment with service capacity and standards Support the development of efficient clinical processes. Participate in the Senior Clinical on-call rota (currently not active) Clinical - The post-holder will be a highly skilled autonomous practitioner, managing a complex caseload using clinical judgment, critical thinking, reflection and analysis to support their work with people effected by life limiting illness and bereavement: Assess and plan interventions for patients and families, including bereavement support. Manage a complex clinical caseload effectively, prioritising care and time management. Deliver individual and group-based psychological interventions, both inperson and virtually. Maintain accurate client records and statistical data as required. Safeguard therapy materials per professional guidelines. Participate in clinical and multi-disciplinary team meetings. Communicate effectively with service users and team members. Provide colleague cover as required e.g. PFS teams management support Uphold safeguarding responsibilities in line with legislation and hospice policies. Adhere to professional regulatory standards, maintaining registration and CPD. Ensure confidentiality of sensitive data and comply with hospice procedures and policies. Communication - Can develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters and/or in difficult situation Communicates effectively in complex situations, adapting to diverse needs and using clear, jargon-free language. Maintains accurate, up-to-date electronic records ensuring safety, privacy, and dignity. Involve patients and carers in decisions, respecting their views and preferences. Adheres to hospice confidentiality policies. Provides feedback to others on their communication where appropriate Shares and engages thinking within own teams and colleagues Maintains the highest standards of integrity when communicating with patients and the wider public Engages collaboratively with internal and external colleagues to support locality-based initiatives Acts as an ambassador of hospice values and contributes to multidisciplinary teamwork Supports individuals and families in distress, addressing prognosis and care options sensitively Personal and People development - Develop oneself and contribute to the development of others: Pursues continuous professional development to maintain evidence-based clinical practice Provides development opportunities for staff, including supervision and mentoring Identifies and addresses personal and team learning needs, aligning with organisational goals Attends relevant training and study days as identified in Personal Development Plan and in line with the needs of the organisation Keeps updated on legislation, policies, and advancements relevant to palliative care Ensures team members complete mandatory training and maintain annual appraisals Promotes resilience and professional standards through active registration and clinical and management supervision Maintains active professional registration and works within the relevant Professionals Council Standards/Code of Conduct Health Safety and Security - Promote, monitor, and maintain best practice in health, safety, and security: Identifies, mitigates, and manages workplace risks, ensuring compliance with policies and legislation. Conducts and oversees risk assessments, maintaining a safe working environment. Aligns practices with safeguarding policies and the Mental Capacity Act. Ensures team compliance with mandatory training and promotes health and safety improvements. Service Improvement - Appraise, interpret, and apply suggestions, recommendations, and directives to improve services: Identifies and evaluates potential service improvements and supports innovation Discusses improvement ideas with appropriate people and agrees a prioritised plan of implementation to take forward agreed improvements Presents a positive role model in times of service improvement Supports and works with others to help them understand the need for change and to adapt to it Enables and encourages others to suggest change, challenge tradition and share good practice with other areas of the Hospice Evaluates the changes made and suggests further improvements where needed Write and give feedback on draft policies Develops a culture of continuous improvement, pro-actively seeking feedback and identifying opportunities to advance and develop the services offered Keeps abreast of national agendas and published frameworks, guidelines, standards, protocols and policies, and international research and evidence, both clinical and professional. Uses this knowledge to inform and develop service delivery Quality - Contribute to Improving Quality: Promotes quality approaches making others aware of the impact of quality. Understands own role, its scope and how this may change and develop over time in a developing organisation Reviews effectiveness of own team and helps and enables others to work as a team Prioritises own workload and manages own time in a manner that maintains and promotes high quality Evaluates the quality of own and others work and raises quality issues and related risks with the appropriate people Supports changes in own area that improves the quality of systems and processes Takes appropriate action when there is a persistent problem with quality Takes responsibility for the Infection Prevention and Control agenda in the Psychological Therapies team, managing practice, processes, and auditing results. Leads setting standards, agreed audits/re-audits, and when appropriate/required works with own staff in the audit cycle, including presenting results and actioning plans. Identifies and utilises appropriate outcome and service impact measures, which accurately evaluate patient response and service development needs Promotes service user feedback Respond to informal and formal complaints and concerns in accordance with Hospice policy Equality and Diversity - Promote equality and value diversity: Identifies and removes barriers to service access, promoting inclusivity. Interprets equality, diversity, and rights in accordance with legislation, policies, procedures, and good practice Acts as a role model for non-discriminatory practices, fostering a culture of respect. Ensures fair application of policies and internal processes in managing people

Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant postgraduate professional qualification e.g. Counseller, Arts Therapist, Psychotherapist, Psychological Practitioner
• Practitioner must be qualified to work with adults and children
• Membership of a relevant professional body e.g. BPS, BACP, BAMT, BAAT, HCPC

Desirable

• Masters Degree
• Clinical Supervision Qualification
• Area of areas of specialism relevant to role such as pain management, working with dementia or trauma informed therapy

Experience

Essential

• Significant post-qualification experience in a health care setting
• Experience of team and individual staff management,
• leadership, recruitment, and performance management
• Experience and knowledge of implementing service
• improvement, initiating, and managing service change
• Experience of working in the context of palliative care or a similar heath or social care area within a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of assessing risk
• Experience of multi-agency/MDT working
• Knowledge of clinical governance and evidence-based practice

Desirable

• Experience in planning and delivering psychological therapy group interventions
• Experience of working with local community
• organisations/groups, culturally diverse and multi faith communities
• Experience of teaching/facilitating training
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Insight and understanding of the challenges to equity of access to hospice support and care

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Excellent verbal/written skills in communication and ability to produce written reports
• Demonstrates professional behaviour and communication
• Confidence in own professional decision making based on evidence based best practice
• Can identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions to resolve problems in relation to service delivery
• Can manage conflict in a variety of situations
• Can identify opportunities for team learning

Qualifications

Essential

• An understanding and empathy for the work of the Hospice
• Passionate about end-of-life care and improving services for patients and carers
• A problem solver and ability to keep a level head at times of crisis.
• A role model who can influence/motivate and inspire others to give their best.
• Cooperative and collaborative team member, committed to best practice
• Approachable and compassionate
• Flexible and resilient
• Driving license and own transport

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).