Job summary
Are you passionate about delivering exceptional, person-centred care and ready to take the next step in your leadership journey? Ash Ward is a vibrant and dedicated 12-bed male low secure unit in Somerset, where no two days are the same and where your clinical expertise can genuinely transform lives.
As a Clinical Lead, you'll become an integral part of a skilled and supportive multidisciplinary team committed to providing compassionate, recovery-focused care for men experiencing complex mental health needs. You'll play a crucial role in shaping the daily running of the ward--leading by example, inspiring others, and ensuring that every patient receives high-quality, safe and therapeutic care.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong clinical confidence, excellent communication skills and a natural ability to lead. You will deputise for the Ward Manager, coordinate daily clinical activity, and help nurture a positive, collaborative team culture. Your ideas, your leadership and your commitment to quality improvement will be valued and encouraged.
If you're ready to influence practice, support staff development and help drive positive change within a specialist low secure service, we'd love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
- Provide clinical leadership to nursing and support staff on Ash Ward.
- Coordinate and manage shifts, ensuring safe and effective staffing levels.
- Deputise for the Ward Manager as required, including attendance at meetings and supporting the wider MDT.
- Lead on the delivery of highquality, evidencebased care in line with Trust policies and clinical standards.
- Ensure timely, accurate completion of clinical documentation, assessments, and risk management plans.
- Support and supervise junior staff, including completion of supervision, appraisal and development reviews.
- Contribute to service improvement, clinical governance, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Promote effective communication with patients, families, carers, and professionals.
- Administer and oversee medicines management in accordance with Trust policy.
- Support MDT processes including CPA reviews, care planning and multidisciplinary interventions.
- Respond to and manage clinical incidents appropriately, upholding patient and staff safety.
- Participate in clinical audit, training, and the ongoing professional development of the ward team.
- Uphold professional standards in line with the NMC Code and relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
- Lead the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of nursing care, ensuring that all practice is safe, patient-centred and recovery-focused.
- Maintain oversight of patients' mental and physical health, ensuring any changes are documented, communicated and acted upon appropriately.
- Facilitate therapeutic activities and maintain professional, supportive relationships with patients while upholding clear boundaries.
- Act as a keyworker for designated patients, ensuring effective engagement and continuity of care.
- Ensure all clinical and risk assessments are completed and regularly reviewed in line with Trust policies.
- Work within legal frameworks including the Mental Health Act, capacity legislation and safeguarding procedures.
Leadership & Management
- Provide day-to-day clinical leadership, advice and support to junior staff.
- Assist the Ward Manager in implementing service developments, change projects and quality standards.
- Support the induction, supervision, training and appraisal of nursing and support staff.
- Help promote staff wellbeing, morale and a positive team culture.
- Contribute to effective management of complaints, incidents and investigations in line with Trust procedures.
- Maintain safe levels of staffing and rota coordination using the e-rostering system.
Governance, Quality & Development
- Participate in clinical audit, research and service evaluation activities.
- Support the integration of quality improvement models and clinical governance into everyday practice.
- Maintain your own CPD and support others in their professional development.
- Ensure compliance with Trust policies, statutory requirements and professional codes of conduct.
Communication & Professional Relationships
You will work closely with:
- Ward Manager and Clinical Service Manager
- Responsible Clinicians, Psychologists, and Doctors in training
- Nursing colleagues and HCAs
- Service users, carers and families
- Wider multidisciplinary teams and external agencies
Other Requirements
- Ability to work flexibly and adapt to changing clinical demands.
- Willingness to work in other Trust areas if required.
- Adherence to Trust values: Kindness, Respect, Teamwork.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
- Lead the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of nursing care, ensuring that all practice is safe, patient-centred and recovery-focused.
- Maintain oversight of patients' mental and physical health, ensuring any changes are documented, communicated and acted upon appropriately.
- Facilitate therapeutic activities and maintain professional, supportive relationships with patients while upholding clear boundaries.
- Act as a keyworker for designated patients, ensuring effective engagement and continuity of care.
- Ensure all clinical and risk assessments are completed and regularly reviewed in line with Trust policies.
- Work within legal frameworks including the Mental Health Act, capacity legislation and safeguarding procedures.
Leadership & Management
- Provide day-to-day clinical leadership, advice and support to junior staff.
- Assist the Ward Manager in implementing service developments, change projects and quality standards.
- Support the induction, supervision, training and appraisal of nursing and support staff.
- Help promote staff wellbeing, morale and a positive team culture.
- Contribute to effective management of complaints, incidents and investigations in line with Trust procedures.
- Maintain safe levels of staffing and rota coordination using the e-rostering system.
Governance, Quality & Development
- Participate in clinical audit, research and service evaluation activities.
- Support the integration of quality improvement models and clinical governance into everyday practice.
- Maintain your own CPD and support others in their professional development.
- Ensure compliance with Trust policies, statutory requirements and professional codes of conduct.
Communication & Professional Relationships
You will work closely with:
- Ward Manager and Clinical Service Manager
- Responsible Clinicians, Psychologists, and Doctors in training
- Nursing colleagues and HCAs
- Service users, carers and families
- Wider multidisciplinary teams and external agencies
Other Requirements
- Ability to work flexibly and adapt to changing clinical demands.
- Willingness to work in other Trust areas if required.
- Adherence to Trust values: Kindness, Respect, Teamwork.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant professional qualification and registration
Desirable
- Relevant degree or working towardsRelevant management and leadership experience/training/qualificationRelevant teaching assessment qualificationNVQ assessor/verifier
Experience
Essential
- Experience of carrying out supervision to junior staffProven experience of working with a relevant client group in a multi-agency service, presenting complex and sensitive information to large groups of people.Ability to demonstrate leadership skills and to act up in the absence of the person in charge.
Desirable
- Experience of carrying out research and developmentExperience of carrying out auditsTo have experience in being involved in service improvement
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Knowledge of NMC code of professional conductSound knowledge of the Mental Health Act
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant professional qualification and registration
Desirable
- Relevant degree or working towardsRelevant management and leadership experience/training/qualificationRelevant teaching assessment qualificationNVQ assessor/verifier
Experience
Essential
- Experience of carrying out supervision to junior staffProven experience of working with a relevant client group in a multi-agency service, presenting complex and sensitive information to large groups of people.Ability to demonstrate leadership skills and to act up in the absence of the person in charge.
Desirable
- Experience of carrying out research and developmentExperience of carrying out auditsTo have experience in being involved in service improvement
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Knowledge of NMC code of professional conductSound knowledge of the Mental Health Act
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
