Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Positive and Proactive Care Lead to provide expert leadership, education, and strategic direction in reducing restrictive practices and promoting trauma-informed, person-centred care across the Trust. This senior role is pivotal in shaping a culture that prioritises safety, dignity, and respect, working in line with NHS England, CQC, and national restraint reduction programmes.
As the Positive and Proactive Care Lead, you will drive the development and delivery of a Trust-wide Positive and Proactive Care Strategy, oversee specialist training programmes, and provide expert guidance to clinical teams managing complex situations involving violence, aggression, or restraint. You will lead quality improvement initiatives, analyse incident data to identify key themes, and ensure learning is embedded into practice.
Working collaboratively with service users, carers, clinical teams, senior leaders, and external partners, you will play a key role in influencing best practice, shaping policy, and ensuring compliance with national standards, including the Use of Force Act. This is an excellent opportunity for a compassionate, strategic leader with strong clinical expertise to make a significant impact on patient experience, staff confidence, and the overall reduction of restrictive practices across the organisation.
Shortlisting for this vacancy is due to commence on 19/01/2026 and the proposed interview date is week commencing 26/01/2026.
Main duties of the job
Key responsibilities of the role include:
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Lead the Trust's Positive and Proactive Care Strategy and promote trauma-informed, person-centred practice.
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Provide expert advice and support to teams managing complex situations involving violence, aggression, or restraint.
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Guide services in developing proactive care plans and lead debriefs following incidents.
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Analyse incident data, identify themes, and drive quality improvement to reduce restrictive practices.
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Ensure compliance with national legislation and standards, supporting policy development and regulatory assurance.
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Lead learning reviews and contribute to patient safety and safeguarding processes.
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Chair the Positive and Proactive Care PSIRF Sub-group and report progress to senior leaders.
We would consider offering a secondment opportunity for internal applicants. Please seek approval for this by your current line manager before you apply for this job.
About us
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.
We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.
Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.
As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.
Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification and registered with a professional body (eg NMC, HCPC)
- Recognised qualifications to masters level or equivalent
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Postgraduate qualification in leadership, quality improvement, or related field
Desirable
- Specialist training in violence prevention/restraint reduction
- Coaching qualification or desire to work towards
- Experience in education and delivering training
- Project management qualification or training
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- In-depth knowledge of national policy, legislation, and best practice in restraint reduction and violence prevention
- Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to drive culture change
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to analyse complex data and present findings to diverse audiences
- Commitment to co-production with patients and carers
- Excellent verbal and written skills
- Experience of promoting clinical effectiveness and standards setting via audit and governance frameworks
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working in mental health and/or learning disability nursing.
- Evidence of proven service development at a senior manager level
- Evidence of considerable management experience underpinned by in depth study and experiential learning e.g. experience of working in a clinical setting at a senior level
- Evidence of senior leadership and change management
- Evidence of innovation and service development
- Ability to exercise a high degree of personal and professional autonomy and critical judgement
Desirable
- Experience of innovation in reducing restrictive practice and restraint.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification and registered with a professional body (eg NMC, HCPC)
- Recognised qualifications to masters level or equivalent
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Postgraduate qualification in leadership, quality improvement, or related field
Desirable
- Specialist training in violence prevention/restraint reduction
- Coaching qualification or desire to work towards
- Experience in education and delivering training
- Project management qualification or training
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- In-depth knowledge of national policy, legislation, and best practice in restraint reduction and violence prevention
- Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to drive culture change
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to analyse complex data and present findings to diverse audiences
- Commitment to co-production with patients and carers
- Excellent verbal and written skills
- Experience of promoting clinical effectiveness and standards setting via audit and governance frameworks
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working in mental health and/or learning disability nursing.
- Evidence of proven service development at a senior manager level
- Evidence of considerable management experience underpinned by in depth study and experiential learning e.g. experience of working in a clinical setting at a senior level
- Evidence of senior leadership and change management
- Evidence of innovation and service development
- Ability to exercise a high degree of personal and professional autonomy and critical judgement
Desirable
- Experience of innovation in reducing restrictive practice and restraint.
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).
