Job summary
The Clinical Lead provides senior clinical leadership and accountability for the delivery of safe, high-quality, evidence-based care within an acute mental health inpatient ward. The post holder is responsible for overseeing clinical standards, patient safety, and multidisciplinary practice, ensuring care is person-centred, recovery-focused, and compliant with statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
The role involves leading and supporting the multidisciplinary team, managing complex clinical risk, promoting effective governance, and driving continuous quality improvement. The Clinical Lead works closely with ward and service management and the Matron to support operational delivery, patient flow, and workforce development, acting as a key link between frontline clinical practice and senior leadership.
The post holder will act as a visible clinical leader, role model best practice, support staff wellbeing and development, and contribute to service development to improve outcomes for service users and carers.
Main duties of the job
Provide visible clinical leadership to the inpatient multidisciplinary team (MDT)
Maintain oversight of clinical standards, quality, and patient safety
Ensure compliance with:
Mental Health Act (MHA)
Mental Capacity Act (MCA)
Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards
NICE guidance and Trust policies
About us
Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) employ around 4000 talented colleagues who are very much appreciated, valued, and respected.
We have a wide portfolio which includes mental health, physical health, learning disability and drug and alcohol services.
We are passionate about enhancing the quality of our service and we work hard to attract and select the right colleagues for our organisation. Our goal is to employ those who share our passion for providing first class care while remaining committed to our vision and values. Please view our Strategy using the link below:
https://www.rdash.nhs.uk/documents/clinical-and-organisational-strategy-2023-to-2028/
To find out more about working for RDaSH and the fantastic benefits we offer visit our website:
https://workwithrdash.co.uk/
We are committed to inclusive cultures and really value people in our organisation, view our Allyship video on YouTube to find out more:
https://youtu.be/WMJSkLoTk4Q
The main terms and conditions of service can be found here:
https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/tchandbook
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached job description and person specification to view the full details about the role.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if there are a high amount of applications
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached job description and person specification to view the full details about the role.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if there are a high amount of applications
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Mental Health Nurse with current NMC registration
- Education to a degree level or equivalent
- Minimum of 5 years post registration experience
- Safeguarding training Level 3
Desirable
- Leadership or management qualification
- Clinical supervisor or practice educator
- Safeguarding supervisor
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-registration experience within acute mental health inpatient services
- Experience of providing clinical leadership or senior clinical support to nursing teams.
- Experience of managing complex and high-risk patients
- Experience of working effectively within a multidisciplinary team (MDT)
- Experience of delivering clinical supervision, mentorship, or training
Desirable
- Experience in a formal lead or specialist role
- Experience of quality improvement, audit, or service development
- Experience of contributing to clinical governance processes (incidents, audits, learning reviews)
Skills
Essential
- Excellent clinical assessment and formulation skills for individuals with acute and complex mental health needs
- Advanced risk assessment and risk management skills, including suicide, self-harm, violence, and safeguarding
- Highly effective communication skills, both verbal and written, across multidisciplinary teams
- Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to support, motivate, and challenge staff appropriately
- Highly effective communication skills, both verbal and written, across multidisciplinary teams
- Ability to provide effective clinical supervision, coaching, and professional guidance to nursing staff
- Ability to manage complex clinical situations, prioritise workload, and make sound clinical decisions under pressure
- Skills in multidisciplinary team (MDT) working, including leading discussions and contributing to care planning
- Ability to identify learning needs and deliver training or support professional development
- Competence in clinical documentation, care planning, and use of electronic patient record system
Desirable
- Teaching, facilitation, or presentation skills
- Ability to analyse clinical data and use outcomes to inform practice Conflict resolution and restorative practice skills
Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent clinical assessment and decision -making skills
- Ability to provide effective clinical supervision and professional guidance
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to influence, motivate, and support staff
- Acute mental health care
- Risk assessment and management
- Strong understanding of: Mental Health Act / Mental Capacity Act / NICE guidance and best practice standards
Desirable
- Knowledge of CQC standards and inspection processes
- Skills in quality improvement methodologies
- Teaching and facilitation skills
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Exemplifies the fundamental values of the NHS i.e. - care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment - ( the "6Cs" )
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Mental Health Nurse with current NMC registration
- Education to a degree level or equivalent
- Minimum of 5 years post registration experience
- Safeguarding training Level 3
Desirable
- Leadership or management qualification
- Clinical supervisor or practice educator
- Safeguarding supervisor
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-registration experience within acute mental health inpatient services
- Experience of providing clinical leadership or senior clinical support to nursing teams.
- Experience of managing complex and high-risk patients
- Experience of working effectively within a multidisciplinary team (MDT)
- Experience of delivering clinical supervision, mentorship, or training
Desirable
- Experience in a formal lead or specialist role
- Experience of quality improvement, audit, or service development
- Experience of contributing to clinical governance processes (incidents, audits, learning reviews)
Skills
Essential
- Excellent clinical assessment and formulation skills for individuals with acute and complex mental health needs
- Advanced risk assessment and risk management skills, including suicide, self-harm, violence, and safeguarding
- Highly effective communication skills, both verbal and written, across multidisciplinary teams
- Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to support, motivate, and challenge staff appropriately
- Highly effective communication skills, both verbal and written, across multidisciplinary teams
- Ability to provide effective clinical supervision, coaching, and professional guidance to nursing staff
- Ability to manage complex clinical situations, prioritise workload, and make sound clinical decisions under pressure
- Skills in multidisciplinary team (MDT) working, including leading discussions and contributing to care planning
- Ability to identify learning needs and deliver training or support professional development
- Competence in clinical documentation, care planning, and use of electronic patient record system
Desirable
- Teaching, facilitation, or presentation skills
- Ability to analyse clinical data and use outcomes to inform practice Conflict resolution and restorative practice skills
Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent clinical assessment and decision -making skills
- Ability to provide effective clinical supervision and professional guidance
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to influence, motivate, and support staff
- Acute mental health care
- Risk assessment and management
- Strong understanding of: Mental Health Act / Mental Capacity Act / NICE guidance and best practice standards
Desirable
- Knowledge of CQC standards and inspection processes
- Skills in quality improvement methodologies
- Teaching and facilitation skills
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Exemplifies the fundamental values of the NHS i.e. - care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment - ( the "6Cs" )
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).
