About this role
Job summary
The Band 7 Clinical Team Leader provides senior clinical and operational leadership within the Mental Health Urgent Treatment Centre (MHUTC). The role ensures the delivery of safe, effective, person-centred mental health care in a fast-paced Emergency Department environment.
The post-holder offers visible, accessible leadership, supporting the multidisciplinary team with expert clinical oversight, risk management, and high-quality assessment processes. They are responsible for ensuring smooth patient flow, timely decision-making, and robust escalation pathways.
A key part of the role involves service development, quality improvement, audit leadership, and governance, alongside supporting staff development, competency growth, and fostering a positive, inclusive team culture aligned with Trust values. The Clinical Team Leader works closely with ED, liaison psychiatry, Acute Referral Centre, Health Based Place of Safety, inpatient services, and wider agencies to maintain seamless, safe pathways for patients.
Main duties of the job
Main Duties of the Job
Provide senior clinical leadership within the MHUTC, supporting safe assessment, risk management, and decision-making. Oversee day-to-day operations, including staffing, patient flow, and coordination with ED, liaison teams and ARC. Ensure the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care and maintain professional standards of documentation. Lead clinical huddles, handovers, and MDT discussions to support effective teamwork and communication. Support staff through supervision, appraisals, performance management, and ongoing development. Contribute to service quality and governance through audits, incident reviews, and improvement initiatives. Foster strong relationships with ED, inpatient teams, community services, and external partners to ensure smooth pathways. Uphold Trust policies, safeguarding responsibilities, confidentiality, and professional codes of conduct. Promote a positive, inclusive, values-led team culture and provide leadership during challenging or high-risk situations.
About us
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol.
We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.
SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities, and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field.
Our trust's core values are:
I will be caring, kind and polite.I will be prompt and value your time.I will take time to listen to youI will be honest and direct with you.I will do what I say I am going to do.
Job description Job responsibilities
PLEASE SEE JD FOR FULL DETAILS.
The Band 7 Clinical Team Leader provides senior clinical and operational leadership within the MH UTC, ensuring safe, effective, and personcentred mental health care in a busy clinical setting.
The role supports the team with clinical oversight, risk management, and coordinated patient flow, while contributing to service quality, governance, and staff development.
Actively support the team to deliver a consistent, responsive, safe, high quality and user friendly service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Provide senior clinical support, advice and leadership to the team.
Provide a visible, accessible and authoritative presence for staff, service users and carers.
Regularly undertake delegated managerial responsibilities and duties, and deputise for the Service Manager in his/her absence or as required.
Enable the provision of evidence-based assessment and treatment that incorporates cultural preferences, health beliefs, behaviours and traditional practices.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registered Mental Health Nurse / Social Worker / Allied Health Professional (NMC/HCPC) Evidence of continued professional development Mentorship/Practice Assessor/Supervisor
Desirable
Master's degree in mental health field / relevant discipline Training in specialist interventions (e.g., DBT/CBT, family interventions
Skills Essential
Strong leadership, communication, and conflict-resolution skills Excellent clinical assessment, risk formulation, and decision-making abilities Ability to work under pressure, prioritise workload, and manage competing demands Knowledge of mental health legislation, safeguarding, and relevant policies Supervise clinical staff & conduct appraisals
Desirable
Cultural competence, patient advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and presentation skills Skilled in managing complex MDT discussions and risk reviews Quality improvement, audits, data analytics, and informatics competence
Experience Essential
Significant experience of working on an acute inpatient setting Previous experience of managing a team at band 6 level or above. Proactive approach to bed management and promoting flexibility throughout the various parts of the service Extensive experience in acute mental health or crisis care
Desirable
Experience contributing to audits, QI projects, or service redesign Experience of conducting psycho-social assessments of patients with multimorbidity, substances and physical health
Knowledge Essential
Sound understanding of how to assess and meet the needs of adults presenting in crisis Legislation associated with acute mental health care, including MHA, MCA, CPA procedures, Human Rights Act etc. Knowledge of risk assessment in mental health work, including documentation of risk Ability to make decisions on whether to discharge, refer on or admit service users following a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of risk High level understanding of mental health disorders & treatment models relevant to age group
Desirable
Skills in applying evidence based practice Knowledge of diverse cultural needs and culturally sensitive practice
Abilities Essential
Ability to negotiate and reach compromises in verbal discussions in a manner that inspires confidence and respect from others Ability to build and maintain high standards of professional links and communication channels with a variety of personnel and agencies Ability to work effectively in crisis situations and psychiatric emergencies in order to maintain the safety of both staff and service users Ability to manage and prioritise own time and clinical demands
Desirable
Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team Ability to enthuse others, lead and motivate a team
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.
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 (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).
Employer details Employer name South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address Maudsley Hospital
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 8AZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)