Clinical Lead @ Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Clinical Lead to join the team at Pyrland Ward, a specialist older persons' mental health inpatient service. The successful candidate will be a key member of the multidisciplinary team, providing clinical leadership and operational support to ensure the delivery of high-quality, recovery-focused care.

Working closely with the Ward Manager and Deputy Ward Manager, you will be responsible for coordinating and maintaining excellent standards of patient care, supporting staff development, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement, clinical governance and teamwork.

This is an excellent opportunity for a registered mental health professional who is passionate about delivering exceptional care, leading teams and supporting service development within older persons' mental health services.

Main duties of the job

• Provide clinical leadership and support to nursing and multidisciplinary teams across the ward.
• Lead and coordinate the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care and treatment.
• Support the Ward Manager and Deputy Ward Manager in the day-to-day management of the ward.
• Oversee patient care planning, risk assessments, discharge planning and care pathway coordination.
• Ensure compliance with the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and relevant professional standards.
• Supervise, support and develop junior staff through clinical supervision, appraisal and personal development planning.
• Lead on quality improvement, audit, clinical governance and evidence-based practice initiatives.
• Act as a role model, promoting the Trust values of Kindness, Respect and Teamwork.

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

As Clinical Lead, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate care to older adults receiving inpatient mental health treatment. You will work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to coordinate care, support recovery and maintain high clinical standards across the service.

You will provide professional leadership to nursing staff, supporting workforce development through supervision, appraisal, mentoring and educational opportunities. The post holder will help drive service improvement, champion evidence-based practice and contribute to the ongoing development of clinical quality standards.

The successful candidate will be a registered mental health professional with strong leadership skills, experience of working within mental health services and a sound understanding of relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act. You will possess excellent communication and organisational skills, be committed to delivering outstanding patient care and have the ability to inspire, motivate and support others.

Pyrland Ward provides specialist assessment and treatment for older people with mental health needs, including acute functional mental illness and dementia-related conditions. The service offers a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference to patients and their families while working as part of a supportive and experienced team.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) with current NMC registration.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Mentorship, practice supervision, or equivalent experience supporting learners and staff development.

Desirable

• Leadership or management qualification.
• Qualification or additional training relevant to dementia care, older adult mental health, quality improvement, or clinical leadership.

Experience

Essential

• Experience working within a mental health inpatient setting.
• Experience coordinating clinical activity and leading shifts.
• Experience supervising, supporting and developing staff.
• Experience managing clinical risk, safeguarding concerns and complex patient needs.
• Experience working within a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience addressing poor practice and maintaining professional standards.
• Experience of communicating effectively with patients, carers, colleagues and external agencies.

Desirable

• Post-registration experience within older adult mental health services.
• Experience working with patients with dementia, delirium and other organic mental health disorders.
• Experience leading or contributing to quality improvement initiatives.
• Experience participating in incident investigations and embedding learning into practice.
• Experience undertaking audits and using findings to improve service quality.

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Demonstrates a commitment to maintaining high standards of care and clinical practice.
• Ability to lead by example and act as a positive role model.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to motivate, inspire and engage staff.
• Ability to hold staff accountable and challenge poor practice in a constructive manner.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Able to build and maintain effective working relationships within the multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrates resilience and professionalism when working under pressure.
• Sound knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and safeguarding principles.
• Ability to make sound clinical decisions in complex situations.
• Commitment to person-centred, compassionate care.
• Ability to support a positive ward culture and foster effective teamwork.

Desirable

• Understanding of quality improvement methodologies and audit processes.
• Knowledge of current best practice in dementia and older adult mental health care.
• Ability to use clinical data, audits and patient feedback to improve standards of care.
• Experience supporting service development and change management.
• Commitment to promoting staff wellbeing and continuous learning.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Wellsprings Hospital

Cheddon Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA2 7AU

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)