Addiction Care Team Lead

Job overview

This is an opportunity to lead a high-performing, multidisciplinary team at the forefront of addiction care within an acute hospital setting - delivered in partnership between King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, with the clinical team drawn from both organisations. As Team Lead, you'll provide specialist assessment and support to inpatients with alcohol and drug use disorders, working to reduce avoidable admissions, shorten length of stay, and improve the safety and quality of care for our patients

The Addiction Care Team (ACT) is an established, evidence-based service that has transformed care for patients with alcohol and drug use disorders at King's College Hospital since its launch in 2018. Since inception, ACT has reduced alcohol-related admissions by 20% across Southwark and Lambeth and cut hospital stays.

Previous direct addictions experience is not essential - full induction and training will be provided for the right candidate with strong leadership skills.

Main duties of the job

Your leadership will ensure that the service consistently meets its key performance targets while maintaining the highest standards of evidence-based practice. You will be responsible for the direct line management, supervision, and professional development of our Band 6 Liaison Nurses, helping them grow in confidence and clinical skill.

A significant and exciting part of this role involves cross-site and cross-service leadership. Alongside leading ACT at Denmark Hill, you'll provide cover and support for our sister service at PRUH, and work hand-in-hand with the ACOT Team Lead and Band 7 Lead Nurse to ensure consistent standards across the whole Integrated Alcohol Care Pathway. You'll also help in delivering a quality service for patients across South East London that supports those that need it most.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will provide vital clinical and operational leadership for the Addiction Care Team at King's College Hospital . This role is a cornerstone of the Integrated Alcohol Care Pathway, which unites hospital-based support with assertive community outreach to deliver seamless care for individuals with complex alcohol and substance-related needs.

You will ensure that care within ACT is safe, effective, and person-centered, working closely with the ACOT Team Lead  and the Band 7 Lead Nurse, who leads nursing standards, competencies, and clinical training across both ACT and ACOT. Together, you'll ensure consistent standards and communication across the entire pathway.

• Clinical Leadership: Provide day-to-day operational leadership for the Addiction Care Team, ensuring the service meets key targets and adheres to local and national guidelines.
• Staff Management: Provide direct line management, supervision, and annual appraisals for Band 6 Liaison Nurses, supporting their professional growth through personalised development plans.
• Specialist Advice: Act as a senior clinical resource for your team, offering guidance on complex assessments, alcohol withdrawal management, risk, safeguarding, and clinical decision-making.
• Site Cover: Provide cover and support for the PRUH ACT service alongside its own Team Lead, and mutual operational cover with the ACOT Team Lead.
• Practice Support: Contribute to the induction of new ACT staff, working alongside the Band 7 Lead Nurse, who leads competency sign-off and practice development across the pathway.
• Clinical Communication: Ensure clinical recommendations are communicated clearly and promptly to ward teams, emergency departments, and community partners.
• Educational Outreach: Promote hospital staff education on alcohol and drug treatment guidelines across the wider workforce, supporting the Band 7 Lead Nurse, who leads the design and delivery of clinical training.
• Performance & Data: Own and drive performance against ACT's key targets — referral volumes, ED referral timeliness, screening rates, admissions avoided, and length of stay — while ensuring compliance with health and safety, safeguarding, and clinical governance standards.
• Patient Experience: Own patient experience for ACT, jointly with the ACOT Team Lead, gathering and acting on feedback as part of service-level quality assurance.
• Service Integration: Work closely with the ACOT Team Lead and Clinical Service Lead to ensure consistent standards and smooth communication across the entire pathway.
• Strategic Representation: Deputise for the Clinical Service Lead on both clinical and operational matters when required, representing the service at internal Trust and hospital-wide meetings