Clinical Lead

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Mental Health Professional to join Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust as a Mental Health Liaison Clinical Lead (Band 7).

The post holder will provide senior clinical leadership within the Mental Health Liaison Service, working closely with acute hospital services and wider system partners to deliver high‑quality, evidence‑based and person‑centred mental health care.

This role offers the opportunity to lead on clinical practice, workforce development, service improvement and integrated working across organisational boundaries, supporting seamless care for people accessing mental health services within acute hospital settings.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership capability, advanced clinical knowledge, and a commitment to continuous service improvement in line with Trust values and national guidance.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide senior clinical leadership within the Mental Health Liaison Service, working collaboratively across a multidisciplinary and multi‑agency framework to deliver safe, effective and high‑quality mental health care within acute hospital settings. They will play a central role in ensuring the service operates in a coordinated, responsive and person‑centred manner, supporting integrated care pathways between Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, acute hospital services and wider partner organisations.

The Clinical Lead is responsible for leading the Mental Health Liaison Team to ensure that assessments are completed in line with national key performance indicators. The role provides clinical oversight, leadership and support to the team, ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, safe and effective patient care. Working in partnership with the Service Manager, the post holder will support continuous service improvement, ensure completion of mandatory training, and provide both clinical and managerial supervision. The role also includes responsibility for analysing and using data to monitor performance and inform quality improvement.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Multidisciplinary Working  • Work collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary team across organisations, a team approach to service delivery  • To be able to manage conflict and consider other professionals perspectives in the best interests of individuals referred to the service  • To chair and participate in professionals meetings in relation to complex cases  • To act as a conduit between the mental health trust and acute hospital in relation to patient care

Policies and Procedures  • To participate and contribute to the development of clinical policies, procedures  and guidelines for the Mental Health Liaison service  • To ensure that Trust policies and where required acute trust polices are adhered to    • To observe and practice within the legal requirements of the Mental Health Act 1983 and Mental Capacity Act.  • To lead and participate in the development of clinical policies and procedures, contributing to the writing of shared care guidelines   Personal and Team Development   • To utilise resources and incorporate research into evidence based practice where applicable  • Keep abreast of, apply and advise on national and local guidelines and initiatives relating to mental health service provision  • In conjunction with the Service Manager undertake responsibility for the continuous improvement of the Mental Health Liaison service.   • In conjunction with the Service Manager identify opportunities for local service development and manage and lead the process of change.    • To participate in Trust wide initiatives to improve practice    • Have the ability to use a range of clinical and managerial supervision and to provide supervision to junior members of staff  • Ensure team compliance with mandatory training requirements.    • Lead on providing support and training to acute hospital staff across a range of topics in relation to mental health  • To maintain an up to date professional portfolio and personal development plan   • To lead on the induction process of staff  • To chair team and service meetings and teaching sessions  • To undertake audit and evaluation of the Mental Health Liaison Service.  • To provide mentorship, education and training to learners from a range of professional backgrounds.   This job description is not exhaustive, but is intended to give an overall picture of the role.  Other duties within the general scope of the post may be required from time to time.  The duties of the post and job description can be reviewed through the agreed process General Duties of all post holders  • To undertake any other reasonable duty, which is appropriate to the band, when requested by Senior Staff.  • To be familiar with and comply with all Trust and departmental policies,  procedures, protocols and guidelines.  • To be aware of and work towards the Trusts strategic goals. Standards of Business Conduct   • The post holder will be required to comply with the organisations standing order and standing financial instructions and at all times, deal honestly with the organisation with colleagues and all those who have dealing with the organisation including patients, relative and suppliers.  • The post holder must ensure that their behaviour and interests inside and outside work do not conflict with their Trust position, duties and/or  responsibilities.  • The post holder must comply with and support the development of the  performance standards within the service/department to ensure the service is responsive to and meets the needs of its customers.  • The post holder will be required to develop and maintain good working  relationships with all patients, service users, staff, contractors and where  appropriate, members of the public.  • The Trust aims to maintain the good will and confidence of its own staff,  patients, service users, NHS contractors and the general public.  To assist in achieving this objective it is essential that at all times, the post holder carries out their duties in a courteous, sympathetic and professional manner.  • All post holders who are members of a professional body must comply with standards of professional practice / conduct.  It is the post holders’  responsibilities to ensure they are both familiar with and adhere to these  requirements and maintain their professional membership to the relevant body.  Equality and Diversity and Equal Opportunities   • The post holder must carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies, avoiding unlawful discriminatory behaviour and actions when dealing with colleagues, service users, members of the public and all other stakeholders.  • The post holder must promote awareness of and respect for equality and diversity in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.  • The post holder is responsible for treating all staff, patients, service users, NHS contractors and the general public with dignity and respect at all times.  Safeguarding  • Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS  disclosure.    • Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust (PCFT) employees have a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children and young people and to protect  adults; enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect.   • Engagement with safeguarding training, in line with responsibilities, is  mandatory for all PCFT employees. PCFT employees must familiarise  themselves with policies and procedures and adhere to these.   • It is the responsibility of all staff to report safeguarding concerns and  familiarise themselves with who to contact in order to do this or seek further guidance.  Professional and Personal Development   • The post holder must ensure that they are aware of theirresponsibilities by attending the Trust Mandatory Training and Induction Programme.  • The post holder will be involved in a formal appraisal and yearly conversations review with their manager at least every 12 months.  Once performance / training objectives have been set, the staff member’s progress will be reviewed on a regular basis, so that new objectives can be agreed and set, in order to maintain progress in the service delivery.  • The post holder will be expected to take responsibility for their own  professional development and will be supported by the Trust to achieve  development opportunities as appropriate.  Confidentiality and Information Governance  • Confidentiality is of prime importance.  In the normal course of duties, the post holder will have access to confidential documents and information relating to patients, service users, staff and contractors, as well as information of a commercially sensitive nature.  Such information should not be communicated to anyone outside or inside the NHS unless done in the normal course of carrying out the duties of the post.  Disciplinary action will be considered where a breach of confidence has been established.  • All information obtained or held during the post-holders period of employment that relates to the business of the Trust and its service users and employees will remain the property of the Trust.  Information may be subject to disclosure under legislation at the Trust’s discretion and in line with national rules on exemption.  • The post holder must maintain high standards of quality in corporate and clinical record keeping ensuring information is always recorded accurately, appropriately and kept up to date.  The post holder must only access information, whether paper, electronic or in other media, which is authorised to them as part of their duties.  • The post holder must work to the requirements of data protection laws as applicable to the UK, which includes the General Data Protection Regulations  (GDPR).  Health and Safety at Work   • The post holder is required to take reasonable care of the health and safety of themselves and other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work and to co-operate with the Trust in adhering to statutory and departmental safety regulations.    • The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they do not intentionally or recklessly misuse or interfere with anything provided in the interests of health safety or welfare e.g. misuse of equipment.  • The post holder is required to contribute to the control of risk and must report immediately, using the Trust Incident reporting system, any incident, accident or near miss involving patients, service users, carers, staff, contractors or members of the public.  • All Trust sites have been designated a no smoking area.  The post holder is therefore advised smoking is not permitted within the hospital premises or grounds or whilst representing the Trust in the course of their duty.  While the  Trust will not discriminate against employing smokers, all prospective employees should be aware of this policy.  Infection Control  • Infection Prevention and Control is the responsibility of all Trust staff.   • All staff members have a responsibility to protect service users, visitors and employees against the risk of acquiring health care associated infections by consistently observing Trust Infection Prevention and Control Policies and procedures and best practice guidance in order to maintain high standards of Infection Prevention and Control.