Practice Lead

Posting date:	22 May 2026
Salary:	£49,387.00 to £56,515.00 per year
Additional salary information:	£49387.00 - £56515.00 a year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	22 June 2026
Location:	Plymouth, PL2 2PQ
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	B9832-2026-NM-10333

Summary

Service Design and Improvement To support the implementation of Service developments including the implementation and monitoring of the assigned care pathway quality and improvement plans. The post-holder, in conjunction with relevant others, will ensure that clinical effectiveness systems are embedded and sustainable (based on audit and evidence based care) Fully participate in quality assurance initiatives and advances. Demonstrate the ability to engage with different stakeholders including medical staffing in developing the service Service Delivery and Resource Management Ensure that governance and assurance systems are in place for care pathways/clinical teams The post holder will provide expert professional advice with regard to issues that may adversely affect clinical care including staffing and resource issues. The post holder will offer advice regarding team performance in relation to incidents and complaints Ensure that services are delivered by practitioners with the appropriate knowledge, skills and competencies, identifying training needs and providing opportunities for development. In conjunction with the Senior Clinical Lead & Operational Manager, ensure that care is provided within the service resource. Practice Quality and Workforce Development Take the lead, in consultation with the Senior Clinical Lead & Operational Manager, in being responsible for the coordination of multi-disciplinary team working and engagement in service delivery in line with practice standards Ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the service through the implementation of effective risk management, governance and assurance systems Support the Senior Clinical Lead & Operational Management Team in the development of the workforce. The post-holder will act as a role model in providing a service for people with learning disabilities for all staff within the CLDT and other stakeholders. The post-holder will help monitor and improve quality through the following: Team compliance to national guidelines including NICE guidelines through audit and other means Developing care pathways which improve clinical care Line Management/Clinical Supervision Responsibility The post-holder will work with the Team Manager to deliver effective caseload and line management supervision to the team The post-holder will ensure that the team access Practice supervision and Continuous Professional Development The post-holder will provide appropriate cross-cover as required for other Band 7 Leads within the service and for the Senior Clinical Lead & Operational Manager Additional Responsibilities All practice leads will hold a portfolio of responsibilities these will include but will not be limited to : responsibility for ensuring team adherence to organisational requirements and standards, representing the CLDT at organisational and multi agency meetings and forums. They will also take responsibility for key practice development projects across the local liaison services as assigned by the Senior Clinical Lead & Operational Manager, or Operational Management team. Practice Leads will hold a service portfolio based on individual job planning e.g. safeguarding, complaints. Personal Professional Duties Role model clinical leadership Practice in a way that actively minimises dependency and promotes recovery. Communicate information in a way that makes it relevant and understandable for service users and carers, working to the principles of the functions policy implementation guidelines and practice in line with the standards and values set out in them. Ensure a duty of care to service users who are entitled to receive safe and competent care. The service users wishes, feelings, values and beliefs should be taken into consideration as well as the views of the people close to them. Take personal accountability for your own practice. This means that you are answerable for your actions and omissions, regardless of advice or directions from another professional. Ensure that you remain professionally competent by participating in your own and others clinical supervision. Demonstrate specialist knowledge and skills, not only relating to the care of mental health patients, but also in depth knowledge of the roles and functions of other professionals across the services. This may be enhanced by a relevant qualification at an appropriate level. Communication and Relationship Skills The Practice Leads along with the Senior Clinical Lead & Operational Manager will provide high quality mental health services to eligible patients through a multi-disciplinary team of registered professionals and medical staffing in conjunction with the VCSE. The post holder will ensure that services are provided within National, Local and practice guidelines so that: Quality of life for the people most in need is maintained and improved. All services are provided effectively and efficiently within current national direction and relevant legislation, to include the protection of vulnerable Adults and Children. Detailed confident verbal information sharing, within the Team or the wider multi-disciplinary Team, which includes Primary Care. Detailed confident verbal information sharing on behalf of the Organisation to and from Police and other agencies where appropriate with regard to matters of risk, mental ill health, risk, and as when appropriate. Ability to appropriately communicate information whilst negotiating positive changes or new service developments. Confident in managing conflict between individuals when required. Ability to negotiate a positive outcome from complaint investigations. The ability to receive information, analyse and formulating professional judgements. Attend and represent the teams view in meetings, e.g. Child Protection, Adult Protection, Mental Health Review Tribunals, CPA reviews. Attend and participate in various forums/steering groups within Adult Mental Health and the wider health community Elicit information from the patient and work with them to advocate on their behalf. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively over the telephone within the boundaries of confidentiality. Maintain accurate, timely paper and electronic records. Ensure they are kept safely in accordance with Organisation policies, including the Data Protection Act and the Organisation Confidentiality Policy. The post holder must demonstrate a positive attitude to mental health attending to patients with respect and courtesy. The post holder will ensure that professional boundaries are always adhered to Directly responsible for the collaboration and the planning of individual care with patient, carer, negotiation with other teams and services to provide a seamless service to users and carers. Must be confident in communicating with people who are experiencing mental health difficulties when English is not their first language using Organisation approved interpreters/services. To attend and participate in the monthly Locality business and performance meetings. Knowledge, Training and Experience The post holder will be responsible for updating their own practice, knowledge and skills within their sphere of practice including Organisation mandatory training. Expert knowledge of working within a Mental Health team, and/or other relevant experience that is directly transferable to a CLDT. Knowledge of Policy and Legislation. Knowledge of Court Of Protection and CHC processes Knowledge of the current drivers in the CLDT e.g Changes across the ICS and commissioning specifically around CHC Adhere to Policy and Legislation relating to Mental Health, e.g. Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act, Equal Opportunity Law, Disability Discrimination Act, Human Rights Act, Care Programme Approach and Clinical Governance. Analytical and Judgement Skills The post holder will provide Learning disability care and other interventions in the setting most appropriate to meet the patients needs. Ability to match patient need with available skills and resources. Emergency judgements and clinical decision making as team lead. Supervision, advice, guidance to others about complex individuals/situations. To receive information and balance risk to patient and organisation, formulating plans accordingly and communication to the wider health community. Investigating complaints and reviewing untoward incidents and serious incidents, producing chronology of events, time lines, gaining witness statements, producing report, recommendations and action plans for improvements. Support the Senior Clinical Lead & Operational Manager in the organisation of the rotas, ensuring that appropriate skill mix is available and is the most cost effective use of the resources available. To have the vision to develop the workforce plan for the next five years. Planning and Organisational Skills Ability to meet targets and provide information on a regular basis to enable the organisation to perform as expected. The post-holder is expected to that staffing rotas are adequately covered ensuring allocation of work with the available skill mix. Prioritising and delegation skills will be required. Ensure that relevant team members take a lead in clinical meetings ensuring all patients are reviewed and decisions and plans are put into action and represent the patients views. Attend Multi-disciplinary meetings for the protection of users, carers, staff and public e.g. Adult Protection, Case Conference Child Protection, Risk Management. Responsible for the support of staff who may need to attend high profile meetings for example Coroners court. Jointly responsible for being involved in the planning and implementing of all service developments within the CLDT, formulating policies and protocols. The full Job Description can be found within the supporting documents section, including the Person Spec. and the additional information for all posts.