Senior Clinical Lead

We are seeking an exceptional and experienced SeniorClinical Lead to provide strategic, operational, and clinical leadership across our Mental Health Crisis Pathway, encompassing:

HomeTreatment Team (HTT)

FirstResponse Service (FRS)

This is a key senior role within the organisation, responsible for delivering safe, high-quality, responsive crisis services aligned with national NHS priorities, including urgent and emergency mental health care transformation.

The post holder will lead on the development of integrated, person-centred, recovery-focused services, ensuring timely access, reducing hospital admissions, and improving patient outcomes across acute and community interfaces.

Main duties of the job Ensure 24/7 crisis response, reducing unnecessary admissions and supporting early discharge.

The role requires innovation, flexibility and commitment, working as part of the senior clinical team to deliver the best patient and family experience and outcomes. Clinical time will be flexible to team needs, with participation in the mental health on-call rota.

The post holder will manage the team manager and practice leads, maintain system-wide relationships, and support patient flow to ensure least restrictive practice for the Plymouth population.

They will also support the senior management team and acute care pathway in delivering the organisation's strategic and operational priorities.

Build strong partnerships with acute hospitals, ambulance services, primary care and community mental health teams.

Demand and capacity management

Provide visible, values-based leadership across all elements of the crisis pathway.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us Livewell Southwest is an independent, award winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programmes, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programmes ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities The Senior Clinical Lead provides professional and clinical leadership to the Crisis Pathway and has influence across all services aligned to the acute care pathway. The post holder line manages and supports Practice Leads and the Team Manager.

Responsibilities for Patient Care: The post holder is jointly accountable for delivering a person centred, responsive and adaptable Crisis Pathway in line with patient need and available resources. They will role model clinical leadership, ensuring communication is clear, relevant and accessible to service users and carers, in line with organisational standards and values.

They will ensure a duty of care, taking into account service users' wishes, feelings, beliefs and those close to them. Professional competence must be maintained through clinical supervision. The post holder will demonstrate specialist knowledge of mental health care and the roles of other professionals.

They are accountable for KPIs including HTT gate keeping and 48 hour follow up.

• PLS KPI: A&E 1 hour response and 24 hour ward response
• FRS KPI: Net call Cat B/C/D, face to face assessments within hours

They will ensure skilled clinicians are available for crisis assessments, and will lead on these where required. Responsibilities include risk identification and management, clinical decision making, and maintaining safety in challenging situations. Decisions must be communicated effectively to relevant agencies, including senior management where required.

The post holder ensures after care planning, appropriate referrals, multidisciplinary working, and effective medication monitoring. They will ensure timely response to referrals, risk management competence, and accessible patient information. Feedback processes must be managed to improve services, alongside patient satisfaction surveys and safeguarding compliance.

They are responsible for maintaining their own professional development and mandatory training.

Communication and Key Working Relationships: Key relationships include senior leadership, clinical teams, NHS partners, police, commissioners and other stakeholders. The post holder will demonstrate professionalism, challenge inappropriate behaviour, and share sensitive information appropriately.

They will manage complex and sensitive issues, maintain effective communication channels, lead meetings, deliver presentations, and ensure accurate, accessible communication across services. Strong stakeholder engagement is essential.

Service Delivery: The post holder will understand population needs, national policy and local contracts. They will support service development, promote recovery focused care, maintain high clinical standards, and undertake non medical prescribing where appropriate.

They will plan and develop services to meet demand, deliver value for money, and introduce new ways of working. Performance and quality standards will be monitored and escalated where required.

They will ensure compliance with legislation, governance, CQC, NICE guidance, and health and safety requirements. Risk management processes, complaints handling, and service improvements must be maintained. They will also lead practice development projects and contribute to management decision making.

Financial and Physical Resources: Responsible for budget management, cost control, forecasting, and efficiency savings. They must ensure activity targets are met and financial policies followed. Equipment management and maintenance must also be ensured.

Human Resources: The post holder will provide effective leadership, promote high standards, support supervision and CPD, and deputise for the Team Manager where required. They will ensure strong communication, identify training needs, promote team working, manage staff in line with HR policies, and oversee appraisals and development plans.

Information Resources: They will use performance data to drive service improvement, ensure IT systems are fully utilised, and maintain accurate, secure records in line with policies and legislation. IT issues and information security breaches must be reported and addressed promptly.

Research and Development: Responsible for audit, service evaluation, CQC compliance evidence, and supporting service development, policies and protocols in line with national guidance.

Physical, Mental and Emotional Effort: The role requires travel, prolonged computer use, and strong IT skills. The post holder must interpret data, manage complex tasks within deadlines, produce accurate reports, and lead meetings.

They must remain resilient under pressure, manage competing priorities, and handle sensitive or challenging situations effectively.

Working Conditions and Freedom to Act: The post is office based with travel across sites. The post holder is accountable for their practice, service delivery, and development of the Crisis Pathway, working with senior leadership. They will deputise for the Directorate Manager as required.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Registered health / social care professional with current registration
• Clinical/postgraduate management/leadership qualification or equivalent level of experience and proven ability to perform at this level.
• Core Clinical/Professional background
• Evidence of recent professional development in an up to date portfolio.
• Masters Level study or equivalent transferable experience
• Level 7 Management or leadership qualification
• Learning and Assessing in Practice Qualification or equivalent practice assessors training
• Non Medical Prescriber Additional courses relevant to Crisis work and
• Home treatment speciality

Knowledge

• Knowledge of key drivers eg national policy and guidance relevant to the crisis pathway and the acute care pathway.
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