Associate Clinical Director - Forensic Healthcare Service

We are inviting applications from those with a nursing, psychology, allied health professionals or medical background for the post of Associate Clinical Director for Forensic Healthcare Services (FHS) in Sussex. This is an exciting opportunity for someone to join the leadership team for FHS in the context of the new Specialist Services Division within the Trust. You will have oversight and leadership of a range of professional leads and be key to the development and maintenance of clinical standards and innovations. You will be supported by both clinical and operational colleagues and be welcomed into a multi professional team. You will be joining the service as it faces challenges and opportunities in meeting demand and reviewing best practice and opportunities for transformation. We are looking for someone with expert clinical skills, personal integrity and an enthusiasm for change whilst also holding robust and resilient management of professional leads., To ensure the provision of high quality, safe and sustainable mental health services for Forensic Mental Health Services delivered by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and specifically to deliver on key areas., To ensure the provision of high quality, safe and sustainable Forensic Healthcare Services for the people served by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and specifically to deliver on the following key areas:

• To undertake face to face clinical work at consultant level within the care group as appropriate and to model good practice as appropriate.
• To work in partnership with the Service Director to develop clinical leadership within the service; in particular providing clinical leadership to the local clinical leads and the professional leads - medical; nursing, occupational therapy, psychology and social care.
• To co-chair the Leadership Team of the senior professionals of the service who are involved in the delivery of care together with the Service Director.
• To appoint and manage the Professional Leads within the Forensic Healthcare Service and to develop clinical leadership.
• To provide the clinical leadership and support the development of long-term strategic plans based upon interpretation of national mental health policy and strategy and considering the Trust clinical strategy, aims and objectives and projected needs of the client.
• To provide clinical leadership and perspectives on service change programmes that delivers SIP savings as well as improvements in quality and patient.
• To provide clinical leadership in building a culture of continuous improvement of services as demonstrated by Quality Improvement, clinical audit and other forms of benchmarking.
• To represent the Trust when appropriate in handling media, ICB or NCB enquiries, around service developments, serious incidents.
• To lead on the development of the research and audit strategies and implementation plans within Forensic Healthcare Services as agreed by the Service and Trust.
• To proactively contact service users and families when there has been a serious incident, death or near miss. To offer apologies or condolences, to explain processes associated with complaints or serious incidents and, where appropriate, work to find acceptable solutions when things have gone wrong.
• To communicate highly sensitive and potentially upsetting information in relation to care of a service user to both families and professionals.
• To have skills to manage the professional and personal impact of highly stressful interpersonal events.
• Internal: Present highly complex information to clinical, operational and administrative colleagues about service design and change. This may often be contentious.
• External: To share complex information which may be contentious in relation to waiting lists etc. The use of excellent interpersonal skills will be essential i.e. therapeutic in delivering the message sensitively in a highly hostile and emotive environment and where consensus and agreement may not be present.
• To support delivery of all performance targets relating to health and social care services provided by the Trust, in accordance with requirements laid down by CQC, NHSE, other regulators and professional bodies and as set out in legally binding contracts agreed with Commissioners.
• To support the Service Director in ensuring that services are provided within the agreed financial envelope, ensuring maximum value in terms of clinical and cost effectiveness.
• To work with the Service Leadership Team to identify optimal service models/pathways that deliver consistent approaches to service provision and practice, improving the quality of services and the experience of those who use them.
• To work in partnership with the Service Director and Service Leadership Team to ensure the development and provision of safe, effective services, in line with best practice and legal frameworks.
• To lead on ensuring that services are operating safely, that any risks are acknowledged and mitigated against where possible. To ensure a clear process of learning from incidents.
• To work in partnership with the Service Director in the development of integrated governance and strong clinical/professional leadership within the care group and address the balance of leadership in line with the emerging new philosophy of transparency and co-production of services.
• In partnership with the Service Director, to ensure strong relationships within the senior team demonstrating trust and holding self and others to account appropriately, taking action to ensure the delivery of all team objectives, identifying risks and taking corrective action in line with the Trust's integrated governance framework. At all times supporting the Trust's reputation, maintaining a positive attitude with a strong commitment to results. This includes contributing to and supporting the divisional quality and governance meetings.
• To promote and display via personal actions support for the Trust's key policies on Equality and Diversity, Exemplar Employer and use of the recovery orientated approach for people with longer term problems.
To provide visible leadership across a range of diverse services, and a large geographical area. This will require the post holder to be able to travel confidently by car or public transport as well as virtually using computer aided software.

To use highly developed analytical skills which reflect the post holder's expertise to provide opinions and judgment in clinical care. To be confident and credible in offering opinions based on available information, experience and training, even when these opinions may differ from others. To be able to explain the rationale for the decisions made and the appropriate weighting of information. For example, when working in a multi-agency framework to understand and formulate the needs and solutions for both professionals and families. To be able to communicate this information sensitively and in an environment that is likely to be highly emotive and at times challenging.,
• MRCPsych or equivalent qualification at Consultant level.
• Management qualification/professional qualification or equivalent level of experience and proven ability to perform at this level., Significant experience of and demonstrable achievement in a consultant or professional lead role within the care group.
• To provide teaching, training at post registration or qualification level to colleagues within the Trust, other agencies and educational settings
• Good understanding of change management, efficiency savings and financial recovery plans
• Experience of using new ways of working to modernise services without additional resources.
• Experience of developing and maintaining effective partnerships with stakeholders in the redesign of services. Experience of understanding and setting budgets
• Measurable track record in involving and motivating staff to improve performance. Excellent ability to assimilate large amounts of information to support highly complex, often unique clinical decisions
• Good working knowledge of Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act legislation, You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
  
  Our organisation is expanding and we're looking for people with the right values, skills and/or potential to join us. We need people with energy, expertise, enthusiasm to help us provide the very best possible specialist NHS mental health and learning disability care. This involves helping us achieve our strategy to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve through People, Prevention and Partnerships.
So what can we offer you in return? We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving. You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities. As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level. If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team., Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities. We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated. Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children's social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role. Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.


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