Band 7 Clinical Nurse Specialist - Northcroft

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CORE KEY RESPONSIBILITIES  
CLINICAL 
 Provide expert clinical oversight to staff, ensuring the delivery of high-quality triage in 
accordance with best practices and guidelines (e.g. stepped care, NICE guidelines). 
 Conduct regular reviews and assessments of clinical practices to identify areas for 
improvement and implement necessary changes. 
 Facilitate regular managerial and clinical supervision sessions for junior staff, fostering an 
environment of support, professional development, and reflective practice. 
 Conduct audits of clinical decision-making processes to ensure adherence to established 
protocols and evidence-based practices. 
 Manage and optimise patient flow through the service, ensuring timely and efficient access 
to care in line with government targets. 
 Develop and implement training programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of junior 
staff members. 
 Ensure a culture of care is evident within the Referral Management Centre where clinical 
staff can enable and empower service users. 
 Undertake clinical work when required, e.g. telephone triage of complex referrals. 
 Utilise an evidence-based approach to negotiate and manage clinical opinions and 
discussions within the team. 
 Remain cognisant of issues relating to people from a wide diversity of backgrounds and to 
ensure that these are considered at all times. 
 Ensure all patients have an up-to-date integrated care record, reflective of their risk and 
needs, and intervention must be evident. 
 Receive formal managerial supervision from a professional lead and clinical supervision from 
a suitable expert.  
MANAGERIAL 
 Responsible for ensuring that a positive learning environment exists for clinical staff and 
student nurses, to ensure professional standards and training opportunities are provided. 
 Working in partnership with the clinical leads to be responsible for ensuring effective 
working relationships within and external to the team. 
 Ensuring the skill set and expertise of individual clinicians is appropriate to the needs of the 
caseload that they are screening and triaging. 
 Demonstrate decision-making and problem-solving skills as a senior member of the team. 
 To support the team in developing and building effective communication between 
community services, wider mental health services and with other agencies and services.  
 To take appropriate lead action with regard to complaints and reportable incidents within 
the service as directed by the Trust’s complaints and reportable incident policies. 
 To contribute to and lead on the implementation of local and national objectives. 
 Participate in personal staff development reviews and to undertake reviews of supervisees 
as required.

PROFESSIONAL  
 To practice at all times in accordance with Professional Codes of Conduct/Practice. 
 To observe the legal requirements of the Mental Health Act 1983, and the Patients in the 
Community Act 1995, and to practice in accordance with requirements of the Codes of 
Practice. 
 Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of all Trust, Social Services and Departmental Policies and 
Procedures and apply them as necessary. 
 To observe confidentiality on all matters relating to client care and treatment, in accordance 
with the Code of Conduct on Confidentiality. 
 To be involved in research and projects to help maintain a high standard of professional 
knowledge. 
 To maintain own professional portfolio and keep up to date with new developments. 
 To practice in a professional manner, acting as a role model through practice, positive 
attitude and presentation to staff, other agencies, clients and carers. 
 Participate in personal staff development reviews and to undertake reviews of supervisees as 
required. 
 Collaborate with service leads to address and resolve clinical and managerial challenges 
within the service. 
 To provide expertise and support to foster the professional growth of team members. 
 Collaborate with service leads to address any barriers to patient flow and implement 
solutions for improvement. 
 Collaborate with external agencies and professionals to enhance our relationships with 
internal and external stakeholders. 
 Have oversight of service complaints and play an active role in resolving these, including 
reviewing themes that impact the service as a whole. 
 Maintain relevant professional registration (e.g. NMC, HCPC). 
 Establish effective links with team lead/managers of other mental health teams as well as 
statutory services and voluntary/independent sector services to ensure that risk 
management plans are coordinated and safe. 
 Behave consistently with the values and beliefs of the organisation and promote these on day
to-day basis.