Clinical Service Lead (Flow Prioritisation)

NHS; Tooting; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider in Tooting is seeking a professional to oversee patient journeys from admission to discharge. This role involves coordinating bed management, ensuring timely discharges, and working with multidisciplinary teams. Candidates should have advanced clinical decision-making skills and a thorough understanding of relevant legislation. The position offers a competitive salary and opportunities for career development.

Benefits

Flexible working

Career development opportunities

Variety of benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in managing patient flow and discharge processes.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation like the Mental Health Act.
• Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams effectively.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and optimize patient journey from admission to discharge.
• Ensure seamless process for clinical teams and patient flow.
• Maintain real-time data on bed capacity and demand.
• Develop strategies to achieve performance targets.

Skills

Advanced clinical decision-making skills

Ability to analyze information

Expert understanding of Mental Health Act

Strong communication skills

Job description

Overview

The postholder will oversee and optimise the patient journey from admission to discharge, focusing on efficient bed management, timely care delivery, and clear pathways to prevent blocks and improve patient outcomes.

Responsibilities include coordinating information on bed capacity and demand, facilitating effective discharge planning, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and implementing strategies to ensure smooth operations within mental health inpatient services. Key skills involve clinical decision-making, data analysis, and a deep understanding of relevant legislation like the Mental Health Act.

Responsibilities

• Ensures a seamless process from admission to discharge by organizing and tracking tasks for clinical teams and the patient flow team.
• Maintains real-time data on inpatient bed capacity and demand, adjusting plans to maximize capacity and address resource issues.
• Works with teams to enable effective and timely patient discharges by addressing barriers, including those related to housing and legislation.
• Gathers and collates information on patient flow and bed availability, often using daily checklists, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Liaises with ward managers and other service leads to facilitate daily tasks and resolve service delivery issues.
• Supports the development and implementation of strategies to achieve performance targets, such as reducing length of stay and improving overall patient care.

Key Skills and Knowledge

• Advanced clinical decision-making skills to support complex patient flow issues.
• Ability to analyse information on bed capacity and demand to make informed decisions.
• Expert understanding of laws such as the Mental Health Act and Care Act 2014 to remove discharge barriers.
• Capacity to identify and respond to service delivery issues and develop contingency plans.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with diverse multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders.

About us

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.

We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Details

• Date posted: 08 October 2025
• Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
• Band: Band 8a
• Salary: £64,156 to £71,148 a year inclusive of Inner London HCAs
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 294-AAUC-7537024-PC
• Job locations: Springfield Hospital, Tooting, SW17 7DJ

Location: Springfield Hospital, Tooting