Complex Emotional Needs Pathway Operational Lead

Bradford District Care Nhs Foundation Trust; Aberford; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mileage increase

Health & wellbeing support

Training & development

Defence Recognition Bronze

Job summary

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Mental Health Practitioner with substantial experience in managing Complex Emotional Needs (CEN). You will lead the operational delivery of the CEN Pathway, coordinate SCM activities, and supervise staff while fostering cross-agency collaboration to ensure high-quality, recovery-focused care across Bradford, Aire Wharfe and Craven.

You will work closely with clinical leads, operational managers, and partners to develop training programs,

Qualifications

• Clinical SCM experience with multiple patients.
• Experience delivering care to people with complex emotional needs and trauma.
• Service development or clinical/pathway leadership experience.
• Knowledge of evidence-based psychological therapies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational delivery and implementation of the CEN Pathway.
• Collaborate with clinical leads, operational managers and partner agencies.
• Support sustainable system-wide training for the CEN Pathway.
• Develop and implement multi-agency response plans for high-risk users.
• Coordinate SCM delivery within the CEN Pathway and ensure governance.
• Provide consultation, supervision and training to staff.
• Maintain clinical expertise through direct clinical care in SCM.

Skills

Leadership

SCM experience

Clinical supervision

Stakeholder collaboration

Training delivery

Education

BSc/MSc in core profession

Professional registration (HCPC/NMC/SWE)

Job description

Job summary

Are you passionate about ensuring better outcomes for people with complex emotional needs? An exciting opportunity has arisen for a suitably qualified Mental Health Practitioner who is highly experienced in working with service users with complex emotional needs. You will provide operational leadership in the development, implementation, delivery and evaluation of the Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) Pathway, working in collaboration with service users, carers, front line staff, clinical leads and operational managers across services for Bradford, Aire Wharfe and Craven.

Closing Date: 1st November 2026 at midnightShortlisting Date: 4th November 2026Interview Date: 18th November 2026

Main duties of the job

• Lead the operational delivery and implementation of the Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) Pathway, ensuring safe, effective and recovery-focused care.
• Work closely with the CEN Clinical Lead, clinical leads, operational managers and partner agencies to support pathway development and delivery.
• Support the delivery of a sustainable system-wide training programme for the CEN Pathway.
• Contribute to a standardised framework for individuals with high-intensity service use.
• Develop and implement multi-agency response plans for high-risk and high-frequency service users.
• Support the reduction of inappropriate Section 136 detentions, unnecessary A&E attendances and avoidable hospital admissions through coordinated care planning.
• Act as Clinical Lead for Structured Clinical Management (SCM).
• Coordinate, deliver and supervise SCM within the CEN Pathway, ensuring compliance with governance and best practice standards.
• Provide consultation, supervision and training to staff supporting the pathway and SCM delivery.
• Hold operational management responsibility for CEN Practitioners.
• Maintain clinical expertise through the provision of direct clinical care in line with evidence-based SCM practice.

About us

Everything we do is underpinned by our core values:

• We Care: We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
• We Listen: We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs
• We Deliver: We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners

We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including:

• Increase mileage rates for > 4500
• A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
• A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
• Plus many more.

We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.

Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate's best interest to apply as soon as possible.

Details

Pay scheme: Agenda for change Band: Band 8a Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum Contract: Permanent Working pattern: Full-time Reference number: 453-26-8278229 Job locations: Trust Wide, New Mill, Victoria Road, Saltaire, BD18 3LD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.

Right to Work in the UK

Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.

Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.

Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.

As a condition of continuous employment, it is essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

• BSc or MSc in a core profession (Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Social work), or Doctorate level training in clinical or applied psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical, psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology. If BSc - working towards or prepared to undertake a master's degree programme. AND Registration with a professional body e.g. Health & Care Professions Council, NMC, Social Work England OR Specialist post graduate training to masters level or equivalent in a psychotherapeutic modality - including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Systemic Therapy AND Accreditation from a recognised Psychological Therapy body e.g. BABCP, BACP (accredited membership), UKCP, HCPC via: (a) Professional route; requiring previous mental health qualification e.g. Clin. Psych., RMN, Dip. SW. or (b) where applicable, the KSA (knowledge, skills and attitude) route.

Desirable

• Leadership Qualification

Training

Essential

• Completion of SCM Basic Training and ongoing professional development and attendance at 12 group supervision sessions, with presentation of clinical material in at least five
• Demonstrated competence in SCM assessment, formulation, therapy modules, and collaborative care planning
• Teaching (clinical practice) qualification/certificate or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• SCM Supervisor Training
• Supervision (clinical) qualification/certificate or equivalent experience.

Experience

Essential

• Clinical experience in delivering SCM with a minimum of four patients, covering the Initial, Treatment, and Ending phases
• Significant experience of providing clinical care to people with complex emotional needs and trauma - at least 3 years post qualification
• Experience of Service Development or Clinical/pathway leadership experience.

Desirable

• Clinical experience in delivering SCM with a minimum of eight patients, covering the Initial, Treatment, and Ending phases
• Experience of managing people

Knowledge

Essential

• Able to contain, explore and formulate an understanding of high levels of distress both directly with patients and indirectly via supervision or case reviews with other staff.
• Knowledge of best practice approaches in working with CEN, risk assessment and safety planning
• Knowledge of evidenced based psychological therapies.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name: Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust Address: Trust Wide, New Mill, Victoria Road, Saltaire, BD18 3LD, United Kingdom Employer's website: https://www.bdct.nhs.uk/current-vacancies/ (Opens in a new tab)

For questions about the job, contact: Programme Manager, Eva Costoya, [e-mail], 07739627807