Head of Clinical Services

NHS; Lanchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable hospice organization in Lanchester seeks a Head of Clinical Services. You will lead clinical teams, ensuring high-quality patient care while meeting CQC standards. The ideal candidate will be a registered nurse with significant leadership experience in palliative care and possess strong IT skills to manage clinical software. This role demands strategic oversight and collaboration with various healthcare partners.

Qualifications

• Registered General Nurse with a degree or equivalent level.
• A minimum of three years in a senior leadership or management position.
• Experience of working in a palliative care setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership for all teams caring for patients.
• Ensure quality care and effective governance.
• Lead on CQC compliance and clinical governance.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical Governance

IT Skills

Palliative Care

Education

Degree in Nursing

Qualification in Palliative and End-of-Life Care

Teaching Qualification

Tools

SystmOne

MS Office

Job description

Thank you for expressing your interest in the role of Head of Clinical Services at Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation, or as it is more fondly known, Willow Burn Hospice.

Willow Burn Hospice serves the people of Derwentside through its holistic day care, in-patient services and family support and bereavement counselling. The aim is to relieve physical and emotional distress and control symptoms whilst providing care, comfort and compassion at the end of life. Our Trustees, staff and volunteers are committed to making Willow Burn Hospice work highly effectively in responding to the needs and wants of our communities.

At the heart of our work are our clinical services. Our current Head of Clinical Services is taking up another position within the charity, and we are seeking someone to take the service forward in 2026 and beyond.

Main duties of the job

The Head of Clinical Services will be responsible for:

• Being a member of the Senior Management Team and providing clinical leadership with clear lines of accountability for all teams caring for patients, carers and families at Willow Burn Hospice.
• Ensuring a high standard of quality care by advising, directing, managing and taking responsibility for all clinical and support teams and ensuring effective governance.
• Being the regulated CQC Registered Manager.
• Being the Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer.
• Being the designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Actively ensuring that the voice and needs of patients, carers and families are at the heart of service delivery and development activity.
• Having a number of direct reports in collaboration with the Designated Deputy (currently covering Helen McArdle in the in-patient wing, Sir Tom Cowie Day Services and Family Support).

About us

Willow Burn Hospice opened in 1989 following the work of Irene Mortimer and Valerie Davison, who identified a gap in provision in the rural Derwentside area. With support from the Secretary of State for Health and Macmillan, Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation was established. The charity has grown from a Day Hospice Service for North Durham to Willow Burn Hospice, expanding in 1991 to include in-patient services and the Sir Tom Cowie Health and Wellbeing Centre. In 2014, with support from Helen McArdle CBE, a brand new six-bed hospice was opened, designed to reflect the comfort of being at home.

Job responsibilities

Job Description & Person Specification

Job Title: Head of Clinical Services

Department: Clinical Services

Responsible to: Chief Executive

Location: Willow Burn Hospice, Lanchester, County Durham

Key Responsibilities

• Being a member of the Senior Management Team and providing clinical leadership with clear lines of accountability for all teams caring for patients, carers and families at Willow Burn Hospice.
• Ensuring a high standard of quality care by advising, directing, managing and taking responsibility for all clinical and support teams and ensuring effective governance.
• Being the regulated CQC Registered Manager.
• Being the Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer.
• Being the designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Actively ensuring that the voice and needs of patients, carers and families are at the heart of service delivery and development activity.
• Having a number of direct reports in collaboration with the Designated Deputy (currently cover Helen McArdle in patient wing, Sir Tom Cowie Day Services and Family Support).

Specific Tasks & Duties:

• Work with the Board, Chief Executive and other Senior Managers to develop strategy, business plans and policies for the hospice that support the provision of high-quality care for patients, carers and families.
• Plan, deliver and develop clinical services in line with national and local strategies and Willow Burn Hospice's strategic direction.
• Collaborate with other service providers, statutory and voluntary bodies to develop a coordinated, holistic approach with person-centred and seamless care provision.
• Support and develop a culture of continuous improvement backed by research, education and training, evaluation, service user feedback and evidence-based outcomes/impacts to maintain clinical excellence.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with external bodies including ICBs, Trusts, GPs, community groups and other local hospices. Represent the hospice at related meetings.
• Take the lead on CQC compliance and clinical governance, ensuring systems and processes (audits, risk management, etc.) keep services safe, caring, responsive, effective and well-led.
• Ensure services are fit for purpose in terms of digital technology e.g. SystmOne patient records accuracy and timeliness.
• Produce quarterly commissioning reports, monthly service reports and service analysis data; monitor targets, objectives and KPIs and meet commissioning obligations.
• Ensure the clinical workforce has the required skills and experience and implement professional development and support strategies aligned with the hospice's strategic goals and external partners’ needs.
• Act as a resource for professional advice across the organisation and promote access to other sources of advice locally and nationally.
• Be responsible for appointing, managing, supporting, motivating, appraising and developing direct reports; lead and manage staff in an empowering, positive, and collaborative style.
• Work with the Board, Chief Executive and Senior Management Team to assess business risk, set annual budgets and monitor them throughout the year.
• Maintain high professional standards and stay current with relevant professional issues and developments.
• Ensure compliance with corporate policies and procedures, including health and safety, information governance, safeguarding and infection control.
• Oversee the Work Duty Rota, with delivery responsibility resting with the Deputy Head of Clinical Services.
• Undertake any other duties as requested by the Chief Executive commensurate with the grade of this post.
• Other duties as appropriate within the post holder’s competence and level of responsibility as required by the Chief Executive.
• The job description reflects the immediate requirements and objectives; it is not an exhaustive list of duties and may vary in detail with changing demands and priorities. Substantive changes will be carried out in consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered General Nurse, with a degree or equivalent level
• Experience of working in a palliative care setting
• A minimum of three years in a senior leadership or management position
• Strategy development with knowledge of financial and operational impact
• Service improvement, practice development and change management
• Workforce planning, development and management
• Clinical governance and patient safety
• Highly developed IT skills including MS products and relevant clinical software e.g. SystmOne
• Understanding of and commitment to the hospice movement
• Able to travel independently to meet the needs of the role
• Qualification in palliative and end-of-life care
• Teaching Qualification

Experience

• Registered General Nurse, with a degree or equivalent level
• Experience of working in a palliative care setting
• A minimum of three years in a senior leadership or management position
• Strategy development with knowledge and understanding of the financial and operational impact of decisions and proposals
• Service improvement, practice development and change management
• Workforce planning, development and management
• Clinical governance and patient safety
• Highly developed IT skills including MS products and relevant clinical software e.g. SystmOne
• Understanding of and commitment to the hospice movement
• Able to travel independently to meet the needs of the role
• Qualification in palliative and end-of-life care
• Teaching Qualification

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975; a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service will be required to check for any prior criminal convictions.