Strategic Lead - CYP Multiagency Escalation

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Stafford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health organization in Stafford is seeking a Strategic Lead for the Children of Concern Pathway to enhance support for vulnerable children. This role involves clinical leadership, designing coordinated care pathways, and fostering multi-agency collaboration to meet complex needs. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in mental health services, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to improving child welfare across the region.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Supportive working environment

Training and development programs

Qualifications

• Professional qualification with current registration (e.g., Clinical Psychologist, Mental Health Nurse).
• Postgraduate qualification in leadership or equivalent experience.
• Experience with complex mental health needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical oversight of pilot for Children of Concern.
• Design and implement new referral pathways.
• Chair multi-agency meetings and develop solutions.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical skills

Knowledge of safeguarding

Negotiation skills

Education

Professional qualification (e.g. Clinical Psychologist, Mental Health Nurse)

Postgraduate qualification in leadership

Project management certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Data tracking software

Job description

Go back Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Strategic Lead - CYP Multiagency Escalation

The closing date is 19 October 2025

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. If it is identified that you require sponsorship to undertake this role your application may be withdrawn

This is an exciting opportunity to lead an innovative, system-wide pilot that will transform how children and young people with complex emotional, behavioural, and social needs are supported in South Staffordshire.

As Strategic Lead for the Children of Concern Pathway, you will bring together partners from health, social care, education, policing, and the voluntary sector to create a truly joined-up approach for our most vulnerable children. You will provide visible clinical leadership, ensure safe and effective practice, and shape the future of services by embedding learning from this pilot into long-term strategy.

We are looking for a resilient and dynamic leader who can think strategically, influence at a senior level, and remain grounded in the voices of children, young people and their families. This role offers the chance to make a tangible difference to the lives of children and shape the direction of multi-agency working across the region.

Main duties of the job

Provide expert clinical oversight to Phase 1 of the Children of Concern pilot, ensuring trauma-informed, evidence-based, and safe practice.

Lead the design and implementation of new referral pathways, governance frameworks, and escalation processes to support coordinated care.

Convene and chair multi-agency meetings, bringing together health, education, social care, police, and VCSE partners to develop shared solutions.

Develop and test a prototype "register" for children of concern, ensuring effective monitoring, early identification, and proactive intervention.

Champion the voices of children, young people, and families, embedding co-production in all aspects of service design.

Monitor, evaluate and report on pilot progress to ICS governance structures, using learning to shape Phase 2 development.

Provide clinical leadership, supervision, and support to staff, promoting best practice and building system-wide capacity.

Represent the pathway at senior forums, influencing commissioning and resource decisions to address service gaps.

Ensure safeguarding compliance, robust risk management, and strong clinical governance throughout the pilot.

Drive forward innovation, equality, and inclusion in service delivery, ensuring all children receive the support they need to thrive.

About us

Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Job responsibilities

Please review the attached job description and person specification for more details on the requirements of this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

• Professional qualification with current registration (e.g. Clinical/Counselling Psychologist, Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Family Therapist).
• Postgraduate qualification in leadership, systemic practice, or service development or demonstrate equivalent level of experience
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Qualification in project management, quality improvement or research methods.

Experience

• Substantial post-qualification experience with CYP presenting with complex and high-risk mental health and social needs.
• Proven experience of leading multi-agency working at a senior level.
• Experience of service or pathway development.
• Experience of providing consultation, supervision, and training to professionals from different backgrounds.
• Experience of leading regional or national pilot/service development work
• Experience of working with Dynamic Support Registers or similar frameworks.
• Experience of leading work linked to Dynamic Support Registers, Care Education & Treatment Reviews (CETRs), or similar frameworks.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• In-depth knowledge of safeguarding and child protection legislation and practice.
• Strong leadership, influencing, and negotiation skills across organisational boundaries.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, presentation) with diverse audiences including CYP, families, and senior professionals.
• Analytical ability to evaluate complex data and translate findings into service improvements.
• Ability to chair and lead multi-agency forums effectively.
• Excellent understanding of safeguarding legislation, statutory frameworks, and thresholds across health, social care, education and police.
• Ability to chair and lead multi-agency forums effectively. Excellent understanding of safeguarding legislation, statutory frameworks, and thresholds across health, social care, education and police. IT skills, including use of electronic records, data tracking, and Microsoft Office/analytical tools.
• Advanced skills in service evaluation, audit, and research.
• Knowledge of commissioning and funding mechanisms for CYP services.
• Understanding of quality improvement methodologies (e.g. PDSA cycles, LEAN, QI frameworks).

Personal Attributes

• Resilient, adaptable, and confident in managing high levels of complexity and uncertainty
• Politically astute with ability to navigate system-level dynamics.
• Committed to co-production and inclusion of CYP and families in service development.
• Flexible and adaptable in response to changing service needs and priorities.
• Values-driven and committed to reducing health inequalities.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust