Supportive Care Lead

The Methodist Church in Britain; Taunton; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 68,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days of leave incl. bank holidays

Pension contribution 6% employer / 5%/

Life assurance 2x salary

Employee Assistance Programme

Learning and development opportunities

On-site parking

Blue Light Discount Card

Job summary

St Margaret's Somerset Hospice seeks a senior postholder to lead the Supportive Care Service, including therapy, counselling, bereavement support and social work. The role covers staff leadership, budget oversight, and safeguarding governance across Somerset.

You will chair or deputise safeguarding committees, report outcomes to governance boards, oversee recruitment and performance management, and travel across the county to ensure high‑quality care and service continuity.

Qualifications

• Professional registration and qualification required.
• Experience leading teams and managing safeguarding case reviews.
• Experience working with local authorities and Integrated Care Boards (ICB).
• Experience of inter‑organisational collaboration and external representation.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership for the Supportive Care Service and its staff.
• Oversee safeguarding oversight and financal governance and reporting to committees.
• Lead the development and implementation of safeguarding policies and protocols.
• Represent the service with ICB, council and other agencies, including safeguarding meetings.
• Lead recruitment, induction, performance management and appraisal for the team.
• Travel across Somerset to fulfil role responsibilities and ensure service continuity.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Safeguarding expert

Team building

Analytical decision making

Education

Social work / safeguarding degree

Job description

Senior post leading the Supportive Care Service at St Margaret's Somerset Hospice, covering therapy, counselling, bereavement support and social work. The work centres on operational leadership of the service, its staff and budget, and safeguarding oversight. It is a part-time, countywide role on the senior management team, with regular travel across Somerset. Applicants need a professional registration and experience of leading teams and complex safeguarding case review.

What the job involves

• Manage and oversee Supportive Care Services, including family and patient support, bereavement support and social work, adapting them to changing needs
• Provide operational leadership and expert advice on supportive care and safeguarding to colleagues at all levels
• Lead delivery of safe, high-quality clinical care to auditable standards, in line with legislation and guidance
• Chair or deputise the clinical safeguarding committee and monitor safeguarding procedures, producing data for governance
• Report to the Clinical Governance Committee on safeguarding and supportive care, sharing learning across the organisation
• Manage the Supportive Care budget and allocate resources to maximise service delivery
• Lead recruitment, induction, performance management, absence management and appraisal for the Supportive Care team
• Produce and present reports on service outcomes and activity
• Work closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and report to the Associate Director
• Lead the development and implementation of supportive care and safeguarding policies and protocols
• Represent the service with the ICB, Somerset County Council and other agencies, including ICS safeguarding meetings
• Participate in the on‑call manager rota, responding to incidents and maintaining service continuity

What’s required

Qualifications

• Relevant professional qualification and registration

Experience

• Inter‑organisational working and representing an organisation externally
• Demonstrable leadership and management experience
• Experience as an line manager
• Experience of working with the local authority and ICB
• Experience of complex safeguarding case review
• Experience of change management

Skills & knowledge

• Strong knowledge of psychological therapy, social work and adult and child safeguarding
• Advanced analytical and decision‑making skills
• Experience of building and leading teams
• Demonstrable evidence of relevant clinical professional development

Other

• Ability to travel across Somerset, including rural communities

Nice to have

• BSc or MSc in social work or safeguarding
• Master's level qualification in a relevant field
• Coaching qualification
• Formal management or leadership qualification
• Experience of reporting to and presenting at a clinical governance or safeguarding committee or board

What’s offered

• 33 days' leave including bank holidays, rising to 35 after one year and with service, pro rata if part-time
• Ability to buy and sell annual leave
• 6% employer and 5% employee pension contribution for non‑NHS staff, or NHS pension continuation where applicable
• Life assurance of 2x salary and health cash plans (eligibility criteria apply)
• Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access, counselling, wellbeing support and legal and financial advice
• Enhanced maternity leave (eligibility criteria apply)
• Learning and development opportunities
• Blue Light Discount Card and free on‑site parking