North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust

Keyworker Lead

The closing date is 18 March 2026

Job summary

A full-time opportunity for a Band 7 Keyworker Lead for the Children's and Young Persons Keyworker Team based at Dragon Square.

This exciting opportunity has risen for a permanent role as part of a key worker team.

The Keyworker is part of the NHS long term plan. The vision is for all children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism to have a designated key worker by end 2026/27. Initially the priority will be for all children and young people currently in hospital to have a key worker, then for children and young people who are at risk of going into hospital (red/amber on the Dynamic Support Registers), and with evaluation of the pilot, the aim will be to develop keyworking for all children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism by end 2026/27.

The 0-25 year's model aims to support reduction of the number of children in crisis and Tier 4 admissions, support timely assessments/formulations, provide children and families with the support that they need at the right time, and improve transitions and quality of life, resulting in happy children and parents.

A key function will be to empower families and support them with navigating barriers across multiple services and organisations to effectively access the right support from the system. Our keyworking model is about a set of functions introduced to the system via the keyworking role, in addition to the current roles in place to support children, young people and their families.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will supervise the non-clinical practice of the keyworking team, especially with regard to the most complex cases - mentoring, upskilling, co-working - and lead on improving practice and quality of service within the keyworking team. They will provide operational management for team members and the hub functions, be responsible for case prioritisation and allocation to the team and drive the implementation of appropriate approaches to be used within the keyworking function.

They will carry their own keyworking caseload including highly complex cases, and co-working with keyworkers to support complex case practice development. They will lead by example, developing creative solutions to situations such as effective use of personal budgets.

They will identify gaps in and barriers to effective multi-agency working for the CYP and their families, challenging these and using information to inform system wide commissioning and workforce development.

This person needs to be highly experienced with a wide breadth of experience and relevant qualities, passion and vision to be effective in this pivotal role.

About us

As a Trust we remain bold and ambitious with plans for both service and system collaborative transformation over the coming years to improve the health and wellbeing of our local people through high quality care.

We pride ourselves onensuring our team has their wellbeing put first and as such provide a range of wellness opportunities including flexible working.

We are committed to the Greener NHS national ambition to becoming the world's first 'carbon net zero' national health system by 2045 (Greener NHS (england.nhs.uk). As part of this, sustainability is embedded in our strategy as one of our four key enablers. In order to deliver on this commitment, we recognise that we need a workforce that is as passionate as we are about achieving these goals, for the benefit of our service users, workforce, local communities and the planet alike.

The Trust is committed to ensuring that a diverse workforce is representative and inclusive at all levels. We would very much welcome applications from all under-represented groups including women, people with disabilities, people from global majority backgrounds, and those from the lesbian, gay, bi and trans communities.

The Trust is committed to the Step into Health scheme and actively encourages applicants from the Armed Forces Communities to apply.

Details

Date posted

04 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

232-SPL-7770120

Job locations

Dragon Square

Newcastle under Lyme

ST5 7HL


Job description

Job responsibilities

Team budget management responsibilities to include signing off time sheets, expenses and ordering equipment needed for the effective delivery of the service

Supporting the Professional Lead with regards to managing the keyworker team budget

Provide Supervision to Keyworkers, support keyworkers with more complex cases and day to day operational management of keyworkers.

To increase the skills of front-line professionals, work alongside them and challenge the system.

To co-produce personalised pen pictures which are strengths based.

To work with partners in the area of Integrated Personal Budgets / Personal Health Budgets to develop creative solutions to individual needs.

Identify and report on themes and gaps in system wide service/provision, to inform commissioning intentions and wider workforce development.

To convene and chair multi-agency meetings and produce a needs and outcomes based Action Plan with timescales or needs and or update the CETR Action Plan.

To participate in the Dynamic at Risk Register as required, and promote usage of the DSR referral form and RAG rating system.

Engage with CYP and their families/carers and support the systems understanding of individual families, demonstrating resilience to support families.

Able to demonstrate the high level of communication skills required to deal with highly complex cases, or highly sensitive or contentious issues, able to communicate using sensitivity in highly emotional situations and overcome barriers such as language, impairment or hostility

Appreciate and learn from peoples stories and articulate this to inform service development and redesign.

Increase local community support to families, which will in turn reduce the demand on statutory services.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Team budget management responsibilities to include signing off time sheets, expenses and ordering equipment needed for the effective delivery of the service

Supporting the Professional Lead with regards to managing the keyworker team budget

Provide Supervision to Keyworkers, support keyworkers with more complex cases and day to day operational management of keyworkers.

To increase the skills of front-line professionals, work alongside them and challenge the system.

To co-produce personalised pen pictures which are strengths based.

To work with partners in the area of Integrated Personal Budgets / Personal Health Budgets to develop creative solutions to individual needs.

Identify and report on themes and gaps in system wide service/provision, to inform commissioning intentions and wider workforce development.

To convene and chair multi-agency meetings and produce a needs and outcomes based Action Plan with timescales or needs and or update the CETR Action Plan.

To participate in the Dynamic at Risk Register as required, and promote usage of the DSR referral form and RAG rating system.

Engage with CYP and their families/carers and support the systems understanding of individual families, demonstrating resilience to support families.

Able to demonstrate the high level of communication skills required to deal with highly complex cases, or highly sensitive or contentious issues, able to communicate using sensitivity in highly emotional situations and overcome barriers such as language, impairment or hostility

Appreciate and learn from peoples stories and articulate this to inform service development and redesign.

Increase local community support to families, which will in turn reduce the demand on statutory services.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters or equivalent Professional Qualification
  • NMC, HCPC registration

Experience

Essential

  • Range of Social Prescribing for CYP LD

Knowledge

Essential

  • Comprehensive knowledge of children's and related legislation, DOH guidance, including Children Act 1989 and 2004, disability and carer's legislation, Working Together, Assessment Framework, Adoption and Children Act 2002, Leaving Care Act 2000, Positive and Proactive Care April 2014.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Masters or equivalent Professional Qualification
  • NMC, HCPC registration

Experience

Essential

  • Range of Social Prescribing for CYP LD

Knowledge

Essential

  • Comprehensive knowledge of children's and related legislation, DOH guidance, including Children Act 1989 and 2004, disability and carer's legislation, Working Together, Assessment Framework, Adoption and Children Act 2002, Leaving Care Act 2000, Positive and Proactive Care April 2014.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust

Address

Dragon Square

Newcastle under Lyme

ST5 7HL


Employer's website

https://www.combined.nhs.uk/working-together/join-our-team/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust

Address

Dragon Square

Newcastle under Lyme

ST5 7HL


Employer's website

https://www.combined.nhs.uk/working-together/join-our-team/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Service Manager

Dawn Burston

Dawn.Burston@combined.nhs.uk

03001231535

Details

Date posted

04 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

232-SPL-7770120

Job locations

Dragon Square

Newcastle under Lyme

ST5 7HL


Supporting documents

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