Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Lead - Initial Response Service

The closing date is 27 April 2026

Job summary

Based at Royal Preston Hospital

Since its launch, the Initial Response Service has consistently demonstrated itself to be an integral part of secondary mental health services. It is improving access to mental health support for individuals who need it, whilst reducing demands on care and treatment delivery services. IRS is a 24/7 single point of access for Mental Health Services across Lancashire.

We are seeking to recruit an aspiring Team Leader to take responsibility for Clinical leadership and first line management for the Central and West. The Clinical Lead plays an integral role within the IRS and is a key force in improving safety, service and quality. Along with the Team Leader, you will be tasked with overseeing a large team of Mental Health Practitioners, Call Handlers and Administrators. The Clinical Lead plays a critical role in overseeing the shifts, ensuring resources are balanced and reflective of demand which varies day to day.

You will be able to reflect LSCFT values of being kind, respectful, working as part of a team and always learning. You should have experience of working as a Band 6 and demonstrate evidence of leading teams & individuals through change.

Experience of working within the community Urgent Care pathway is desirable. You should also be able to demonstrate a commitment to supporting engagement with service users and carers to support service development.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for providing leadership and ensuring that the care provided is safe, effective and supports service users and carers. The IRS provides services for urgent and routine mental health support, advice, triage and urgent assessment, or be signposted to relevant services where required.

You should be able to demonstrate evidence of care that facilitates a positive culture of patient engagement, a commitment to enhance the service user and carer experience and promote an environment that facilitates continued staff professional development.

You should be able to demonstrate effective, evidence based care management, risk assessment and leadership skills. You must have the ability to positively influence and adapt to a rapidly developing service that is able to meet the needs service users and carers.

For further information please contact us using the contact details provided

About us

LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you'd like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.

The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work.

Explore our full wellbeing offer here: Keeping our workforce well

Details

Date posted

13 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

351-CEN2498-EB

Job locations

Avondale Unit - Royal Preston Hospital

Preston

PR2 9HT


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Nursing, OT or Social Work professional qualification
  • Post-registration experience and/or evidence of formal courses and training at post graduate diploma level
  • Clinical Supervision Training

Qualifications

Essential

  • Significant demonstrable post qualification experience at Band 6 working in a mental health / specialist inpatient setting or equivalent.
  • Experience of developing, delivering and evaluating specialist programmes of care and risk management plans.
  • Evidence of successful mentoring and/or supervision of junior members of staff including students.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to demonstrate diplomacy, tact and negotiation skills.
  • Ability to manage highly stressful and emotive situations.
  • Current knowledge of the policy and challenges facing NHS providers.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Nursing, OT or Social Work professional qualification
  • Post-registration experience and/or evidence of formal courses and training at post graduate diploma level
  • Clinical Supervision Training

Qualifications

Essential

  • Significant demonstrable post qualification experience at Band 6 working in a mental health / specialist inpatient setting or equivalent.
  • Experience of developing, delivering and evaluating specialist programmes of care and risk management plans.
  • Evidence of successful mentoring and/or supervision of junior members of staff including students.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to demonstrate diplomacy, tact and negotiation skills.
  • Ability to manage highly stressful and emotive situations.
  • Current knowledge of the policy and challenges facing NHS providers.

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

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Avondale Unit - Royal Preston Hospital

Preston

PR2 9HT


Employer's website

https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Avondale Unit - Royal Preston Hospital

Preston

PR2 9HT


Employer's website

https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

IRS Operational Lead

Charlene Carroll

Charlene.Carroll@lscft.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

13 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

351-CEN2498-EB

Job locations

Avondale Unit - Royal Preston Hospital

Preston

PR2 9HT


Supporting documents

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