Clinical Lead in Chester

We are recruiting a Band 7 Clinical Lead to support the development and delivery of a new Enhanced MHIST Function for people who may attract a diagnosis of "personality disorder", are not yet ready for therapy, and who frequently present in crisis or struggle to build trusting relationships with services. This role offers the opportunity to co-lead a psychologically informed, relationally focused pathway for individuals with complex emotional needs. The job will require travel across the whole of the CWP patch.

What We Offer

• A supportive, psychologically minded MDT.
• Opportunities to help shape a new enhanced function within MHIST.
• Regular supervision and access to CPD related to the role.
• A compassionate, reflective, recovery-focused service culture.

Main Duties

• Provide clinical leadership within the Enhanced MHIST Function, supporting the development of a trauma-informed, relational model of care.
• Work proactively with individuals experiencing repeated crises, high service contact, and difficulties engaging with services.
• Deliver specialist biopsychosocial assessment, and support staff to provide approaches focussed on relational safety and stabilisation.
• Offer consultation, reflective practice, and supervision to MDT colleagues, including support workers and nurses.
• Support formulation-driven care plans to reduce avoidable admissions and improve continuity of care.
• Promote compassionate, non-stigmatising approaches to "personality disorder" and complex emotional needs.
• Contribute to service development, evaluation, and quality improvement.

About You

• Registered professional (e.g., RMN, OT, Social Worker, ACP) with substantial experience in mental health.
• Skilled in working with complex emotional needs, trauma, risk, and relational difficulties.
• Confident providing clinical leadership, consultation, and supervision.
• Able to work collaboratively across MDTs and partner services.
• Committed to improving engagement, reducing crisis presentations, and supporting psychologically informed practice.

There is potential for the service to transition to a 7-day model in the future.

About us

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire. We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport. Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcomes applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.

All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Details

• Date posted: 28 Gorffennaf 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 7
• Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 373-SMH2730
• Job locations: Bowmere Hospital, Countess of Chester Health Park, Chester, CH2 1BQ, United Kingdom

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Essential: A relevant Social Work, Nursing or Allied Health Professional (e.g. Occupational Therapy) degree level qualification or equivalent experience.
• Current registration with a nationally recognised professional body relevant to the professional qualification held e.g. GSCC for Social workers, HPC for Occupational Therapists etc.
• Minimum 5 years post registration experience.
• Desirable: Masters level qualification or equivalent short courses and/or experience; Teaching qualification or significant experience.

Knowledge & Expertise

• Essential: Excellent communication skills: working with staff, working with patients and carers, working with general practice, presentations, written reports, understanding and ability to interpret, research and facilitate staff to implement evidence-based practice.
• Proven ability to challenge current practices and freedom to make change in light of evidence-based recommendations.
• Knowledge, understanding and the ability to interpret and implement local and national policy direction relevant to practice.
• Proven experience of clinical audit, skill and knowledge required to facilitate staff to undertake clinical audit.
• Knowledge and experience of moving staff through the change management process.
• Empowering staff to manage and support change.
• Demonstrable effective clinical leadership with knowledge, understanding and application of leadership theories.
• Relevant clinical expertise to support and facilitate clinical development and innovation.
• Evidence of sound information technology skills.

Experience

• Essential: Experience in the development of professional roles.
• Successfully managed projects that demonstrate ability to communicate and implement change.
• Demonstrable and proven understanding and experience of the clinical and corporate governance agenda.
• Knowledge and experience of facilitation of reflective practice for staff and personal reflective practice.
• Demonstrable ability and experience in motivating and empowering others to change roles and in leading practice development.