Acting Team Leader in Chichester

Job summaryActing Team Leader, Band 7 - Chichester Neighbourhood Mental Health Team, Specialist Adults, 12 Month Acting-Up Opportunity.This post is open to Band 6 or Band 7 staff who can demonstrate relevant clinical experience, an interest in operational leadership, and the ability to support staff and service users during a period of service development and change.An opportunity has arisen for a suitable and experienced mental health professional (Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist) to join the leadership team for our Neighbourhood Mental Health Team, Specialist Adults in Chichester. Community mental health services are currently undergoing a period of transformation and change, with investment in new roles and opportunities to work in innovative ways. You will be joining a supportive, friendly and enthusiastic team with a shared passion for delivering high-quality care.Working closely with the Service Manager, another Team Leader and Professional Leads, you will provide high-quality, visible leadership across the service. The role will involve setting and maintaining operational standards, supporting improved outcomes, prioritising the experience of service users, families and carers, and providing line management to staff. You will help ensure contractual requirements are met while promoting a learning, supportive and compassionate team culture.This is an excellent opportunity to develop your leadership and management skills.Main duties of the jobTo provide effective clinical and operational leadership to a multidisciplinary team, ensuring the delivery of a safe, high-quality and person-centred service within available resources. The post holder will lead and coordinate team functions, oversee the management of referrals and service delivery, drive performance and quality improvement, provide line management and professional supervision to staff, and promote a culture of continuous learning, staff wellbeing, and compassionate care. The role will ensure the effective management of risk, support the achievement of service objectives and performance targets, and contribute to the ongoing development and transformation of mental health services.Key Areas of ResponsibilityLeadership and coordination of team operations.Management of referrals, caseloads and service performance.Line management, supervision and development of staff.Clinical oversight and support for complex case management.Governance, safeguarding, quality assurance and risk management.Service improvement, transformation and partnership working.About usSussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest mental health trusts in the UK, providing specialist mental health and learning disability services for children, young people and adults across Sussex, and for children and young people in Hampshire. We are proud of our reputation for delivering high-quality, compassionate care and fostering a supportive, inclusive workplace where both patients and staff are valued.At Sussex Partnership, the wellbeing of our staff is a key priority. We recognise the vital contribution our colleagues make every day and are committed to supporting their health, wellbeing, professional development and work-life balance. As part of our team, you will have access to a wide range of benefits and opportunities, including:Comprehensive wellbeing and psychological support services.High-quality supervision, training and career development opportunities.Flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance.Access to a range of employee discount schemes, including retail, leisure, travel and vehicle leasing.Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme.Generous annual leave entitlement, starting at 27 days plus bank holidays.The opportunity to work within an organisation rated 'Good' overall and 'Outstanding' for Caring by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).We are proud of the culture we have created, where compassionate care, teamwork and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything we do.DetailsDate posted21 August 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 7Salary 49,387 to 56,515 a year per anum ContractSecondmentWorking pattern Full-time, Flexible working Reference number354-AC-21318-AJob locationsChapel Street ClinicChapel StreetChichesterPO19 1BXUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilities1. Leadership and Team ManagementLead and coordinate the day-to-day functioning of the team.Provide visible leadership and support to staff.Line manage, supervise, appraise, and develop team members.Promote a positive, compassionate, learning culture.Deputise for the Service Manager.2. Clinical OversightMaintain a small clinical caseload, including management of complex cases.Support staff with risk management and clinical decision-making.Ensure assessments, care planning, interventions, and reviews meet professional and Trust standards.Promote safe, recovery-focused care.3. Operational PerformanceManage referrals and patient flow.Monitor caseloads, waiting lists, and service performance.Ensure contractual and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) requirements are met.Address operational challenges and service pressures.4. Quality, Governance and RiskPromote a culture of effective risk management.Respond to incidents, complaints, safeguarding concerns, and serious incidents.Lead audits, service improvements, and implementation of learning from investigations.Ensure compliance with Trust policies and national standards.5. Workforce and RecruitmentLead recruitment and selection processes.Support staff wellbeing, development, and retention.Oversee supervision, mandatory training, appraisals, and professional development.Support junior staff, students, and newly qualified practitioners.6. Service Development and TransformationContribute to service redesign and transformation programmes.Work collaboratively with professional leads, partner agencies, and senior managers.Identify opportunities for innovation and improved patient outcomes.Support implementation of new pathways and models of care.Key Skills RequiredStrong leadership and people-management skills.Excellent communication and influencing abilities.Experience working with complex mental health presentations.Ability to manage competing operational demands.Performance management and quality improvement experience.Partnership working across health, social care, and third-sector services. Job description Job responsibilities1. Leadership and Team ManagementLead and coordinate the day-to-day functioning of the team.Provide visible leadership and support to staff.Line manage, supervise, appraise, and develop team members.Promote a positive, compassionate, learning culture.Deputise for the Service Manager.2. Clinical OversightMaintain a small clinical caseload, including management of complex cases.Support staff with risk management and clinical decision-making.Ensure assessments, care planning, interventions, and reviews meet professional and Trust standards.Promote safe, recovery-focused care.3. Operational PerformanceManage referrals and patient flow.Monitor caseloads, waiting lists, and service performance.Ensure contractual and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) requirements are met.Address operational challenges and service pressures.4. Quality, Governance and RiskPromote a culture of effective risk management.Respond to incidents, complaints, safeguarding concerns, and serious incidents.Lead audits, service improvements, and implementation of learning from investigations.Ensure compliance with Trust policies and national standards.5. Workforce and RecruitmentLead recruitment and selection processes.Support staff wellbeing, development, and retention.Oversee supervision, mandatory training, appraisals, and professional development.Support junior staff, students, and newly qualified practitioners.6. Service Development and TransformationContribute to service redesign and transformation programmes.Work collaboratively with professional leads, partner agencies, and senior managers.Identify opportunities for innovation and improved patient outcomes.Support implementation of new pathways and models of care.Key Skills RequiredStrong leadership and people-management skills.Excellent communication and influencing abilities.Experience working with complex mental health presentations.Ability to manage competing operational demands.Performance management and quality improvement experience.Partnership working across health, social care, and third-sector services.Person Specification Qualifications EssentialRegistered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist qualificationUp to date Registration (NMC/HCPC/SWE)Post Basic Courses / relevant Study DaysEvidence of CPD Knowledge EssentialProfessional knowledge acquired through degree/diploma plus relevant, experience of working in the field.Have a specialised knowledge, across a range of work procedures and topics, underpinned by theory Person Specification Qualifications EssentialRegistered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist qualificationUp to date Registration (NMC/HCPC/SWE)Post Basic Courses / relevant Study DaysEvidence of CPD Knowledge EssentialProfessional knowledge acquired through degree/diploma plus relevant, experience of working in the field.Have a specialised knowledge, across a range of work procedures and topics, underpinned by theoryDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).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 CheckThis 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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameSussex Partnership NHS Foundation TrustAddressChapel Street ClinicChapel StreetChichesterPO19 1BXUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameSussex Partnership NHS Foundation TrustAddressChapel Street ClinicChapel StreetChichesterPO19 1BXUnited KingdomEmployer's website