Clinical Nurse Lead

Responsible to: Registered Manager

Accountable to: Registered Manager, Nominated Individual and Provider Directors

Location: U&I registered office base, with care and treatment oversight delivered in people’s own homes, supported living settings and live-in care arrangements across the service area.

Purpose of the role

The Clinical Nurse Lead will provide professional clinical leadership, advice, oversight and assurance for all Treatment of Disease, Disorder or Injury activity and delegated healthcare tasks delivered by U&I. The post holder will support the Registered Manager to ensure that care is safe, effective, person-centred, well governed and delivered only within the agreed CQC registration, Statement of Purpose, written clinical instructions, staff competence and service scope.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership, professional advice and visible role modelling for safe, compassionate and person-centred practice.
• Support the Registered Manager with clinical governance, clinical risk management, quality assurance, audit, incident review and continuous improvement.
• Review referrals, assessments, risk assessments and care plans where people have diagnosed health conditions, treatment needs, rehabilitation needs, palliative care needs or delegated healthcare tasks.
• Confirm that proposed TDDI tasks are within the provider’s registration, service scope, staff competence and written instructions from an appropriate healthcare professional.
• Ensure delegated clinical tasks are supported by written instructions, consent or best-interest decision, risk assessment, equipment arrangements, infection prevention controls and escalation plans.
• Train, observe, assess and sign off staff competence for delegated tasks before staff undertake such tasks independently.
• Provide or arrange clinical supervision, reflective practice, coaching and learning for staff involved in healthcare tasks.
• Maintain effective working relationships with GPs, district nurses, specialist nurses, therapists, pharmacists, palliative care teams, commissioners and safeguarding professionals.
• Monitor clinical records, incidents, medication errors, pressure damage, infections, falls, hospital admissions, safeguarding concerns and changes in health status, ensuring timely escalation and learning.
• Ensure accurate, contemporaneous and confidential records are maintained for clinical observations, delegated tasks, reviews, supervision, competency checks and professional communications.  

Clinical scope of the role

• Wound care and skin integrity monitoring, including pressure area observation and escalation of deterioration.
• Catheter, continence, bladder and bowel support oversight where written instructions are in place.
• Medication-related clinical support within company policy, including MAR review, medicines audit and escalation of medication concerns.
• Long-term condition monitoring, agreed observations and reporting of clinical deterioration.
• Nutrition, hydration and swallowing-risk support in line with professional guidance and care plans.
• Rehabilitation, mobility and therapy task support where prescribed or instructed by an appropriate professional.
• End of life and palliative care support in partnership with the person, their representatives and relevant healthcare professionals.
• Mental health, cognition and behavioural health support within agreed care plans, escalation pathways and safeguarding arrangements. 

Limits of authority

The Clinical Nurse Lead will not replace the responsibilities of GPs, district nurses, specialist nurses, therapists, prescribers or diagnosing professionals. The post holder must not accept or authorise any procedure that requires diagnosis, prescribing, clinical decision-making beyond agreed parameters, invasive practice outside competence, or activity not supported by written instruction, training, competency assessment, risk assessment and clinical supervision.

Person specification

Registration and qualifications

Essential:

Registered Nurse with current NMC registration; evidence of revalidation compliance; professional indemnity arrangements; commitment to working within the NMC Code.

Desirable:

Additional qualification or training in community nursing, tissue viability, palliative care, long-term condition management, clinical supervision or leadership.

Experience

Essential:

Experience of assessing clinical risk, supporting care planning, supervising staff practice, working with multidisciplinary professionals and managing escalation of clinical concerns.

Desirable:

Experience in domiciliary care, supported living, live-in care, community nursing, CQC-regulated adult social care or delegated healthcare task governance.

Knowledge

Essential:

Knowledge of safeguarding, consent, Mental Capacity Act, infection prevention and control, medicines management, record keeping, clinical governance, delegated healthcare tasks and CQC fundamental standards.

Desirable:

Knowledge of CQC assessment framework, quality statements, local Leicestershire health and social care pathways and community clinical services.

Skills and abilities

Essential:

Able to lead clinical practice, assess competence, communicate clearly, make proportionate risk decisions, maintain accurate records, challenge unsafe practice and escalate concerns appropriately.

Desirable:

Experience of delivering training, facilitating reflective practice, undertaking audit and contributing to quality improvement projects.

Values and behaviours

Essential:

Demonstrates dignity, respect, compassion, cultural sensitivity, accountability, honesty, professional curiosity and commitment to person-centred care.

Desirable:

Experience supporting culturally diverse communities and promoting inclusive, personalised care.

Other requirements

Essential:

Enhanced DBS clearance, satisfactory references, right to work in the UK, willingness to travel across the service area and ability to work flexibly to meet service needs.

Desirable:

Full driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes.