Clinical Nurse Lead
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Clinical Nurse Lead to join Alwinton, part of Secure Care Services at Sycamore, Northgate Park.

Alwinton is a medium-secure inpatient service for men with learning disabilities who require specialist assessment, treatment and support. Patients may have complex needs, a history of offending or behaviours that present a risk to themselves or others.

As Clinical Nurse Lead, you will provide clinical leadership and support the Ward Manager in the day-to-day running of the service. You will lead by example, promoting high standards of nursing care, effective risk management and a positive, therapeutic ward environment. Working closely with the multidisciplinary team, you will ensure care is person-centred, evidence-based and focused on recovery and individual outcomes.

You will support and supervise nursing staff, coordinate clinical activity, oversee care planning and risk assessments, and ensure concerns are escalated and incidents reviewed appropriately. You will also contribute to staff development, clinical supervision, performance management and service improvement, promoting reflective practice and learning across the team.

Main duties of the job

• Provide clinical leadership and act as a role model, promoting high standards of nursing care and professional practice.
• Support the Ward Manager with the day-to-day operational and clinical management of Alwinton Ward.
• Lead the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of person-centred care for patients with learning disabilities and complex needs.
• Ensure care plans, risk assessments and positive behaviour support plans are current, effective and consistently followed.
• Monitor clinical risks, review incidents and ensure concerns are escalated appropriately, promoting learning and preventative action.
• Support the delivery of safe, therapeutic care within a medium-secure environment, promoting dignity, recovery and least-restrictive practice.
• Supervise, support and develop nursing staff, including clinical supervision, appraisal, competency development and reflective practice.
• Promote safe medication management, physical health monitoring, safeguarding and compliance with Trust policies and professional standards.
• Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, patients, families and external agencies to support treatment, care planning and progression through the care pathway.
• Monitor care quality, documentation, staffing and patient experience, taking action where standards are not met.
• Promote a positive team culture, supporting staff wellbeing, psychological safety, accountability and continuous improvement.

About us
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.

Details
Date posted: 29 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 263-SCG26-135-JW
Closing date: 12 November 2026
Location: Northgate Hospital, Morpeth, NE61 3BP, United Kingdom

Person Specification
Education and Qualification

• Essential: Professional Nursing qualification e.g. RMN/RNMH/RNLD; ENB 998 / P126/127 or equivalent; Student Assessor/Mentor
• Desirable: Qualification to Degree level; Management Qualification; Staff Training and Development; Leadership experience; Therapy Based Training qualification

Knowledge and Experience

• Essential: Continued professional development; Post registration clinical experience; Staff Appraisal; Clinical Supervision; Mental health/learning disabilities needs; Care Co-ordination; Safeguarding; Carer needs; 12 to 24 month band 5 qualified nurse experience dependent upon service need.

Skills and Competencies

• Essential: Good interpersonal and Communication; Collaborative working; Time Management; Change Management; Conflict resolution; Risk Assessment/Management; Ability to meet deadlines; Ability to prioritise
• Desirable: Leadership; Operational Management; Recruitment and Selection; Change Management; Debriefing

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.

Employer details
Employer name: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
Employer's website: https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/careers/

For questions about the job, contact: Ward Manager Debra Fairhurst, debra.fairhurst@cntw.nhs.uk

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice is available on the NHS Jobs advert.