Job summary
St Michael's Hospice has been providing outstanding specialist palliative and end of life care across North Hampshire for over 30 years. As we continue to invest in our clinical services and shape the future of hospice care, we are looking for an exceptional senior nurse to join our leadership team as our new Clinical Lead.

This is a newly created role and an exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact. Working alongside the Clinical Director, you will provide visible operational leadership across our clinical services, supporting our multidisciplinary teams to deliver compassionate, safe and innovative care to patients and those closest to them.

We are looking for an experienced leader who is passionate about delivering outstanding care, developing people and driving continuous improvement. You will be an approachable and credible clinical leader, able to inspire confidence, build strong relationships and lead services through change whilst never losing sight of what matters most to our patients and families.

Main duties of the job
Reporting to the Clinical Director, you will provide operational leadership across St Michael's Hospice clinical services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, person-centred specialist palliative and end of life care. You will work closely with senior clinical colleagues to provide visible leadership, strengthen clinical governance, develop our workforce and lead quality improvement initiatives that enhance patient experience and support organisational excellence. This is a varied role combining strategic thinking with operational leadership. You will support service development, oversee clinical quality and patient safety, develop future clinical leaders and work collaboratively with colleagues across the wider health and care system to ensure patients receive seamless, coordinated care.

As a senior member of the leadership team, you will deputise for the Clinical Director where appropriate and play a key role in delivering the Hospice's strategic ambitions.

St. Michaels Hospice is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults, children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment. Successful candidates will be required to undergo relevant background checks, including a DBS check and provide satisfactory reference before starting the role.

About us
St. Michaels has a newly refurbished 10 bed In-Patient Unit, as well as Hospice at Home, Patient and Family Support services and a Living Well service, specialist clinics with support from our therapy team across all our services. We offer excellent support and training opportunities as well as the potential to develop specialist skills, initiating and contributing to evolving clinical services.

We are dedicated to providing care to people throughout North Hampshire who are affected by life limiting illness to attain the highest possible quality of life by providing a choice of specialist care and support.

As a charity, we depend on the kindness and support of our local community to continue offering our services free of charge. This care is made possible by supporters donating, taking part in fundraising events and activities, playing our lottery, shopping in our retail outlets, leaving gifts in their Wills or giving freely of their time to volunteer.

We offer attractive benefits, including, free parking, life assurance, 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, and an extensive health and wellbeing plan and company pension.

For more information or to arrange an informal visit please contact Jo Fricker, Clinical Director on telephone number 01256 844744.

Job responsibilities
The Clinical Lead is responsible for providing visible, compassionate and effective operational leadership across St Michael's Hospice clinical services. The post holder will ensure the delivery of safe, effective and person-centred specialist palliative and end of life care whilst leading clinical governance, workforce development and service improvement.

Working closely with the Clinical Director, the Clinical Lead will translate organisational strategy into operational delivery, supporting clinical teams to continuously improve patient outcomes, staff experience and quality of care.

The post holder will act as a senior clinical leader, role model and ambassador for the Hospice, deputising for the Clinical Director as required.

Clinical Leadership
The Clinical Lead will provide visible, compassionate and professional leadership across all clinical services within St Michael's Hospice, promoting a culture where patients, families and carers consistently receive high-quality, safe and person-centred specialist palliative and end of life care. As a senior clinical leader, the post holder will inspire and support multidisciplinary teams to deliver care that reflects current evidence, national guidance and Hospice values. They will act as an expert clinical resource, supporting complex decision making, modelling exemplary professional practice and providing leadership during periods of clinical escalation. The post holder will work collaboratively with the Clinical Director to ensure the delivery of the Hospice's clinical strategy whilst maintaining operational oversight of day-to-day service delivery. They will deputise for the Clinical Director where appropriate and provide professional leadership across the organisation.

Operational Leadership
The Clinical Lead will provide operational leadership to ensure the effective, safe and efficient delivery of clinical services. They will support senior clinical managers in maintaining appropriate staffing levels, responding proactively to operational pressures and ensuring services remain responsive to changing patient needs. The post holder will line manage senior clinical staff, providing regular supervision, appraisal and professional support whilst promoting accountability, professional development and continuous improvement. They will foster collaborative working across all clinical departments, encouraging innovation and ensuring that teams work cohesively to deliver outstanding patient care.

Clinical Governance, Quality and Patient Safety
The Clinical Lead will have a key responsibility for promoting a culture of quality, safety and continuous improvement throughout clinical services. They will support the implementation of robust clinical governance systems, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, CQC regulations, professional standards and Hospice policies. Working alongside the Quality and Governance Team, the post holder will oversee the investigation of incidents, complaints, safeguarding concerns and serious events, ensuring that learning is embedded into practice and improvements are implemented. They will promote reflective practice, support clinical audit programmes and contribute to organisational assurance through effective risk management and governance processes.

Workforce Development
The Clinical Lead will create an environment where staff are supported to develop professionally and personally, recognising that an engaged, skilled and compassionate workforce is fundamental to delivering excellent patient care. The post holder will identify leadership potential within teams, supporting succession planning, coaching and mentorship whilst ensuring staff have access to education, supervision and opportunities for professional development. They will promote staff wellbeing and psychological safety, encouraging open communication and creating a culture where staff feel valued, listened to and empowered to contribute to service improvement.

Service Development and Improvement
Working in partnership with the Clinical Director, the Clinical Lead will contribute to the ongoing development of Hospice services, ensuring they continue to meet the changing needs of patients and the wider healthcare system. The post holder will lead and support quality improvement initiatives, using patient feedback, clinical outcomes, national guidance and service data to identify opportunities for improvement. They will encourage innovation, challenge existing practice where appropriate and support the implementation of new ways of working that improve patient experience, clinical effectiveness and organisational sustainability.

Partnership Working
The Clinical Lead will develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues across health, social care and the voluntary sector to ensure integrated, seamless care for patients and families. They will represent St Michael's Hospice at internal and external meetings, contributing to system-wide developments in specialist palliative and end of life care and promoting the Hospice as a trusted and collaborative partner.

The post holder will work closely with commissioners, acute trusts, community providers, primary care and other hospices to strengthen partnerships that improve access to specialist palliative care and enhance patient outcomes.

Professional Responsibility
The Clinical Lead will maintain registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and practise in accordance with the NMC Code, maintaining professional competence through continuing professional development and reflective practice. As a senior leader, the post holder will uphold the values and reputation of St Michael's Hospice, demonstrating professionalism, integrity and compassion in all aspects of their work. They will ensure equality, diversity and inclusion underpin all decision making and contribute to creating an organisational culture where everyone is treated with dignity, respect and fairness.

General Responsibilities
Work to maintain the values, vision and aims of St. Michaels Hospice.

Additional Duties In discussion with the line manager to undertake work, as and when required, in support of St. Michaels Hospice as an organisation.

Public Relations To represent St. Michaels Hospice in the community and public domain, including social media, appropriately.

Undertake all statutory and mandatory training, as required.

To be conversant with and adhere to all St. Michaels Hospice Policies and Procedures.

Be responsible for upholding and promoting St. Michaels Hospice safeguarding policies, ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals, and promptly reporting any concerns or incidents in accordance with established procedures.

This is an outline job description and may be subject to change, according to the needs of the service, in consultation with the post holder.

Take responsibility for own personal safety and of others whilst at work. You will take appropriate action or report any concerns to address any health and safety issues that you or members of your team may be aware of.

This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time, due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.

Person Specification
Skills, Knowledge, Abilities
Essential

• Excellent clinical knowledge of specialist palliative and end of life care.
• Demonstrates visible, compassionate and inclusive leadership.
• Excellent communication, influencing and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to make sound clinical and operational decisions in complex situations.
• Strong understanding of clinical governance, risk management and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to analyse information and use data to improve services.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Ability to lead, motivate and inspire multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• IT literate with experience of electronic patient record systems and Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable

• Knowledge of current NHS strategy and policy relating to palliative and end of life care.
• Experience of quality improvement methodologies.
• Experience of project management.
• Experience of presenting reports to senior leadership or Board committees.

Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Adult Nurse (Level 1) with current NMC registration.
• Degree in Nursing or relevant healthcare subject.
• Evidence of postgraduate study or equivalent level of knowledge and experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Leadership and management training or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Master's degree or Master's level qualification in a relevant subject.
• Management qualification.
• Coaching, mentoring or teaching qualification.
• Non-Medical Prescribing qualification.

Experience
Essential

• Significant senior clinical experience within specialist palliative and end of life care.
• Experience of leading multidisciplinary clinical teams.
• Experience of operational management and workforce leadership.
• Experience of managing change and leading service improvement initiatives.
• Experience of clinical governance, quality improvement and patient safety.
• Experience of incident investigation, safeguarding and risk management.
• Experience of recruitment, appraisal, performance management and staff development.
• Experience of working collaboratively across organisational boundaries with health and social care partners.

Desirable

• Experience working within the hospice sector.
• Experience supporting or leading CQC inspections.
• Experience of business planning and resource management.
• Experience of implementing digital systems or service transformation programmes.

Attitude, aptitudes, personal characteristics
Essential

• Demonstrates compassion, professionalism and integrity.
• Passionate about delivering outstanding patient-centred care.
• Emotionally resilient with the ability to support others during challenging situations.
• Leads by example and acts as a positive role model.
• Adaptable, approachable and solutions focused.
• Committed to continuous learning and service improvement.
• Promotes equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Able to build credibility and positive working relationships across all levels of the organisation.
• Values openness, accountability and collaborative working.

Desirable

• Enthusiasm for innovation and service transformation.
• Coaching style of leadership.
• Experience of leading organisational cultural change.

Other requirements
Essential

• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
• Willingness to participate in the senior clinical on-call rota (if implemented).
• Ability to travel independently across Hospice sites and partner organisations.
• Commitment to mandatory training and maintaining professional registration.

Desirable

• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.