Clinical Specialist

This role is primarily focused on providing clinical leadership across the service, ensuring the delivery of safe, evidence-based and high-quality care for children, young people and their families experiencing mental health crises. Working alongside the Service Manager and Operational Team Leads, you will support the development of clinical practice, provide expert advice to the multidisciplinary team, oversee complex clinical decision-making and contribute to the ongoing development of our Hospital at Home model. According to service demand, you will also undertake face-to-face clinical work, including crisis assessments and intensive home treatment. Access to a car is therefore essential as travel across Sussex is required. We are looking for an experienced, forward-thinking and compassionate clinician with excellent leadership skills, who is passionate about delivering innovative, family-centred crisis care. Weekend and Duty cover form part of this role.Main duties of the job Provide clinical leadership across COAST, ensuring high standards of evidence-based practice. Provide clinical supervision, reflective practice and professional support to the multidisciplinary team. Lead on complex clinical decision-making and provide expert advice regarding risk assessment and management. Support clinicians managing high-risk presentations and facilitate multidisciplinary discussions where appropriate. Undertake specialist mental health assessments within community, hospital and emergency settings. Support the development of clinical pathways, policies and quality improvement initiatives. Promote psychologically informed, trauma-informed and least restrictive approaches to care. Lead on clinical governance activities, including audits, incidents, complaints, learning reviews and quality improvement. Support workforce development through teaching, coaching and professional development. Work collaboratively with partner agencies to improve patient pathways across Sussex. Maintain a clinical caseload appropriate to the role. Deputise for the Service Manager on clinical matters when required.Working for our organisation We offer a supportive multidisciplinary environment with excellent opportunities for professional development, leadership training and advanced clinical practice. You will play a key role in shaping one of the country's most innovative CAMHS Crisis and Hospital at Home services while working alongside highly skilled and supportive colleagues. The Trust is committed to integrated leadership between operational managers and clinical leaders, recognising that high-quality services require both strong operational delivery and excellent clinical leadership.Detailed job description and main responsibilities Provide visible clinical leadership across the service. Lead on complex case discussions and formulation. Ensure high standards of risk assessment, safety planning and clinical documentation. Support implementation of NICE guidance and evidence-based practice. Lead learning following incidents, complaints and safeguarding reviews. Provide formal and informal supervision to registered professionals. Support competency development across the multidisciplinary workforce. Promote a culture of continuous learning and reflective practice. Work alongside Operational Team Leads to ensure safe and effective service delivery. Represent COAST at internal and external clinical meetings. Support development of new clinical pathways and models of care. Contribute to audits, research and service evaluation.

• Registered with professional registration (mental health / LD/ Adult) appropriate to the job role., Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced., You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
  
  At SPFT we put people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You'll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.
We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it's part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we'll explore what works for you and the role. We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn't based on your real experience. Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we'll explore your examples further at interview, so it's important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page. We're shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we'd love to hear from you.