Job overview
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is looking for an outstanding Clinical Lead to drive, innovate and deliver on strategic development, clinical expertise and quality in a fast-paced, hyper-acute Stroke service.
The development of three Hyper-Acute Stroke Units across Kent and Medway has created a new and exciting opportunity here at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust for a senior clinician who is aspirational, driven and comes with a proven ability to strategically lead on delivering evidence-based care.
The successful post holder will be a senior clinician from a nursing, therapies or medical background. They will work with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and the Kent and Medway Stroke Network to provide operational and strategic leadership in the development of stroke services to achieve a sustainable high-quality patient service.
In addition, the successful candidate will coordinate the 6 strands of the Integrated Service Delivery Network (ISDN) for Stroke to ensure effective pathways for patients, consistent care and efficient and appropriate use of resources.
A key focus of this role will be delivering the Kent and Medway stroke strategy, and is accountable for delivering key results in clinical quality and governance assurance, audit and research, recruitment and retention and service development.
This post is predominantly based at Maidstone with occasional visits to other sites within the trust.
Main duties of the job
The Clinical Lead will provide support, coaching, and mentorship for all professionals working within Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust stroke services.
The role will input clinical expertise into the education needs and development across the whole stroke pathway from prevention to life after stroke and four pillars of practice for staff and work with the Integrated Services Digital Network to explore workforce redesign to ensure ongoing recruitment and retention within in line with the Trust’s strategic workforce plan and across the region.
The clinical lead for stroke is responsible for development, stroke strategy internally and externally. The post holder will be responsible for:
· The evaluation of key stroke clinical priorities via the clinical services workstreams.
· To ensure key stroke deliverables national performance indicators are achieved
· Strategy development as stroke medicine and rehabilitation develop and change over time.
The clinical lead for stoke will collaborate with key stakeholders, utilising end to end centralised stroke data to forecast, analyse and aggregate future stroke developments. The post holder will promote Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust stroke services innovations and developments at regional and national levels at appropriate stroke forums.
Working for our organisation
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is a large acute hospital trust in the south-east of England
We provide a full range of general hospital services and some aspects of specialist and complex care to around 600,000 people living in West Kent and East Sussex.
We have a team of over 8,000 full and part-time staff. We also provide specialist cancer services to around 2 million people across Kent and East Sussex via the Kent Oncology Centre. Fordcombe Hospital is near Tunbridge Wells and became part of the Trust in October 2024. It focusses on planned care and has two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day care beds, diagnostic services including X-ray, MRI, CT and endoscopy, and a number of consultation and treatment rooms.
In the 2024 NHS staff survey, our employees ranked MTW among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and the second-best Trust to work for in the South East.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Once your pre-employment checks have been completed you will be contacted by Recruitment to arrange your start date which will be in line with one of our Corporate Inductions.
Following your Corporate Induction you will be expected to attend the Trust’s 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please email if this is problematic) and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
At MTW, we seek to develop a culture where everyone can reach their full potential with opportunities to grow and develop their career. We recognise and value the unique contributions that each of our staff bring, delivering the best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to being a diverse employer and strive to reflect everyone in our local communities. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences and celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that will make our Trust the best place to work.
We support our staff with disabilities to ensure they have the adjustments they need to be the best they can be in the workplace. Collaborating with Access to Work means that our staff are assessed by experts in the workplace and we ensure that their recommendations are implemented as quickly as possible. You can find out more here: Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Registered clinician (Nurse, Therapist, Doctor, AHP)
2. Educated to BSc level with a relevant Professional qualification
3. Postgraduate training to Master's Degree o equivalent relevant experience
4. HCP Registration
5. Member of appropriate professional organisation
6. Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including postgraduate courses relevant to the clinical field
7. Training in PDR and staff appraisal
Desirable criteria
8. Educated to PhD level in relevant health related subject
9. Management qualification or equivalent
10. Clinical educator training in respect of undergraduate students
Experience/ Knowledge
Essential criteria
11. Extensive post-graduate experience at in Stroke services
12. Demonstrate evidence of clinical leadership in the management of programmes of care with expertise and credibility
13. Knowledge of the wider NHS including community, CCG, ICS and social services
14. Teaching/presentations at post-graduate level
15. Proven ability to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary/multi-agency team
16. Proven track record of achieving key performance indicators relevant to the post
17. Ability to deal with complex issues & an array of health and social care professionals
18. Proven track record to lead multidisciplinary, cross organisational teams including patient and carers
19. Active participation in audit and research
20. Experience in managing organisational change
21. Experience in delivering Service Improvement projects
22. Demonstrate the ability to constructively challenge current practice and seize opportunities to develop, implement and evaluate innovative practice relevant to the speciality.
23. Knowledge of relevant legislation & NHS policies & NSF frameworks
24. Sound knowledge of clinical governance and its implications for services, including experience of quality issues.
Desirable criteria
25. Experience in developing and managing high quality patient experience action plans
26. Knowledge of project management or modernisation techniques
Skills
Essential criteria
27. Post-graduate training in Stroke assessment skills Leadership & personal organisational skills
28. Audit and report writing skills.
29. Skills in effective management of complex & difficult situations
30. Understanding of stroke pathways & services that support patients and their carer.
31. Computer skills & able to use Excel, PowerPoint & Word
32. Keyboard skills
33. Good presentation skills
34. Ability to be resilient when working in a complex and demanding environment and with emotional or aggressive patients and carers
35. Budget and finance management
36. Ability to comprehend and work within the Trust’s policies of data protection, equal opportunities and health and safety and meet differing needs of the patients
37. Advanced written & oral communication skills
38. Ability to work collaboratively across the 3 stroke units and community rehabilitation
39. Ability to influence team members & other professionals by utilising effective communication & negotiation skills
40. Ability to listen, analyse & understand complex information & communicate appropriately to clients, carers, staff & other professionals