Job Description: Lead Nurse
Organisation: Young Crisis Hub
Reports to: Terry Whinnett and the senior clinical leadership team
Responsible for: Support workers within the allocated package
Grade: Equivalent to NHS Band 6/7
Location: Allocated home/package (England-wide)
Hours: To confirm , including on-site shifts during the first week of each placement
Role purpose
The Lead Nurse is the clinical link between Young Crisis Hub and the staff team on the ground. They take real ownership of a package for young people with complex and challenging needs, from setup through to ongoing delivery.
Young Crisis Hub is a nurse-led service. Rather than placing a senior-grade nurse in every home, we develop capable nurses and give them the authority to lead, with senior clinical leadership around them. The Lead Nurse leads the package; they do not carry it alone.
The postholder will have a view of the whole package, not just their own shifts. They will keep care safe, consistent and therapeutic, and make sure standards meet CQC and Ofsted expectations.
Key responsibilities
Setup
Clinical leadership
Risk and safeguarding
Team leadership
Governance
Communication
Person specification
Essential: You will be a Registered Nurse with current NMC registration (RMN or RNLD). You will have experience working with children and young people with complex mental health needs, and of leading or coordinating a staff team. You will have sound knowledge of safeguarding, risk assessment and care planning, and an understanding of CQC and Ofsted expectations. You will communicate clearly with young people, staff and Local Authorities, show sound clinical judgement and keep accurate records. You will take ownership, stay calm under pressure and know when to escalate.
Desirable: Leadership, management, mentorship or supervision training. Experience in residential, crisis or bespoke placement settings, including working with Deprivation of Liberty orders. Knowledge of audit, quality improvement and trauma-informed therapeutic models. Experience of delivering supervision and staff training, and an interest in progressing to Senior/Area Clinical Lead.
Support and development
Lead Nurses receive regular clinical supervision from senior clinical leadership, covering practice, leadership, risk and their own development. As the service grows, the role offers a route to overseeing more than one package and to wider leadership positions, including Senior/Area Clinical Lead and Registered Manager.
Additional requirements
An enhanced DBS check is required. You must be willing to travel to new packages and work flexibly, including during mobilisation. You will be committed to Young Crisis Hub s values: consistent standards and individual, person-centred care.
This job description is not exhaustive and may be reviewed as the nurse-led model develops.
