Clinical Lead / Registered Manager at Abbeycare Gloucester

Job Description

Reporting to: Clinical Lead / Registered Manager
Location: Abbeycare Gloucester
Contract: Full time
Hours 40hrs per week
Salary £55k - £57.5k (depending on experience)

1. Purpose of Role
To provide clinical and operational leadership of the nursing team and clinical practice at Abbeycare Gloucester delivering supervised detoxification and a structured therapeutic rehabilitation programme. The post-holder will be a qualified Non-Medical Prescriber and will ensure safe, evidence-based prescribing, clinical governance, regulatory compliance and high-quality patient care.

2. Key Responsibilities
• Hold responsibility as a Non-Medical Prescriber (within professional scope) for assessment and prescribing related to supervised detoxification and ongoing clinical care.
• Provide line-management, supervision, performance management and professional development for the nursing team.
• Ensure consistent delivery of safe, high-quality clinical care through operational oversight of admissions, detox protocols, medication management, observations and clinical treatment planning.
• Oversee and ensure compliance with Controlled Drugs legislation, clinic medicines management policies, and safe storage/administration procedures.
• Develop, implement and maintain clinical policies, standard operating procedures and local protocols (e.g., detox/withdrawal pathways, risk management, safeguarding, infection control).
• Act as operational lead for clinical governance activities: audits, incident reporting and investigation, clinical supervision, morbidity/mortality review, and quality improvement.
• Liaise with external stakeholders (GPs, consultants in addiction medicine/psychiatry, local commissioners, pharmacies, safeguarding teams) to ensure integrated care and appropriate handovers.
• Provide clinical cover and leadership in emergencies, complex clinical cases and during service inspections or reviews.
• Ensure staff compliance with mandatory training, appraisals, revalidation and professional registration requirements.
• Support the Clinical Lead and Registered Manager with clinical workforce planning, rostering, escalation processes and service continuity planning.
• Contribute to commissioning requirements, business continuity plans and statutory reporting (including information required by the Care Quality Commission).

3. Clinical Duties as a Non-Medical Prescriber
• Conduct clinical assessments, including medical history, substance use history, mental health comorbidity and risk assessment prior to prescribing.
• Prescribe medications within the scope of practice for detoxification, symptom control and co-morbid physical/mental health conditions as appropriate.
• Monitor treatment response and safety, including adverse drug reactions, interactions and suitability for discharge or transfer.
• Maintain accurate prescribing records and medicines reconciliation on admission and discharge.
• Work collaboratively with medical staff (GMC-registered doctors) when prescribing outside usual scope or for complex cases.

4. Essential Qualifications & Experience
• Registered Non-Medical Prescriber qualification (independent prescribing) with current professional registration (NMC, GPhC, or equivalent).
• Significant clinical experience in substance use treatment, managed withdrawal/detoxification and cliential rehabilitation settings.
• Demonstrable experience of leading/managing clinical teams and delivering operational clinical oversight.
• Strong understanding of medicines management, controlled drugs legislation and safe prescribing practices.
• Experience of clinical governance, audit and regulatory compliance (eg CQC readiness).
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder engagement skills.

5. Desirable Qualifications & Experience
• Postgraduate qualification in addictions, leadership or healthcare management.
• Experience liaising with commissioners and familiarity with commissioning frameworks for substance misuse services.
• Experience of working with dual diagnosis and complex psychosocial needs.

6. Knowledge, Skills & Competencies
• In-depth knowledge of substance misuse pathways, detoxification protocols and therapeutic rehabilitation approaches.
• Familiarity with NICE guidance, national clinical guidelines (eg 'Orange Book') and local commissioning standards.
• Ability to lead clinical teams, manage performance and ensure continuous professional development.
• Strong risk management skills and ability to oversee safeguarding, infection control and health & safety compliance.
• Competence in medicines management, audit, incident investigation and quality improvement.

7. Key Relationships
Reports to: Clinical Lead / Registered Manager
Line manages: Nursing team,
Works closely with: Consultants in addiction medicine/psychiatry, GPs, pharmacy, counsellors, recovery practitioners, social care and commissioners.

8. Working Conditions & Environment
This role is based on-site at Abbeycare Gloucester providing 24-hour care. The role may involve managing challenging clinical situations, participating in on-call rotas, attending external meetings and representing the service at inspections and multi-agency forums.

9. Regulatory & Best Practice Framework
The post-holder must ensure operational and clinical compliance with relevant legislation and best practice, including but not limited to:
• Care Quality Commission (CQC): registration and regulated activity for accommodation for persons who require treatment for substance misuse. (CQC guidance on regulated activities).
• NICE guidance: 'Drug misuse in over 16s: opioid detoxification' (CG52) and related psychosocial intervention guidance.
• Drug misuse and dependence: UK guidelines on clinical management (2017) – 'Orange Book'.
• Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards for Prescribers and Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Prescribing Competency Framework.
• Misuse of Drugs Act and Misuse of Drugs Regulations: controlled drugs handling and prescribing restrictions (including allowances and restrictions for non-medical prescribers).
• Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 – Fundamental standards.

10. Outcomes & Performance Indicators
• Safe, evidence-based delivery of supervised detoxification and rehabilitation pharmacotherapy.
• High standards of medicines management and zero-tolerance for preventable prescribing errors.
• Effective leadership of the nursing team demonstrated by compliance with training, appraisals and staff retention metrics.
• Successful CQC inspection outcomes and maintenance of service registration.
• Active participation in clinical governance, audits and measurable quality improvements.

11. Safeguarding, Equality & Data Protection
The post-holder will adhere to safeguarding policies for adults and children, equality and diversity commitments, confidentiality and GDPR/data protection requirements.

12. Review & Development
Annual appraisal and development plan. Regular review of this job description to reflect changes in legislation, guidance or service requirements.

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