Job overview

Are you a passionate and experienced mental health clinician ready to lead innovation at the frontline of 999 care?

Join South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) — a national leader in urgent mental health response. We’re redefining crisis care with dedicated Mental Health Response Vehicles (MHRVs), specialist triage teams in our control rooms, and a leading role in the award winning Integrated Access Partnership. This is your opportunity to make a real difference, driving change and shaping the future of community based emergency mental health support.

As our Deputy Head of Mental Health, you’ll play a vital role in shaping and delivering high quality patient care, driving strategic development, and ensuring best clinical outcomes for those experiencing a mental health crisis across the South West. 

This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of mental health care in the emergency pathway. You’ll collaborate with emergency services, healthcare providers, and commissioners to develop pathways that transform pre-hospital mental health care.

We’re looking for a strong clinical leader with expertise in mental health strategy, governance, workforce development, and partnership working. You’ll have the authority and autonomy to influence services at local, regional, and national levels, ensuring innovative, patient-centred care.

If you’re passionate about shaping the future of mental health services within emergency care, we’d love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

This role requires a highly skilled mental health clinician and operational leader (with at least 3 years post qualifying experience) who is passionate about enhancing mental health care, fostering collaboration, and driving strategic improvements within the Trust.

Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a comprehensive mental health strategy, policies, and clinical guidelines to ensure high-quality patient care.

Alongside the Head of Mental Health, oversee all SWASFT mental health delivery and quality improvement initiatives across the South West. 

Operational & Clinical Leadership: Lead the delivery of key service targets, integrated governance, workforce planning, and financial sustainability within mental health services.

Training & Development: Support the education and development of staff within the Ambulance sector. 

Quality & Patient Safety: Lead clinical governance initiatives, ensuring compliance with national guidelines and enhancing patient safety measures.

Crisis Management: Participate in the on-call senior management rota, making informed decisions in complex, high-pressure situations.

Clinical Expertise & Case Reviews: Provide expert clinical advice, contribute to Coroner’s cases, and support patient safety investigations across the Trust.

Staff & HR Support: Provide clinical guidance in disciplinary or capability concerns, recruitment, and staff development

There is an opportunity for dedicated clinical hours to uplift this role to full-time hours.  

Working for our organisation

Working for us is an experience like no other.  We provide emergency and urgent care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operating across the largest ambulance region in England and responding to an average of 2,650 incidents every day.

We remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible care for all our patients, which is reflected in our new five-year strategy which has continually improving patient care at its very core.  

The role is based in Bristol, a lively yet laid-back city with top class shopping, street food, dynamic events and friendly festivals and excellent national and international transport links.

If you embody our values of one team, compassionate and innovative and are looking to make a real difference to peoples’ lives, then we would love to hear from you.

In return we will equip you with the skills and resources you need to thrive in your role.

You will have opportunities to progress to roles across the Trust and enjoy continuous professional development.

Benefits

• Competitive NHS salary
• A standard working week of 37.5 hours
• Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
• Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime working
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Career and salary progression
• Car leasing scheme
• Free parking across Trust sites
• Staff networks
• Wide range of discounts from various organisations across the U