Job summary
- Main area
- Onward Care Team Deputy Clinical Lead
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed term: 6 months (If successful candidate is internal will be offered as a secondment. Possible 6 month extension dependent on wider Discharge coordination redesign work)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 318-26-T0613
- Employer
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Trustwide (Gloucester Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital)
- Town
- Gloucestershire
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 (pa, pro rata if part-time)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 30/09/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 09/10/2026
Employer heading
Onward Care Team Deputy Clinical Lead, Band 7
Band 7
At Gloucestershire Hospitals, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the county’s largest employer, we are proud to provide high-quality acute, elective, and specialist services to more than 650,000 people across our county. Our care is delivered across Gloucestershire Royal, Cheltenham General and Stroud Maternity Hospital.
With over 9,000 employees representing more than 95 nationalities, bringing together a mix of cultures and experiences to the care that we deliver. Whether you’re beginning your NHS journey or looking to take the next step in your career, this is an exciting time to join us. We’re investing heavily in innovation, research, and transformation, with more than 100 active clinical studies and major developments underway across our hospitals.
We take pride in working as one team, driven by a shared ambition to grow, develop, and continually improve. Every contribution is valued and by combining our collective strengths, we support not only our diverse communities but one another. You can expect a warm, supportive culture and colleagues who are passionate about teamwork, professional development and delivering exceptional care. We offer structured development programmes, mentoring and leadership opportunities to help you progress in your career.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from a comprehensive package that includes flexible working opportunities, generous annual leave, the NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, local discounts, access to on-site nurseries, reduced public transport costs, reward and recognition schemes and a wide range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
Be part of Gloucestershire Hospitals, explore your future with us today.
Job overview
Are you passionate about helping people return home from hospital safely, effectively and with their voice at the centre of every decision?
Would your patients and colleagues describe you as a clinician who leads with compassion, influences positive change and champions outstanding discharge planning?
We are seeking an experienced and motivated clinician to join our Onward Care Team (OCT) as Deputy Clinical Lead, providing maternity leave cover for one of our two deputy leadership posts.
This is a fixed-term opportunity for 6 months, with the potential for a further 6-month extension, offering the chance to play a key role in supporting patients across Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals to achieve the right discharge outcome at the right time.
As part of the OCT senior leadership team, you will help lead a team of specialist clinicians, provide expert advice on complex onward care planning, support workforce development and contribute to the continued transformation of discharge services across Gloucestershire.
We are looking for a dynamic, proactive and compassionate leader who can embrace change, inspire others and help shape the future of onward care planning for the people of Gloucestershire.
The proposed interview date is: 9th October
Main duties of the job
As Deputy Clinical Lead for the Onward Care Team, you will provide leadership and expert clinical support to deliver safe, timely and person-centred discharge planning. Working across Gloucestershire Hospitals and the wider health and care system, you will support patients to return home wherever possible, develop colleagues, lead service improvements and help shape the future of Home First and integrated discharge planning
Working for our organisation
The Onward Care Team works across Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals, supporting ward teams to deliver safe, timely and person-centred discharge planning.
We are a highly supportive, collaborative and solutions-focused team. We are trusted to respond flexibly to operational challenges, working together to find practical solutions that help patients achieve the right discharge outcome at the right time.
As our service continues to evolve, we are strengthening our partnerships with therapy, nursing and medical colleagues, alongside system partners across health and social care, to support the Trust's ambition of delivering outstanding onward care planning and achieving #LandingOutstanding.
We are proud of our positive team culture. Working in OCT means balancing complex operational demands with professionalism, resilience, compassion and a healthy sense of humour. We value colleagues who are approachable, supportive of others and committed to making a difference for patients and teams across the Trust.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Deputy Clinical Lead for the Onward Care Team (OCT) is a senior clinical leadership role responsible for supporting safe, timely and person-centred discharge planning across Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals. Working as part of the OCT senior leadership team, the postholder will help shape discharge practice across the Trust and wider health and care system, ensuring patients are supported to achieve the right discharge outcome at the right time.
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing clinical, operational and professional leadership within the Onward Care Team.
- Supporting and developing a team of specialist clinicians across both hospital sites.
- Delivering expert advice and guidance on complex onward care planning and discharge arrangements.
- Promoting a Home First approach that maximises independence and supports patient choice.
- Working collaboratively with ward multidisciplinary teams, community services, local authority partners and other stakeholders.
- Leading education, training and workforce development initiatives that strengthen discharge planning practice.
- Contributing to service improvement, audit and quality initiatives to improve patient flow and reduce avoidable delays.
- Supporting the development, implementation and review of discharge-related policies, guidance and standards.
- Deputising for the Clinical Team Lead when required and contributing to the ongoing development of the service.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced registered healthcare professional who is passionate about improving patient outcomes, leading teams and influencing system-wide change. The role offers significant opportunities to contribute to the continued development of integrated discharge planning and transfer of care arrangements across Gloucestershire.
Additional working pattern details: If successful candidate is internal will be offered as a secondment. Possible 6 month extension dependent on wider Discharge coordination redesign work
Additional working pattern details: Part time applications will be considered against key responsibilities of the role and viability of fulfilling these
Person specification
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Active registration with a regulated Healthcare Professional Body
- Evidence of ongoing professional development through maintenance of a professional portfolio and registration revalidation
- Able to prioritise own workload and that of others as appropriate
- Acts as a role model and reinforces the Trust's values and behaviours
- Resilient when managing the challenges associated with a large team
- Able to escalate concerns effectively and appropriately to reduce risk and promote patient safety
Desirable criteria
- Working towards an advanced practice qualification in leadership and development
- Keeps up to date with professional issues influencing discharge practice, management, education and research
- Able to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate relevant policies, protocols and guidance
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Mark McBride
- Job title
- Clinical Team Lead - Onward Care Team
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 422 6921
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