Specialist Nurse Clinical lead

Job Summary

We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic, resilient and dedicated nurse and AHP Operational Manager to join our integrated nursing and therapy Urgent Community Response team in Islington, North London. This fast‑paced role will lead the daily clinical and operational staff management and is suited to an experienced nurse or AHP with a background in acute or community care, or significant experience in other urgent and emergency response teams.

It offers an opportunity for new challenges and ongoing development within a multi‑disciplinary, innovative, supportive and friendly team that works closely with community and NHS services to prevent hospital admissions and support hospital discharges.

• Operationally and financially account for the development and delivery of the Islington Urgent Community Response Team, reporting to the Urgent Response Service Manager and deputising as necessary.
• Lead on the continuing development of urgent response areas in line with current health strategies, improve integrated working with other agencies (e.g. Discharge to Assess).
• Accountable for the delivery of urgent response services, ensuring clinical practice standards, advising on recruitment and retention, and providing professional advice to other service managers.
• Act as a change agent, proactively seeking new methods, initiating policy or procedural changes, and reviewing skill mix within teams.
• Coordinate and ensure delivery of ongoing training for all staff, ensuring equity and opportunity for access.
• Foster cross‑professional working with professionals across the Trust to improve patient delivery, including developing training, liaison and joint working.
• Patient Care and Neighbourhood Clinical Leadership
• Provide senior clinical leadership within the ICAT Frailty Team, acting as Lead Nurse for neighbourhood‑based frailty care.
• Practice autonomously within agreed competence, taking responsibility for complex clinical decision‑making and escalation to senior ICAT clinicians.
• Identify, assess and proactively manage rising clinical risk within the neighbourhood, ensuring timely intervention and clear escalation where risk thresholds are met.
• Triage and prioritise referrals, directing patients to the most appropriate pathway within the neighbourhood model.
• Undertake Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA): detailed history, physical examination, functional assessment and interpretation of findings.
• Demonstrate expert knowledge of frailty syndromes, dementia, delirium, falls, pressure damage, incontinence, malnutrition, self‑neglect and polypharmacy and their impact on quality of life.
• Assess, diagnose and manage older people with complex acute and chronic conditions in community, neighbourhood and acute settings, supporting care closer to home where possible.
• Lead and contribute to case conferences, family meetings and multidisciplinary decision‑making, ensuring coordinated, person‑centred care.
• Undertake mental state and cognitive assessments, applying the Mental Capacity Act and behaviour support strategies.
• Lead clinical risk assessment and management planning, supporting safe discharge and admission avoidance.
• Maintain high‑quality clinical documentation and lead the team to ensure consistent standards.
• Collaborate with consultants, GPs, neighbourhood teams and system partners to agree and deliver integrated care plans.
• Organise and chair regular governance meetings for the team.
• Education, Leadership and Workforce Development
• Act as a visible clinical leader within neighbourhood teams, modelling compassionate, inclusive and accountable leadership.
• Lead and support service improvement and change, using quality improvement methodologies to improve outcomes for older people.
• Provide clinical supervision, mentorship and leadership development for nursing and MDT colleagues.
• Contribute to and lead multidisciplinary and frailty‑focused education, including training delivery and inter‑professional learning.
• Support professional development through appraisal, supervision and 360 feedback.
• Maintain strong professional networks locally and nationally to support innovation and best practice.
• Promote and role‑model…