Clinical Director

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Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust Clinical Director

The closing date is 15 November 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

We are seeking an exceptional clinical leader to join as Clinical Director for All Age Mental Health, Community Learning Disabilities and Eating Disorders.

This is a senior leadership role responsible for providing strategic clinical leadership and ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, evidence-based care and outstanding outcomes for local people. Working as a key member of the Trust's senior leadership team, you will shape clinical strategy, drive quality improvement, lead service transformation and support delivery of the Trust's strategic objectives.

The role is open to registered healthcare professionals across medical*, nursing, psychology, AHPs and social work. Applicants must have substantial senior leadership experience within mental health services and a strong track record of delivering quality improvement, clinical governance and service transformation. Knowledge and experience of learning disability services would be advantageous.

You will be an inspiring and collaborative leader, capable of working across organisational boundaries, influencing system partners, leading multidisciplinary teams through change. The post includes maintaining professional registration through a small clinical commitment or clinically focused professional activity.

*Medics will be paid on the medical pay terms and conditions.

Main duties of the job

What you'll be doing

The Clinical Director will provide visible professional leadership for quality assurance and clinical governance across the portfolio. Working with operational, nursing and professional leads, you will ensure that robust governance arrangements are in place to monitor quality, safety, clinical effectiveness and patient experience; oversee learning from incidents, complaints, audits and safeguarding reviews; and use performance and outcome data to identify risk and drive continuous improvement. You will support constructive oversight through relevant governance forums, ensure that agreed actions are delivered and provide clear assurance to the Trust's executive leadership and Board in line with regulatory and statutory requirements.

Essential requirements:

• Current registration with an appropriate professional regulatory body (e.g. GMC, NMC, HCPC or Social Work England).

• Significant senior clinical leadership experience within mental health services, Learning Disabilities or Eating Disorder services.

• Experience of leading quality, safety, governance and service improvement.

• Strong strategic leadership, partnership working and influencing skills.

• Experience of leading complex change across multidisciplinary services.

• Knowledge of learning disability services.

• Experience across all-age pathways

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Details

Date posted

02 November 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£94,356 to £108,814 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CS436

Job locations

Prospect Park Hospital, Honey End Lane, Reading RG30 4EJ

Honey End Lane

Reading

RG30 4EJ

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of mental health, learning disability and eating disorder services across Berkshire Healthcare and to make a lasting difference to the people and communities we serve.

The must haves for this role:

• Current registration with an appropriate professional regulatory body (e.g. GMC, NMC, HCPC or Social Work England).
• Significant senior clinical leadership experience within mental health services, Learning Disabilities or Eating Disorder services.
• Experience of leading quality, safety, governance and service improvement.
• Strong strategic leadership, partnership working and influencing skills.
• Experience of leading complex change across multidisciplinary services.
• Knowledge of learning disability services.
• Experience across all-age pathways.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, its important that examples and responses given in your supporting statement genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.

In addition to explaining how you meet the person specification, you must complete your employment history for at least the last five years. Any experience, skills or responsibilities referenced in your supporting statement should be evidenced within your employment history. Applications that do not include sufficient employment history to support the experience claimed may not be shortlisted.

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Stonewall Proud Employer, Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We have identified that this is a role where we have underrepresentation of ethnically diverse colleagues. As part of our commitment to inclusion and Unity Against Racism we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who meet the essential criteria and identify as: Asian or Asian British, Black or Black British, Mixed and Other Ethnic Groups.'

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to contact Theresa Wyles, Chief Operating Officer email [email protected] who'll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of mental health, learning disability and eating disorder services across Berkshire Healthcare and to make a lasting difference to the people and communities we serve.

The must haves for this role:

• Current registration with an appropriate professional regulatory body (e.g. GMC, NMC, HCPC or Social Work England).
• Significant senior clinical leadership experience within mental health services, Learning Disabilities or Eating Disorder services.
• Experience of leading quality, safety, governance and service improvement.
• Strong strategic leadership, partnership working and influencing skills.
• Experience of leading complex change across multidisciplinary services.
• Knowledge of learning disability services.
• Experience across all-age pathways.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, its important that examples and responses given in your supporting statement genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.

In addition to explaining how you meet the person specification, you must complete your employment history for at least the last five years. Any experience, skills or responsibilities referenced in your supporting statement should be evidenced within your employment history. Applications that do not include sufficient employment history to support the experience claimed may not be shortlisted.

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Stonewall Proud Employer, Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We have identified that this is a role where we have underrepresentation of ethnically diverse colleagues. As part of our commitment to inclusion and Unity Against Racism we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who meet the essential criteria and identify as: Asian or Asian British, Black or Black British, Mixed and Other Ethnic Groups.'

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to contact Theresa Wyles, Chief Operating Officer email [email protected] who'll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education, qualifications or training

Essential

• Educated to master's level or equivalent in a health-related field
• Evidence of significant relevant professional development
• Registered with a professional body
• Proven ability to perform at strategic and senior management level

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

• Evidence of commitment to ongoing continuous professional development

Previous Experience

Essential

• Significant experience at a senior Clinical role
• Professional regulatory experience
• Quality regulatory experience - CQC
• Workforce, inc. recruitment and retention
• Safer staffing
• Clinical Governance
• Leading and managing change through co-production
• Analysing highly complex information and developing practical and workable solutions to address them at pace.
• Experience of thinking and planning long term strategy
• Being able to prioritise programmes of work in the face of competing demands.
• Experience of managing and delivering to deadlines and within resources.
• Experience of achievement in negotiating and influencing others. Writing papers for sub committees
• Strong record of multi-professional collaborator internally and externally
• Mental Health and Learning Disability Provider trust experience

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

• Expert knowledge of current issues facing Clinical services
• Knowledge of Quality governance and a commitment to develop this as necessary.
• A strong sense of personal and team accountability coupled to a knowledge and understanding of the boundaries around delegated authority, responsibility and accountability
• Able to think laterally, able to interpret data and synthesize complex, often complex, information from a range of sources at pace
• Able to develop and implement creative and innovative solutions.
• Able to demonstrate a genuine commitment to ensuring that services meet the needs of services users and their carers and are delivered with equity to those with all protected characteristics.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal
• Able to deal with difficult circumstances/ imparting unwelcome news or dealing with difficult situations, e.g., SI's/ coroners court
• Supporting and managing HR processes including capability and conduct issues

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel to other Trust sites and locations

Person Specification

Education, qualifications or training

Essential

• Educated to master's level or equivalent in a health-related field
• Evidence of significant relevant professional development
• Registered with a professional body
• Proven ability to perform at strategic and senior management level

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

• Evidence of commitment to ongoing continuous professional development

Previous Experience

Essential

• Significant experience at a senior Clinical role
• Professional regulatory experience
• Quality regulatory experience - CQC
• Workforce, inc. recruitment and retention
• Safer staffing
• Clinical Governance
• Leading and managing change through co-production
• Analysing highly complex information and developing practical and workable solutions to address them at pace.
• Experience of thinking and planning long term strategy
• Being able to prioritise programmes of work in the face of competing demands.
• Experience of managing and delivering to deadlines and within resources.
• Experience of achievement in negotiating and influencing others. Writing papers for sub committees
• Strong record of multi-professional collaborator internally and externally
• Mental Health and Learning Disability Provider trust experience

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

• Expert knowledge of current issues facing Clinical services
• Knowledge of Quality governance and a commitment to develop this as necessary.
• A strong sense of personal and team accountability coupled to a knowledge and understanding of the boundaries around delegated authority, responsibility and accountability
• Able to think laterally, able to interpret data and synthesize complex, often complex, information from a range of sources at pace
• Able to develop and implement creative and innovative solutions.
• Able to demonstrate a genuine commitment to ensuring that services meet the needs of services users and their carers and are delivered with equity to those with all protected characteristics.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal
• Able to deal with difficult circumstances/ imparting unwelcome news or dealing with difficult situations, e.g., SI's/ coroners court
• Supporting and managing HR processes including capability and conduct issues

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel to other Trust sites and locations

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Prospect Park Hospital, Honey End Lane, Reading RG30 4EJ

Honey End Lane

Reading

RG30 4EJ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Prospect Park Hospital, Honey End Lane, Reading RG30 4EJ

Honey End Lane

Reading

RG30 4EJ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Chief Operating Officer

Theresa Wyles

[email protected]

Details

Date posted

02 November 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£94,356 to £108,814 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CS436

Job locations

Prospect Park Hospital, Honey End Lane, Reading RG30 4EJ

Honey End Lane

Reading

RG30 4EJ

United Kingdom

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