• Job Description

  Req#: B0481-25-0004?language=en&page=1083&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Make a real difference - every day.

  We are seeking a Director of Clinical Services to lead our dedicated clinical team, ensuring the highest standards of care for people nearing the end of their life.

  An exciting opportunity to shape and lead clinical service delivery in a well-respected, independent hospice rooted in compassion, dignity and excellence.

  You will play a key role in implementing our strategic vision, strengthening clinical governance and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across all areas of clinical services.

  You will join a passionate, skilled team, deeply committed to patient-centred care. We are proud to serve our community and ambitious about extending our reach and enhancing our services.

  This is a pivotal new role designed to provide transformational leadership and ensure our strategic vision is brought to life through safe, effective and person-centred care.

  You will be empowered to lead with vision, drive innovation and nurture a culture of compassion, learning and accountability.

  Hours: We are ideally seeking a full-time candidate (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). However, we are open to considering part-time or job-share applications, provided the arrangement can meet the needs of the service. You may need to work unsociable hours on occasion, according to service needs.

  St Teresa's Hospice Band 8a: £52,425 to £56,794 per annum (pro rata for part-time hours).

  NHS pension available for existing or recent scheme members.

  Main duties of the job

  If you are passionate about palliative care and want to lead an effective team that makes a real difference to patients and their families, then this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

  We are a forward thinking, inclusive registered charity with inpatient, outpatient and hospice at home services, providing care and support to palliative patients and their families.

  You will be the CQC registered manager for the hospice, responsible for leadership, management and ongoing development of the clinical services team, whilst representing the hospice and championing high quality care at the end of life and collaborative working across the wider system.

  As a member of the Senior Management Team, you will play a vital role in achieving the hospices strategic goals.

  Essential criteria include:

  • First-level degree in a relevant field, or equivalent experience
  • Registered healthcare professional or eligible for registration
  • Experience of running a ward, department, or service at Band 7 or above (or equivalent)
  • Excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills
  • Strong leadership and motivational skills
  • Understanding of clinical governance and quality improvement models

  For further details, please see the job description and person specification. An induction and ongoing training will be provided.

  Successful applicants require enhanced disclosure with adult barred list check. Disclosure expense met by St Teresas Hospice. All posts subject to 6 month probation period.

  About us

  Join an organisation where we all work together for a shared charitable goal, based in beautiful grounds, with a community feel and an inclusive culture.

  Benefits of working for St T's include:

  • Training and development opportunities
  • Flexible working schemes
  • Generous company annual leave, sick pay, and maternity/paternity/adoption pay entitlements
  • Continuation of existing NHS pension scheme at Band 5+, and other pension schemes available
  • Opportunities to attend and participate in fun and exciting fundraising and awareness events
  • Workforce events, including long service awards
  • Employee assistance programme including free counselling/CBT
  • Discounted complementary therapies including acupuncture & massage
  • Onsite bistro
  • Free eye tests for computer users
  • Hospice-based staff are eligible for free annual flu jabs
  • Free will-writing service via Octopus Legacy
  • Free yoga classes, discounted local leisure centre membership and eligibility for Blue Light discount card

  Please contact HR for further details.

  St Teresas Hospice complies with GDPR during the recruitment and selection process. For information on how we process your data, please see the NHS Jobs privacy notice and St Teresas Hospice recruitment privacy notice.

  St Teresas Hospice is a Disability Confident Employer. We are committed to employing and retaining disabled people, and we encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

  Details

  Date posted

  12 June 2025

  Pay scheme

  Other

  Salary

  £52,425 to £56,794 a year per annum, pro rata

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

  Reference number

  B0481-25-0004

  Job locations

  The Woodlands

  Woodland Road

  Darlington

  County Durham

  DL3 7UA

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  The Director of Clinical Services is the CQC registered manager with a key role in enabling and monitoring compliance across regulated activities and sharing legal responsibilities in the hospice. They will be responsible for the leadership, management and ongoing development of the clinical services team, whilst representing the hospice and championing high quality care at the end of life and collaborative working across the wider system. As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), they will play a vital role in achieving the hospices strategic goals. They will serve as the Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO), lead clinical governance and ensure compliance with CQC standards.

  This is a summary of the key duties - for further info please see the full Job Description & Person Spec document which is available to download.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  The Director of Clinical Services is the CQC registered manager with a key role in enabling and monitoring compliance across regulated activities and sharing legal responsibilities in the hospice. They will be responsible for the leadership, management and ongoing development of the clinical services team, whilst representing the hospice and championing high quality care at the end of life and collaborative working across the wider system. As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), they will play a vital role in achieving the hospices strategic goals. They will serve as the Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO), lead clinical governance and ensure compliance with CQC standards.

  This is a summary of the key duties - for further info please see the full Job Description & Person Spec document which is available to download.

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • First level degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience
  • Registered healthcare professional or eligible for registration

  Desirable

  • Masters degree in a relevant subject or evidence of Masters-level learning or equivalent experience
  • Post registration qualification in leadership/management
  • Post registration qualification in cancer/palliative care

  Experience

  Essential

  • Significant experience of running a ward, department, or service working at Agenda for Change Band 7 or above, or equivalent non-NHS grade
  • Understanding and experience of clinical governance systems
  • Experience of managing budgets
  • Experience in leading quality improvement projects

  Desirable

  • Experience in working within palliative and end of life care including bereavement and loss
  • Experience as Registered Manager for a CQC-registered service

  Knowledge and skills

  Essential

  • Ability to fulfil the Registered Manager role

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • First level degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience
  • Registered healthcare professional or eligible for registration

  Desirable

  • Masters degree in a relevant subject or evidence of Masters-level learning or equivalent experience
  • Post registration qualification in leadership/management
  • Post registration qualification in cancer/palliative care

  Experience

  Essential

  • Significant experience of running a ward, department, or service working at Agenda for Change Band 7 or above, or equivalent non-NHS grade
  • Understanding and experience of clinical governance systems
  • Experience of managing budgets
  • Experience in leading quality improvement projects

  Desirable

  • Experience in working within palliative and end of life care including bereavement and loss
  • Experience as Registered Manager for a CQC-registered service

  Knowledge and skills

  Essential

  • Ability to fulfil the Registered Manager role

  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.

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Darlington & District Hospice Movement

  Address

  The Woodlands

  Woodland Road

  Darlington

  County Durham

  DL3 7UA

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.darlingtonhospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Darlington & District Hospice Movement

  Address

  The Woodlands

  Woodland Road

  Darlington

  County Durham

  DL3 7UA

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.darlingtonhospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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