Dementia Services Secialist Practitioner
North West - Lancs, Greater Manchester, Southport and Liverpool
Full Time - Permanent
£55,000 - £60,000 per annum
Job Summary:
The Dementia Services Specialist Practitioner will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering high-quality specialist care for individuals with complex mental health needs, including dementia (all subtypes), functional mental health disorders, acquired brain injury (ABI), and associated complex behaviors. This senior clinical leadership role combines direct oversight of clinical practice with strategic input into the development and commissioning of new services. The post-holder will be supporting the clinical governance of residents in crisis, and leading service growth and innovation across specialist mental health care pathways.
Job Responsibilities:
We are looking for someone with extensive experience in working with people with Dementia and/or Mental Health and distressed behaviors. The role holder will work collaboratively to reduce restrictive practices and coach and train staff to understand the principles and application of Positive Behaviour Support.
The role holder will develop, monitor, evaluate, and enhance positive behaviour support and restrictive physical intervention in line with regulatory requirements and Dovehaven policies. They will provide guidance and support to care home managers and colleagues to ensure people living in our homes receive outstanding positive behaviour support across the Dovehaven portfolio.
We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic and creative person who can innovatively drive and embed change in a fast-paced health and social care environment. If you want to join an established and expanding organization and positively impact the lives of people living with Dementia/ and or Mental Health needs to enable the best possible outcomes, we would like to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic and Service Development:
- Lead the commissioning and mobilization of new specialist dementia, ABI, and functional mental health services within the nursing home portfolio.
- Collaborate with operational and development teams to design and implement innovative, evidence-based models of care.
- Drive growth and continuous improvement in ‘Dementia Plus’ and other enhanced needs-based service lines.
- Contribute to business development, including input into tenders, stakeholder engagement, and service mapping in line with population health needs.
Clinical and Professional Leadership:
- Provide expert clinical oversight for all residents with mental health needs, particularly those at risk of placement breakdown or in active crisis.
- Lead on complex care referrals, triaging and reviewing all incoming enquiries, ensuring appropriate assessment, risk appraisal, and matching service capability.
- Undertake preadmission assessments for complex mental health presentations, with clear recommendations and risk management strategies.
- Offer senior-level support to Home Managers and clinical teams in managing complex cases, including direct intervention when required.
- Support the delivery and monitoring of bespoke crisis plans and stabilization pathways for residents at risk of readmission or escalation.
Governance, Quality, and Risk:
- Oversee clinical risk assessments and contribute to the multidisciplinary review of high-risk residents.
- Ensure mental health policies and care pathways are compliant with best practice, regulatory expectations, and NICE guidance.
- Contribute to serious incident reviews, root cause analysis, and learning from incidents, particularly where there is a mental health component.
- Support service-level audit and quality assurance of mental health care delivery across the organization.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Registered Mental Health Nurse, Clinical Psychologist, or other relevant health professional qualification (e.g., OT, Social Work) with valid registration.
- Significant experience working with individuals with complex mental health needs, including dementia, ABI, and functional mental illness.
- Experience in a senior clinical role within a mental health, care home, or commissioning environment.
- Strong assessment and formulation skills, particularly in risk and behaviour that challenges.
- Proven ability to lead clinical teams and influence service development.
Desirable:
- Experience commissioning or setting up new services in the health or social care sector.
- Supervisory experience of junior clinicians or psychologists.
- Specialist knowledge of dementia subtypes, capacity and consent, and the legal frameworks surrounding mental health care (e.g. MHA, MCA, DoLS/LPS).
- Project or service transformation experience.
#DHOR
