This is a pivotal role at a time of transformation and growth at Kilbryde Hospice. As Clinical Services Director, you will provide strong and visible leadership across our care services while contributing to organisation-wide strategy and operations as a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT). You will champion clinical excellence service redesign and innovation models of care, quality iprovement, and regulatory compliance across all care settings.
You will be responsible for overseeing safe, effective, and high-quality delivery of our clinical services, maintaining a culture of compassionate, people-centred care. You will deputise for the Chief Executive when required, a key role in shaping the future of hospice care across South Lanarkshire.
• Provide dynamic leadership and oversight of all clinical services, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s strategic aims and values.
• Act as Registered Manager with Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), ensuring clinical services are compliant with national standards and regulatory requirements.
• Lead on clinical governance, overseeing clinical audit, risk, and compliance processes.
• Act as Accountable Officer for Controlled Drugs under Scottish legislation.
• Serve as Caldicott Guardian being responsible for protecting the confidentiality of people’s health and care information and making sure it is used legally, ethically, and appropriately.
• Play a lead role in the Clinical Quality Audit & Risk Committee (CQARC) and ensure there is a strong evidence-based audit cycle that drives improvement.
• Ensure compliance with current Data Protection and GDPR legislation.
• Act as the Hospice’s named Safeguarding Lead, ensuring robust systems for protection of vulnerable adults (and children where appropriate).
• Lead on Infection Prevention and Control in line with national Infection Prevention and Control Processes.
• Inspire and support the clinical workforce, ensuring compassionate, skilled, and inclusive people-centred care.
• Lead regular reviews of performance, quality standards, and service delivery, reporting to the CEO and trustees.
• Drive continuous service improvement, including monitoring of agreed KPIs and outcome measures and intergrating feedback from patients, carers, and staff.
• Ensure safeguarding, infection prevention, and clinical risk management are embedded in everyday practice.
• Ensure holistic patient and family support, including bereavement support.
• Line manages the In-patient Unit Manager and other senior nursing and Allied Health Professionals.
• Lead annual appraisals, supervision, and development planning for clinical and healthcare related staff.
• Champion staff wellbeing, retention, and leadership development.
• Oversee recruitment and induction of new clinical, healthcare staff and volunteers.
• Promote and support in-house education, training, and clinical supervision.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of the hospice’s education programme.
• Maintain links with external providers and higher education institutions to support continuous professional development.
• Build strong partnerships across the health and care system, including NHS Lanarkshire, Health and Social Care Partners, GPs, and third sector partners.
• Contribute to the development, negotiation, and delivery of service level agreements and commissioning discussions with statutory partners.
• Represent Kilbryde Hospice at strategic forums, professional networks, and sector events.
• Act as an advocate for high-quality palliative and end of life care in South Lanarkshire.
• Promote, at all levels, the Hospice Vision, Mission and Values and in keeping with the current Corporate Strategy.
• Carry out duties with full regard to the Hospice’s Equalities and Diversity Policies.
• Responsible for monitoring the income and expenditure of all clinical services and ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of these services.
• Ensure budgets and controls are managed and maintained.
• Act as a responsible individual in relation to Health and Safety and be aware of the responsibilities of all employees.
• Take part in the on-call rota for SMT where appropriate.
• Carry out any other duties, within an appropriate level of responsibilities as required.
• Ensure staff adhere to patient record keeping and storage and ensure this complies with best practice.
• Hold Disclosure Scotland and Occupational Health clearances appropriate to the role.
• Have a good understanding and always comply with relevant Kilbryde Hospice Policies and Procedures.
• Kilbryde Hospice is commited to encouraging volunteering throughout the organisation and as such the post holder will be expected to support and work effectively with volunteers.
• All staff are required to comply with the obligation of confidentiality relating to personal information that could identify individuals. GDPR (2018) safeguards the handling of information held in both electronic and manual filing systems and it is the duty of all staff employed by Kilbryde Hospice to uphold the principles of the legislation.
• All employees of Kilbryde Hospice must be aware of infection prevention and control policies and are expected to follow them at all times. Any breach of infection control policies which places patients, visitors or colleagues at risk may result in further action.
• The post holder is required to familiarise him/herself with and comply with the Kilbryde Hospice Health & Safety policies.
• The post holder must always carry out duties and responsibilities with regard to the Kilbryde Hospice Code of Conduct.
• Kilbryde Hospice operates a strict non-smoking policy in the hospice or Hairmyres hospital grounds.
•The post-holder must at all times carry out his/her responsibilities in line with Kilbryde Hospice Dignity at Work, and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion policies.
This job description is an outline of the key duties and responsibilities of the role and is not intended as an exhaustive list. The job description may change over time to reflect the changing needs of the service. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties that could resonably be considered commensurate with the post. This job description is subject to periodic reveiw and may be changed/updated following consultation.
Summary: The postholder will be an experienced, registered health professional with a proven track record of senior leadership in healthcare. They will demonstrate strong strategic, operational, and people management skills, with a deep understanding of clinical governance, regulatory frameworks, and service development. The ideal candidate will be commited to continuous professional development and able to lead teams through change in a dynamic environment.
Criteria | Essential | Desirable |
|---|---|---|
Qualifications & Training | • Registered health professional with current UK registration. • Educated to degree level. | • Experience of business development within the care sector. • Experience of hospice funding and budgeting. |
Experience | • Extensive senior-level leadership exeperience in a healthcare setting. | • Experience of business development within the care sector. • Experience of hospice funding and budgeting. |
Knowledge | • Knowledge of national frameworks, regulatory bodies, and clinical standards. • Strategic planning and operational leadership in clinical services for patients. | |
Skills | • Strong understanding of current regulatory frameworks. • Budget management and business planning. • Patient safety, clinical quality audit and risk management. • Workforce development. • Experience with patient record systems and data governance. • Skilled in leading through change, motivating teams, and performance management. | |
Other | • Strong interpersonal, communication, and public speaking skills. • Ability to work flexibility. • Evidence of continuing demands. • Evidence of continuing professional development. |
To apply for this position, please send your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role to Recruitment@KilbrydeHospice.org.uk by 26th October 2025.Â
Kilbryde Hospice is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.
 Applicants should be aware that the role includes working with vulnerable groups and as such successful applicants will be subject to PVG check by Disclosure Scotland.
For information regarding the post please contact Margaretmary.Cowan@sensible-nickel-fox.45-157-41-64.cpanel.site (excluding 6th – 10th Oct), or Gordon.McHugh@sensible-nickel-fox.45-157-41-64.cpanel.site
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