Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us. 

Job Title: Vulnerable Adult Support Team - Team Leader
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
Fixed Term Contract End Date: 30th April 2027
Purpose for Fixed Term: Covering other absence

About this role

As part of our team, you will lead elements of the Vulnerable Adult Support Team on a day-to-day basis, allocating patient care and providing expert support to less experienced practitioners. Your role will mostly be patient-facing and will comprise risk identification and assessment, information giving, signposting & referral to specialist & community services, as well as safeguarding of adult patients and their children. You will act as a patient advocate and will operate within a multi-agency framework. You will share your expertise regarding the management of psychosocial issues with clinical staff working within your areas of responsibility. You will undertake line management activities for the Band 4 practitioners, under the supervision of the Band 7/8 professional leads. You will facilitate continuing professional development for VAST practitioners and will undertake and/or supervise service improvement activities such as audit. Your input will ensure that patients with complex psychosocial and safeguarding needs will receive the potentially life-saving interventions they need when in crisis. This role exemplifies the UHS Trust values of Patients First, Working Together and Always Improving.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. 

 We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

 Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

 We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

A detailed job description and person specification is attached.

You will have undertaken specialist training and continuing professional development in the management of patients who are living with complex psychosocial issues.
You will demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills.
You will have excellent organisational skills, both in the management of your own workload and in the supervision of others.
You must be able to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Key elements of your role:
1.    To provide day-to-day operational leadership for the VAST/Onward Service.
2.    To manage rota (including annual/study leave and first line of sickness management) for VAST/Onward Service practitioners, with supervision from Band 7.
3.    To provide training, supervision, mentorship, assessment and advice for VAST/Onward Service practitioners, including induction of new team members.
4.    To undertake identification, risk assessment and management of adult safeguarding and psychosocial issues in clinical areas covered by the VAST/Onward Service.
5.     Through this work, identify and report any concerns relating to hidden harm to children.  
6.    To act as a resource to clinical staff through expert knowledge of adult vulnerability and community service provision.
7.    To provide sign-off of Band 2/3/5 ED Competency Documents relating to areas of expertise.