Lead Nurse; Head of Care Job Rugby area,England UK,Management

About HCPT

HCPT is a UK-based charity that provides life-changing pilgrimage experiences to Lourdes for children and adults with disabilities, complex medical needs, and social challenges of all faiths, and none. Every Easter and Summer, HCPT brings together thousands of volunteers, medical professionals, and chaplains to support pilgrims in a joyful, inclusive, and faith-filled environment. Our work is rooted in Christian values, community, and the belief that every person is uniquely gifted and loved.

Role Overview

HCPT is seeking a motivated, dynamic and strategic Head of Care/Lead Nurse to support all of the care elements of our pilgrimage programmes to Lourdes, ensuring they are delivered safely, consistently and to the highest standard.

We are looking for a committed healthcare professional who is a registered nurse, with significant management experience, sound clinical judgement, and the ability to work across the country with a dispersed network of volunteer nurses who support our mission, providing them with the guidance, oversight and assurance frameworks they need to care for our beneficiaries with confidence.

The Lead Nurse will lead and line manage a small team.

The post holder will be an integral part of HCPT’s team, shaping how we identify, manage and learn from the challenges inherent in delivering end-to-end care across a complex pilgrimage. As we move through our organisational change and transformation process, the Head of Care will strengthen our quality and clinical governance arrangements, assuring that we deliver the highest possible standards of care and contributing to the ambition of HCPT to ensure we can deliver THE BEST pilgrimage experience we can offer, as defined and measured by our beneficiaries and volunteers.

This is a critically important role in a volunteer-led organisation, and the successful post holder will need to balance safety and quality with the practical realities of a volunteer workforce, exercising flexibility including evening and weekend work to meet the business needs of the charity, given that our volunteer leaders have professional commitments during the day. This also includes an expectation of the role to be available to spend 2 weeks in Lourdes at Easter to lead our care function operationally, where calm, confident decision making in a live operational environment is essential.

Key Responsibilities Strategic Clinical Leadership

Act as HCPT’s senior professional nurse lead, setting the strategic direction for care and clinical practice across the organisation. Translate HCPT’s mission and strategic objectives into robust clinical and care strategies. Provide expert clinical advice to the CEO, Trustees and senior leaders, influencing organisational decision-making. Represent HCPT externally in professional, regulatory, or partnership forums where required. Exercise independent judgement in complex, high-risk clinical and safeguarding situations.

Work in partnership with HCPT’s Chief Operating Officer who has oversight of safeguarding and care compliance.

Team Leadership and Line Management

Line manage the Care Co-ordinators, including setting objectives, regular one-to-ones, appraisal, and supporting their development and wellbeing. Delegate the administration of the care function to the Co-ordinators, who will lead on tasks such as nurse application processing, credentialing and DBS checks, record keeping, data entry, rostering, scheduling and pilgrimage logistics. 3.Set clear standards, processes and priorities for the Co-ordinators’ work so that administration is accurate, timely and supports safe care.

Retain professional and clinical oversight of the outputs the Co-ordinators produce, using them to drive quality and care for nurses…