Team Leader Retreat West

Job Overview

Are you an experienced registered mental health professional ready to lead and inspire? Our Retreat service in Weymouth is looking for a Team Leader to guide a compassionate, multidisciplinary team delivering person‑centred support to people experiencing self‑defined crisis. Delivered in partnership with Dorset Mental Health Forum as part of Access Mental Health Services, the Retreat provides a safe, therapeutic space from 4pm–12am, seven days a week. The service is rooted in recovery‑focused practice, supporting people to understand their experiences, build on their strengths and develop meaningful coping strategies.

As Retreat Team Leader, you will be responsible for the day‑to‑day leadership of the service, leading a diverse team of lived‑experience peer specialists and registered mental health practitioners. You will champion a culture of openness, compassion and reflective practice, where lived experience and clinical expertise are equally valued, and where co‑production and collaboration are central to how the service operates. You will uphold and actively advocate for the values of the partnership, ensuring care is safe, inclusive and dignified, and responsive to the impact of social inequality on mental health. You will also play a key role in service development, helping to shape a sustainable model that supports people to recover, build resilience and move forward.

Main Duties of the Job

• Provide visible, supportive, and consistent leadership to the Retreat team, including mental health practitioners, support workers and peer specialists.
• Lead with enthusiasm and act as a positive role model to promote a culture of compassion, inclusion, and professional development.
• Ensure effective day-to-day management, including staffing, supervision, performance management, and development.
• Ensure delivery of high-quality, person-centred services aligned with the values of integrated care.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including local authorities, primary care, VCSE providers, and community services.
• Actively contribute to the co-design, co-production and planning of services in alignment with Trust, Forum, and national objectives.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

Working for Our Organisation

At [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people. Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do. Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Registered health practitioner to degree level supplemented by minimum PG Dip (120 credits) plus working towards MA / MSc or demonstrable extensive experience in the relevant specialty
• Evidence of recent evidence based professional development in an up to date portfolio
• Learning and Assessing in Practice Qualification or equivalent practice assessors training
• Broad clinical and multi-agency knowledge Skills in co-production and partnership working
• Knowledge and understanding of the Trust’s and Dorset Mental Health Forums Strategic approach
• Knowledge and understanding of legislation relevant to area of clinical practice

Job Specific Experience

• Experience as a registered practitioner at Band 6 level as above
• Demonstrates specialist expertise and knowledge underpinned by theory acquired through CPD in relation to Recovery approached clinical assessment, treatment and evaluation
• Evidence of effective Risk management and Person focused Crisis Support skills
• Evidence of relevant involvement in meeting clinical governance objectives
• Evidence of proactive involvement in the supervision and development of members of the multi-disciplinary team
• Able to demonstrate knowledge of health policy and its application in practice
• Evidence of education and training in practice
• Experience of interdisciplinary working and working with Peer Specialists
• Practical experience of facilitating and managing change
• Able to demonstrate highly developed physical skills where accuracy is important such as in the manipulation of fine tools and materials for patient interventions.

Managerial/Supervisory Experience

• Previous clinical people management experience
• Able to act as a clinical supervisor

Finance/Resources

• Able to promote the best use of available resources in the pursuit of quality service provision ensuring a safe environment
• Experience of budget management.

Information Technology/Resources

• Confident in the use of computer systems, spread sheets, databases, data collection and coordination, word processing and report writing.
• Experience of electronic patient / service user record systems, data entry and reporting

Additional Information

Salary: £29,632 - £33,909 p.a. (Band 7). Closing date: 17/05/2026 23:59. For further details or informal visits, contact Saranne George, Access Mental Health Service Manager, at [contact hidden] or call [contact hidden].