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 and pilgrims across the Trust.
Volunteer Nurse Recruitment, Leadership and Oversight
- Lead the recruitment, selection, credentialing, and deployment of volunteer nurses, ensuring an appropriate skill mix and leadership structure, with the supporting administration delivered by the Care Co-ordinators. Ensure all nurses meet professional requirements (NMC registration, revalidation support, DBS, training), with the Co-ordinators managing the checks and records and the Lead Nurse providing professional assurance. Provide professional leadership, supervision, and mentorship aligned with senior nurse responsibilities. Establish systems for appraisal, reflective practice, escalation, and performance management where required. Build a sustainable and engaged volunteer nursing workforce through strategic planning and support.
Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement
- Design and lead a clinical governance and quality assurance framework, consistent with Band 8a expectations. Use audit, data, feedback, incidents, and learning reviews to drive continuous improvement. Lead the review, development, and approval of clinical and care-related policies and guidelines. Ensure practice aligns with national standards, evidence-based guidance, and professional codes. Foster a culture of learning, accountability, and openness across HCPT.
Governance & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with UK charity law, safeguarding regulations, data protection requirements, and health & safety standards. Maintain risk registers and lead on care-related safeguarding and incident response protocols. Support the CEO and Board of Trustees with operational reporting and risk management.
Operational Clinical Excellence
- Provide senior clinical oversight for all HCPT activities involving care provision. Act as the clinical escalation point for complex needs, high-risk decisions, and incident response. Ensure safe systems for: Medication management Individual care planning Risk assessment and mitigation Infection prevention and control Support Group Leaders and volunteers to deliver consistent, high-quality care in diverse and sometimes challenging environments.
Audit, Legal, Regulatory and Compliance Leadership
- Lead or oversee clinical audits, assurance processes, and compliance reviews. Ensure HCPT meets its legal, regulatory, and professional obligations, including safeguarding, health and safety, and data protection. Maintain oversight of documentation, record keeping, and reporting systems, with day-to-day administration of these systems led by the Care Co-ordinators. Prepare reports and provide assurance to Trustees regarding clinical risk, compliance, and quality. Lead responses to serious incidents, complaints, and external reviews, ensuring learning and improvement.
Finance & Resource Management
- Work with the Finance function and operational colleagues to manage budgets, financial planning, and reporting. Ensure cost-effective care operations of pilgrimage programmes. Support fundraising and grant applications with operational data and impact reporting.
Organisational Wellbeing and Workforce Support
- Provide strategic leadership for staff and volunteer wellbeing, recognising the emotional demands of care roles. Promote psychologically safe environments, reflective practice, and compassionate leadership. Support individuals and teams following incidents, safeguarding concerns, or distressing events. Contribute to organisational culture, leadership development, and sustainability. Champion equality, inclusion, and values-based practice across HCPT.
Professional Accountability
- Practice in accordance with the NMC Code and uphold HCPT’s safeguarding and ethical standards. Maintain professional registration and engage in continuous professional development appropriate to a Band 8a role. Be accountable for clinical decision-making, governance, and risk management within HCPT, collaborating with the CEO, SLT and Trustees where appropriate. Ensure data security, operational efficiency, and user-friendly processes for data management in line with GDPR and applicable data protection law, working with the Care Co-ordinators who manage the day-to-day data.
Person Specification
Essential
- NMC-registered nurse with demonstrable clinical leadership, governance or service management post-registration at NHS Band 8 or above. Advanced knowledge of clinical governance, risk management, quality improvement, and audit. Ability to assess and manage risk dynamically in non-clinical or unpredictable environments, balancing safety with delivering a positive experience for beneficiaries. Proven ability to lead, influence, and support multidisciplinary and volunteer teams. Experience of line managing staff, including delegating effectively and supporting their performance and development.
- High level of autonomy, judgement, and accountability in complex situations. Strong communication skills, including report writing and board-level engagement. Deep commitment to safeguarding, including experience of applying safeguarding procedures in practice, and to person-centred care.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. Ability to travel to prepare and support with in-country logistics for the Easter Pilgrimage in Lourdes for a duration of 2 weeks, annually. An understanding of HCPT’s spirituality, mission and values.
Desirable
- Experience working with Lourdes pilgrimages or Catholic diocesan structures. Experience in paediatric, learning disability, complex care, or community settings. Experience in the voluntary, charity, or faith-based sector. Experience working with senior volunteers including boards and/or trustees. Formal leadership or management qualification. Familiarity with medical or care provision in a group travel context. Experience working in cross-cultural environments.
N.B. Please note the duties listed are not exhaustive and the charity may require different or additional duties to be undertaken depending on changing business needs.
What We Offer
- A meaningful leadership role in a mission-driven charity Flexible working arrangements and generous annual leave plus Christmas office closure Up to 5% employer pension contributions, based on employee contributions Group life cover and healthcare benefits Opportunities for spiritual and professional development The chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and adults with additional needs.
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