23 NHS Team Leader Interview Questions & Answers

NHS Team Leader Job Description and Responsibilities

As a team leader within the National Health Service you will be responsible for ensuring the operational efficiency and effectiveness of your team is maintained. This will be achieved by demonstrating strong leadership, a dynamic approach to healthcare tasks and ensuring all members of your team are equipped to carry out their duties in line with the operational policies and procedures of the NHS trust you are working for. Team leaders are also responsible for ensuring the work they carry out is effective against organisational performance indicators and targets. As the NHS Team Leader, you will need to provide outstanding leadership to ensure clinical governance is maintained at all times.

The responsibilities of an NHS Team Leader broadly fall under the following five key areas: 

Clinical Duties.

You will be required to provide clinical support and leadership within your role as NHS Team Leader and ensure clinical governance standards are met at all times. You will also be required to respond to feedback, comments, and complaints from patients and service users including liaising with service partners and healthcare stakeholders.

Managerial and Human Resources Responsibilities.

Responsible for ensuring all staff perform to the necessary standards and that appropriate risk assessments are conducted at all material times. You will also be responsible for ensuring all healthcare staff and nurses receive the appropriate training required to perform their duties to the high standards expected within the NHS Trust. As the team leader, you will also be required to ensure a healthy and safe working environment is provided for all staff during all healthcare shifts and that their safety is never compromised.

Performance Management.

As the NHs team leader, you will be responsible for managing all members of staff in respect of their training needs, performance reviews and dealing with team conflict as and when it occurs. You will also be required to ensure there is a culture of continual improvement and development within the team or department you are responsible for and for ensuring the effective management of shift and ward duty rotas are maintained.

Quality Assurance.

You will need to liaise with and support the Clinical Services Manager to ensure the highest standards of patient treatment and care are maintained at all times. If there are any complaints, you will need to respond to them and conduct a suitable investigation in line with the NHS Trust’s complaints procedures. You must also use patient feedback with a view to continually improve and enhance the service you provide.

Personal and Professional Development.

As the NHS Team Leader, you will need to maintain your own professional development and ensure your knowledge of working practices, processes and procedures is continually maintained to ensure your work is always to the highest standards achievable.