Head of Operations

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Falmouth; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CPD time

Development fund

Leadership programmes

Cycle to work

DBS checks

Job summary

The Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a strategic and operational leader for Adult Community Services. The post ensures delivery against Trust objectives, performance targets, quality standards and financial requirements across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams, drive service development and continuous improvement, and work with partners to sustain high standards of care while supporting workforce planning and professional development.

Qualifications

• Current professional registration – NMC, HCPC or equivalent.
• Have an appropriate Master's Degree or equivalent knowledge and expertise.
• Senior level leadership experience in a clinical service area.
• Experience with safeguarding & Mental Health Act.
• Service development and change management experience.
• Experience of working with commissioners and partner agencies.
• Proven leadership and management skills.
• Ability to inspire and lead on new developments.
• Strong teaching and learning commitment.
• Analytical skills in assessing clinical and safety risks.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, operational and clinical leadership across Adult Community Services.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams, drive service improvement and transformation.
• Manage performance, quality governance and risk.
• Oversee budget management and patient flow.
• Represent the service at senior meetings and in reports to committees.
• Support implementation of strategic priorities and workforce planning.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and compassionate leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

IT skills

Change management

Education

NMC/HCPC registration

Master's degree

Job description

Main area Adult Community Services Grade Band 8c Contract 3 months (Fixed term or secondment considered) Hours Full time Job ref 201-26-845

Site Falmouth Hospital Town Falmouth Salary £79,504 - £91,609 Pro Rata Salary period Yearly Closing 29/09/2026 23:59 Interview date 09/10/2026

Thank you for your interest in joining us at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

We pride ourselves in striving to be an employer of choice.

Strategic Themes

Great Care

• Care based on what matters to people.
• Care provided at home or close to home.
• Improvement through learning, research and innovation.
• Prevention and alternatives to hospital.

Great Organisation

• Buildings that support health and wellbeing.
• Technology enabled care.
• Care teams are supported by responsive corporate services.
• Safe, efficient, effective and productive.

Great People

• A place people love to work and feel valued.
• Living our values with staff (all voices count).
• Attract, grow and develop talent.
• Leaders with compassion, who continuously learn and listen.

Great Partner

• Encourage and enable effective partnerships.
• Joined-up community services.
• Work with others to maximise workforce opportunities.
• Reduce our impact on the environment.

At the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s job share, part time or another flexible pattern. In addition, although the role advertised may have a 'home' office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Job overview

The post holder will provide strategic leadership and operational management for designated services, ensuring delivery against Trust objectives, performance targets, quality standards, and financial requirements. Working closely with a range of stakeholders, they will support Team Managers and Team Leaders to achieve operational, safety, quality, and performance goals.

The role carries operational responsibility for multidisciplinary teams across North & East Cornwall, Central Cornwall, West Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care, support, advice, and interventions for service users and carers with health and social care needs.

The post holder will lead service development and continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring effective practice and high standards of care. Working in partnership with the Director of Adult Community Services, they will support financial sustainability while maintaining quality and safety requirements.

In collaboration with Team Managers, Service Leads, and Professional Leads, the post holder will oversee multiple complex teams, ensuring appropriate skill mix, workforce effectiveness, and achievement of quality and performance standards. They will also deputise for the Director of Adult Community Services, Learning Disability & Autism Intensive Support, when required.

Internal applicants seeking a secondment must obtain agreement from their current line manager before applying.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide strategic, operational and clinical leadership across Adult Community Services, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, high-quality, patient-centred care that meets national standards, regulatory requirements and Trust objectives. They will be responsible for leading multidisciplinary teams, driving service improvement and transformation, managing performance, quality, governance and risk, and ensuring effective workforce planning, supervision and professional development. The role includes responsibility for budget management, patient flow, safeguarding, information governance and compliance with Trust policies and procedures. Working closely with internal and external partners, the post holder will represent the service at senior meetings, contribute to organisational and system-wide developments, present reports to Trust committees and boards, and support the implementation of strategic priorities. They will foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, accountability and compassionate leadership, ensuring services are responsive, efficient and focused on delivering the best possible outcomes for patients, carers and communities.

Working for our organisation

We’re an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people’s physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you’ll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 5,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people’s homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 10 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increase the numbers of people who use our services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see ‘supporting documents’.

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

• Current professional registration – NMC, HCPC or equivalent
• Have an appropriate Master's Degree or equivalent knowledge and expertise.

Experience

• Previous experience working at a senior level in a clinical service area.
• Working knowledge and experience of relevant legislation, safeguarding & Mental Health Act
• Specialist experience and knowledge within a defined clinical areas/area.
• Experience of service development and change processes.
• Experience of complex interaction with commissioners and partner agencies to ensure effective working.
• Experience of working with patients with complex and/or challenging needs in a range of environments including service setting.
• Proven leadership and management skills.
• Able to inspire and lead on new developments.
• Strong commitment to teaching and learning.
• Analytical skills in assessing both clinical and generic health and safety service risks and development of risk management plans.
• Proven IT skills with application to practice.
• Established and proven communication skills.
• Knowledge and skills in specific approaches which have applicability to this service area.

At Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust we are proud to prioritise the development of our people. To support this, the following opportunities are available:

• Career conversations and individual development plans for succession planning and talent management
• Protected CPD time for registered staff
• Access to a dedicated central development fund supporting CPD for all staff
• Leadership and Management development programmes
• Coaching and mentoring opportunities
• A full clinical induction programme for operational skills
• Access to a care certificate programme for our band 1-4 clinical staff
• A bespoke and robust preceptorship programme to support newly qualified staff

Being part of a successful NHS Foundation Trust brings a portfolio of rewards and benefits for our staff. These include:

• Suite of health and wellbeing initiatives to support our colleagues physical and mental health
• Free access to individual HARP portfolios to support revalidation for nursing staff
• Free DBS checks where required
• Discounts available from retailers, UK hotels and main attractions
• Salary sacrifice car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• The Trust reimburses all application costs for staff eligible to apply for EU settlement status.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process you will be contacted via TRAC.jobs email regarding interview details.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust welcomes and values individuals with lived experience of mental or physical ill health joining our workforce. We aspire to have a culture that develops, promotes and supports lived experience roles - throughout the organisation.

If you are successful, you agree to Occupational Health accessing your health records from your current or previous employer to check the status of your inoculations and screening tests. Appointments are subject to full three year satisfactory references therefore please ensure you include correct contact details for your nominated referees including email addresses.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.