Head of Operations

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Falmouth; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Head of Operations to lead strategic and operational delivery across Adult Community Services. You will drive performance, quality, safety and patient-centred care while ensuring alignment with national standards and Trust priorities.

Reporting to the Director of Adult Community Services, you will oversee complex teams, support workforce development, and deputise in senior leadership roles as required, fostering collaboration with partners

Qualifications

• Master's Degree or equivalent knowledge and expertise.
• Current professional registration with NMC/HCPC or equivalent.
• Experience at senior level in a clinical service area.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and Mental Health Act.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, operational and clinical leadership across Adult Community Services.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams and drive service improvement.
• Oversee budget management and performance targets.
• Represent the service at senior meetings and committees.
• Support learning and development and workforce planning.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Governance

IT skills

Communication

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

Professional registration (NMC/HCPC or equivalent)

Job description

Go back Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Head of Operations

The closing date is 29 September 2026

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.

About us

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 out services.

Job 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.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust