Head of Vulnerable Adults & Complex Pathways

University Hospitals Dorset; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset is seeking a Head of Vulnerable Adults & Complex Pathways to lead strategic and operational initiatives across vulnerable adult and complex care services. Reporting to the Group Director of Nursing, you will shape pathways, drive transformation, and partner with clinical and operational leaders to enhance quality and patient outcomes at UHD.

This is a high-visibility, senior role demanding strong leadership, collaboration, and a patient-centred approach within an

Qualifications

• Professional registration RN/RMN or equivalent with recognised professional body.
• Master's level qualification or equivalent experience.
• Significant senior leadership experience in healthcare, social care, safeguarding, mental health or complex care services.
• A proven track record of service transformation, quality improvement and partnership working.
• Experience of operational, workforce and financial management.
• Excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for vulnerable adults, mental health and complex care pathways across the Trust.
• Drive service transformation and support delivery of the Mental Health Strategy.
• Lead development of innovative, person-centred services that improve quality, safety and patient outcomes.
• Collaborate with executive, clinical and operational leaders to drive improvements.
• Ensure patient centred clinical operational strategy for management of mental health needs.

Education

Master's degree in leadership

Master's degree in Healthcare Management

Job description

Head of Vulnerable Adults & Complex Pathways

NHS AfC: Band 8c

Main area Vulnerable Adults and Complex Pathways Grade NHS AfC: Band 8c Contract Permanent: On-call arrangements - In General Manager on-call rotation Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (In General Manager on-call rotation)

Department name 01. UHD - General Recruitment Site Royal Bournemouth Hospital Town Bournemouth Salary £79,504 - £91,609 per annum Salary period Yearly

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an exceptional leader to join us as Head of Vulnerable Adults and Complex Pathways.

Reporting to the Group Director of Nursing, Medical Care Group, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for vulnerable adults, mental health and complex care pathways across the Trust. Working closely with executive, clinical and operational leaders, you will drive service transformation, support the delivery of the Trust's Mental Health Strategy, and lead the development of innovative, person-centred services that improve quality, safety and patient outcomes.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape services for vulnerable adults and patients with complex needs across Dorset. You'll join a supportive senior leadership team and play a key role in delivering high-quality, compassionate care and improved outcomes for some of our most vulnerable patients.

If you are a strategic, compassionate and values-driven leader, we would welcome your application.

Interview Date: 3rd December 2026

Main duties of the job

• Professional registration (NMC, HCPC, Social Work England or equivalent).
• Master's level qualification or equivalent experience.
• Significant senior leadership experience in healthcare, social care, safeguarding, mental health or complex care services.
• A proven track record of service transformation, quality improvement and partnership working.
• Experience of operational, workforce and financial management.
• Excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills.

The post holder is expected to lead the strategic direction and policy setting for vulnerable adults, incorporating mental health services within UHD, forming an essential communications link between the wider nursing, medical, and Allied Health Professionals (AHP) / Health Care Scientists teams and operational teams.

The post holder will be based within the Medical Care Group, leading the Mental Health Directorate and will work closely with members of the Care Group Triumvirate teams in all Care Groups (surgery, medicine, and specialities). The role will contribute to the implementation of a patient centred clinical operational strategy for the management and care of patients attending the Trust with Mental Health needs.

Working for our organisation

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Providing corporate leadership for Mental Health, strategic oversight of the MCA, and leadership across system partnerships to deliver integrated pathways for vulnerable adults.
• Be accountable for all aspects of service delivery, ensuring care is safe, effective, responsive, and aligned to Trust priorities, CQC standards, and system objectives.
• Provide highly visible, credible, and authoritative clinical leadership for nursing and AHP teams, promoting professional excellence, evidence-based practice, and improved patient outcomes.
• Ensure services are effective, well-coordinated, and responsive to the evolving needs of patients with mental health conditions, driving innovation and continuous quality improvement.
• Lead partnership working across the Integrated Care System (ICS), collaborating with community providers, local authority partners, mental health trusts and the voluntary sector to deliver integrated, person-centred pathways and improve population health outcomes.
• Contribute at place and system level to shared strategic priorities, ensuring seamless pathways and patient flow across acute, community, and mental health services.
• Provide senior leadership for safeguarding and MCA practice, ensuring robust systems, compliance with legislation, and assurance to the Trust Board and external regulators.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Relevant professional registration RN/RMN Registered Healthcare Professional (NMC, HCPC, Social Work England or equivalent recognised professional body).
• Master's degree or equivalent level of experience in healthcare, social care, leadership, management, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in leadership, Healthcare Management, Mental Health, Public Health or equivalent.
• Specialist qualification in Safeguarding, Mental Health, Learning Disabilities or Dementia Care.

Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience within health, social care, safeguarding and complex care services.
• Experience of operational management, workforce planning and budget management.
• Experience of partnership working across organisational boundaries.
• Demonstrable experience of working collaboratively with local authorities, Integrated Care Systems (ICS), and third-sector partners.

Technical Skills

• Highly developed communication and negotiation skills, including the ability to influence senior stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams.
• Able to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery, maintaining focus on organisational priorities and patient outcomes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage complexity and drive sustainable change.

Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of safeguarding adults legislation and practice.
• Understanding of NHS operational flow, discharge processes and reduction of delayed discharges.
• Expert knowledge of safeguarding adults legislation, policy, and best practice

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Collette Byelong Job title Group Director of Nursing - Medical Care Group Email address [e-mail]