Strategic Lead, Community Nursing & Care Pathways

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Kettering; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Head of Service for Community Nursing to lead strategic and operational management of CN services across NHFT. The post holder will drive safe, high‑quality care, workforce performance, and governance while delivering transformation and pathway redesign to meet rising demand.

The role involves leading clinical quality, staffing, and performance across neighbourhood teams, and working with partners to optimise patient flow and

Qualifications

• Significant senior management experience across complex healthcare services.
• Proven experience of operational, financial, and performance management.
• Experience of leading service transformation and change programmes.
• Demonstrable experience managing and developing staff and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience of working with system partners across health and social care.
• Experience of preparing and presenting reports to senior forums.
• Experience in Urgent Community Response or community services.
• Experience of system-level working (ICS/ICB).
• Postgraduate qualification in leadership or management.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational delivery of CN services, ensuring achievement of performance targets.
• Hold accountability for financial performance, budget control, and delivery of cost improvement programmes.
• Accountable for delivery of CN performance across the care delivery pathway.
• Lead demand and capacity planning, caseload modelling and neighbourhood integration.
• Ensure delivery of high standards of clinical quality, patient safety, and risk management.
• Lead workforce planning, ensuring safe staffing levels.
• Develop and implement service strategies, business plans, and transformation programmes.
• Lead service redesign and pathway development to improve patient flow, capacity, and outcomes.
• Oversee escalation processes, surge responses, business continuity, winter resilience planning and mobilisation.
• Represent Community Nursing at system level and ensure strengthened working with GP’s, social care, voluntary sector, acute partners.

Skills

Senior management

Operational management

Financial management

Performance management

Service transformation

Change programmes

Staff development

System partners

Reporting to senior forums

ICS/ICB familiarity

Education

Postgraduate leadership qualification

Job description

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Head of Service for Community Nursing to lead strategic and operational management of CN services across NHFT. The post holder will drive safe, high‑quality care, workforce performance, and governance while delivering transformation and pathway redesign to meet rising demand.

The role involves leading clinical quality, staffing, and performance across neighbourhood teams, and working with partners to optimise patient flow and