Head of Operations

Job summary

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.

Last verified against our ingestion on 17 September 2026; sponsor register dataset 2026-09-18.