Job summary
Our Leadership Structure supports our clinical teams to work closely with partners at place level alongside strengthening clinical and professional leadership. We are also developing a clinical transformation programme alongside our partners to enhance the clinical outcomes our service users experience as well as continuing to improve experience of care.
The role will provide the operational leadership to our inpatient and crisis services with central locality of NSFT. This will involve close working with our system partners across East Suffolk Locality including ESNEFT and Social Services, and across several individual teams within NSFT.
The post holder will provide operational leadership to drive improved performance across our crisis pathways, and support improved flow through our inpatient wards, whilst ensuring a high level of quality of service is maintained.
As part of the East Suffolk locality leadership team, the post holder will demonstrate supportive and compassionate leadership whilst embedding accountability and a focus on improvement.
Main duties of the job
The Associate Director of Operation will work closely with the Associate Director(s) of Nursing and Associate Medical Director(s) to ensure that high quality care is delivered within the Locality services and providing professional leadership to operational colleagues across the locality.
You will promote a culture of learning and openness and ensure clinical staff have the knowledge, capability, systems and support to deliver evidence based care and embed lessons learned in practice for the improvement of patient experience.
About us
We are looking to appoint an individual who has a passion for our work and a track record of achievement in influencing colleagues and partners to deliver high quality care. We are seeking an inspirational and compassionate leader who will develop their teams to provide outstanding care. Previous experience working in a mental health operations setting is essential.
If you have a reputation for leadership, people development, quality and improvement alongside a passion for improving outcomes with a focus on equity and inclusion to ensure that mental health provision has parity across our partners, then please do consider applying for this role.
We are determined to create a safer, kinder and better organisation.
Details
Date posted
16 February 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8c
Salary
£76,965 to £88,682 a year gross per annum
Contract
Secondment
Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number
246-ESU7704797
Job locations
Woodlands Unit, Ipswich Hospital
Heath Road
Ipswich
IP4 5PD
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY
Please visit our Facebook and Twitter page @NSFTjobs
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY
Please visit our Facebook and Twitter page @NSFTjobs
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Degree level education supplemented by postgraduate study and management or clinical experience to master's degree level or equivalent.
Desirable
* Other professional qualifications relevant to the role
Experience
Essential
* Successful recent achievement record within a large, complex, Mental Health NHS environment
* Successful recent experience of leading and managing transformational change, and service redesign, including staff consultation and engagement
Desirable
* Engaging with appropriate stakeholders to shape delivery of healthcare services
Knowledge
Essential
* Good understanding of current emerging health issues, commissioning systems and performance standards.
* In depth knowledge of the NHS, recent reforms including Health and Social Care Act 2012.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Degree level education supplemented by postgraduate study and management or clinical experience to master's degree level or equivalent.
Desirable
* Other professional qualifications relevant to the role
Experience
Essential
* Successful recent achievement record within a large, complex, Mental Health NHS environment
* Successful recent experience of leading and managing transformational change, and service redesign, including staff consultation and engagement
Desirable
* Engaging with appropriate stakeholders to shape delivery of healthcare services
Knowledge
Essential
* Good understanding of current emerging health issues, commissioning systems and performance standards.
* In depth knowledge of the NHS, recent reforms including Health and Social Care Act 2012.
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust
Address
Woodlands Unit, Ipswich Hospital
Heath Road
Ipswich
IP4 5PD
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
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Employer details
Employer name
Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust
Address
Woodlands Unit, Ipswich Hospital
Heath Road
Ipswich
IP4 5PD
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
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