Main area Operational Lead Grade Band 8a Contract 3 months (Fixed term contract or Secondment Opportunity)
Hours: Full time / Part time
Job ref 201-26-513
Site: West Cornwall Town, West Cornwall
Salary £57,528 - £64,750 Per Annum, Salary period Yearly, Closing 15/06/2026 23:59
Job Overview
The successful candidate will bring proven experience of leading MHST teams across both primary and secondary school settings. You will provide expert leadership, coaching, and guidance to developing teams, ensuring high-quality, compassionate practice while maintaining accountability for meeting key performance targets.
A key aspect of the role will be supporting the development of processes and operational frameworks to enable effective service delivery, alongside fostering a positive, values-based culture that supports staff development and wellbeing.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a growing service aligned with the national MHST programme, expanding into secondary schools, alternative provision, and supporting children and young people who are electively home educated.
You will join a dynamic and supportive senior leadership team within Children’s Services, Mental Health Directorate, working collaboratively with existing leads and managers to deliver this next phase of development. A strong focus on quality improvement and innovation will be essential.
This is a countywide role, with a primary base in the west of Cornwall to support the next phase of expansion.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide high-quality operational leadership across CYP services, working closely with Heads of Service, the Associate Director, and the Director of Mental Health. They will build strong links across the wider directorate and partner organisations to support seamless, joined-up care pathways.
A key focus will be developing collaborative relationships with health, education, voluntary sector and local authority partners to ensure accessible, early preventative mental health support for school-aged children. This is a pivotal role within the CYP directorate, requiring a passion for delivering innovative, responsive services that provide best value and achieve positive outcomes for children, young people, and their families across Cornwall.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see ‘supporting documents’.
Please note: If you are an internal candidate and wanting to apply for this position as a secondment opportunity. Before applying, please ensure you have discussed the post with your current line manager and obtained their agreement to support your release for the duration of the secondment.
Person specification
Education / Qualifications and Relevant Experience
* Significant experience in a managerial role or senior clinical role.
* Graduate and post graduate qualification at masters level or relevant equivalent experience.
* Extensive evidence of continuing professional development.
* Qualification in nursing (e.g. RMN, RSCN) and registered with the NMC or an Allied Health Professional registered with their specific governing body.
Skills and Aptitude
* Excellent skills in engaging, bringing together and supporting the multi-disciplinary team, both in routine times and times of crisis.
* Excellent leadership skills.
* Ability to develop highly effective working relationships with colleagues.
Knowledge and abilities
* Experience of working in a senior clinical/management role.
* Ability to interpret policy and implement across service area.
* Knowledge and ability required to develop robust and needs-led policies, strategies and processes across service area.
Benefits and Opportunities
* Career conversations and individual development plans for succession planning and talent management.
* Protected CPD time for registered staff.
* Access to a dedicated central development fund supporting CPD for all staff.
* Leadership and Management development programmes.
* Coaching and mentoring opportunities.
* A full clinical induction programme for operational skills.
* Access to a care certificate programme for our band 1-4 clinical staff.
* A bespoke and robust preceptorship programme to support newly qualified staff.
* Suite of health and wellbeing initiatives to support our colleagues’ physical and mental health.
* Free access to individual HARP portfolios to support revalidation for nursing staff.-li>Name ??? Wait re-check; Ill correct these lines.
Legal and regulatory information
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) and the Order 2020, and will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
J-18808-Ljbffr