Overview The Head of Service (HOS) for Adult Learning Disabilities and Autism Keyworker Services has a key leadership role acting as a role model for others. They will communicate and maintain excellent working relationships with all those who use, commission and work within the learning disability service and the wider Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Collaborative. The HOS is operationally responsible for the learning disability service across Kent and will act as an expert within LD to support the service review and future service model with Commissioners. They will provide motivational leadership, guidance, and support to professional/clinical leads and service managers to deliver high quality services, change management and service development.
It is important to us that all our staff are aligned to our Values and in particular the behaviours we expect from KCHFT managers. As part of the selection process for this position you will be asked to complete two other activities in addition to the competency-based interview. The extended selection process is designed to assess your management style; the specific details of the exercises will be given if you are successfully shortlisted. The provisional date of the selection event is 25 February 2026, though this may be subject to change.
Responsibilities Develop effective and integrated care pathways in partnership with service users, commissioners and key stakeholders, particularly education and social care colleagues.
Maintain a focus on quality and productivity throughout the Learning Disabilities and Autism Keyworker service to provide the highest possible level of care within agreed resources.
Be responsible for evidencing service quality and productivity through production of reports and data sets, and utilisation of benchmarking data to ensure continuous learning and improvement.
Lead service improvement and redesign and embed changes into everyday practice through strong management of professional leads and team managers.
Provide robust management and leadership to the professional/consultant leads ensuring teams work in line with professional, organisational and local policies and guidelines.
Make recommendations and take actions to drive forward innovative solutions to achieve business objectives, service improvements, strategies and financial efficiencies linked to annual business plans.
This will involve working with commissioners to support the collaborative review and transformation of services from April 2026.
About our values, equality and inclusion Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we are committed to delivering high standards of patient care and excellent services. We value equity, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. We ask for information about protected characteristics on our application forms; this is not visible to those involved in shortlisting or interviewing except when applying under the guaranteed interview scheme due to disability. Short listers will see two ticks to apply the principles of the scheme. The data we collect helps ensure we attract diverse applicants and provide equitable career opportunities.
As a flexible-working organisation, we support arrangements that suit staff and patients. Please discuss flexible working options with us. See where you can go with KCHFT career pathways.
Note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). Nursing vacancies are also open to Student Nurses and Newly Qualified Nurses.
Additional information Job responsibilities include a driving requirement for this community Trust role. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via kentchft.recruitment@nhs.net for support. The job description and person specification provide full details; please review carefully and tell us how you meet the criteria in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format, contact the recruitment team. For questions, the recruiting manager can be contacted via the job advert.
We may close the vacancy early if there is a high level of interest. We encourage applications as soon as possible. Thank you and good luck from #teamKCHFT.
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