Job overview
We are looking to appoint an Acting Service Manager, with responsibility for our Specialist Services (supporting complex and vulnerable children)within community children’s services.
The acting up arrangement will start immediately after successful application and pre employment checks and continue until 31 March 2027.
This is an urgent requirement to cover a short-term vacancy and is therefore not intended as a developmental opportunity. The post holder will be required to have significant experience as an operational manager with responsibility for children’s provision.
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dynamic and compassionate Service Manager to lead our Specialist Services (supporting complex and vulnerable children). This senior nursing role is pivotal in delivering high-quality, equitable, and innovative community health services across the Bradford district.
Due to the urgency of the recruitment, interviews are scheduled Thursday 5th March 2026 and there will not be an opportunity to offer further dates.
If you would like to discuss before applying, please contact Dawn Lee.
You will be part of the Community Children’s Services Leadership Team, responsible for operational leadership, service transformation, and performance management. The role also includes deputising for the Head of Children’s Community Services when required.
Applicants are required to submit a 500-word supporting statement in their supporting information demonstrating how they meet the criteria outlined in the person specification.
Closing date: 1st March 2026
Shortlisting: 2nd March 2026
Interviews: 5th March 2026
Previous applicants need not apply.
Please note: A presentation will not be required as part of the interview process.
Main duties of the job
1. Lead and manage service delivery across multiple district locations.
2. Drive performance against service specifications including Healthy Child Programme, vaccination programmes, and statutory health assessments.
3. Champion service redesign and improvement based on population needs and user feedback.
4. Ensure compliance with safeguarding and SEND frameworks.
5. Manage budgets, workforce planning, and digital transformation initiatives.
6. Represent the Trust at strategic partnership forums and inspections.
Working for our organisation
Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -
We Care - We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen - We understand people’s views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver - We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners
We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :
Increase mileage rates for > 3500
A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
Plus many more.
We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
The Trust reserves the right to close this position early if a significant number of applications are received.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for more details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.
Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trust’s eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
7. Current professional nursing registration
8. Degree level or equivalent qualification
9. Evidence of further leadership or management study / or working towards a qualification or relevant experience
10. SCPHN or RSCN or RN Child qualified or SaLt (with demonstrable post grad CYP training) or RN with minimum 3 years experience in leadership role with CYP provision.
Desirable criteria
11. Formal post grad Leadership qualification eg MSc; MBA; Apprentice Level 7; Mary Seacole; QNI Leader etc
Experience
Essential criteria
12. Demonstrable Evidence of successful operational management experience in children’s services.
13. Experience of working with complex and/or vulnerable children.
14. Experience of working in partnership with other organisations/services.
15. Experience of negotiating, influencing and resolving conflict within teams and across organisational boundaries.
16. Experience in the management of staff within performance frameworks and the management of teams as per performance requirements.
Desirable criteria
17. Experience of interagency funding arrangements and the commissioning of services from different sources i.e. Public Health, NHS England, ICB.
18. Experience of operationally managing and leading Health Visiting, School Nursing or Vaccination Services.
19. Experience of compassionate leadership models, restorative supervision, reciprocal mentoring and or critical incident stress de-briefing
Knowledge
Essential criteria
20. In depth understanding of safeguarding children, adults and SEND policies, frameworks and national requirements Understanding of today’s priorities and challenges within the NHS and public sector.
21. Proven ability to work successfully initiating change and identifying areas for collaborative working.
22. Proven track record of service changes at strategic and operational level.
23. Knowledge of policy and strategic objectives and business planning cycles.
Desirable criteria
24. Specific knowledge around the children’s wider strategic agenda within Bradford including Council, Children’s Trust, Public Health, ICB.
Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidates best interest to apply as soon as possible.
In view of Home Office Immigration Regulations all applicants must state their current immigration status, including expiry dates.
Bradford District Care Trust is an award-winning Trust that provides a range of innovative services that have been recognised as best practice nationally. As a provider of care for people of all ages who have mental and/or community health needs we are dedicated to providing a high-quality service, close to where people live and as much as possible tailored to an individual’s needs.
The Trust’s purpose is to create connected communities and help people to feel as healthy as they can be at every point in their lives and our vision is to connect people to the best quality care, when and where they need it and be a national role model as an employer and provide our staff with the best place to work.
Bradford has been awarded the coveted status of UK City of Culture 2025. The year is set to deliver more than 1000 new performances and events including 365 artist commissions, a series of major arts festivals as well as exciting national and international collaborations. Its themes will be rooted in the unique heritage and character of Bradford and will reveal the magic of the district that is held in its people, its ambition, and above all, its potential.
We would welcome applicants with lived experience of providing unpaid care and/or support to a family member or friend with a disability, health condition, frailty, mental health problem, addiction or other health and care needs.
We welcome people from all backgrounds and in particular Bradford District Care Trust is keen to reflect the population we serve, we are currently underrepresented in terms of black and minority ethnic staff. Applications are encouraged from these groups, but it must be stressed that selection will be solely on merit and in accordance with the Trust recruitment policy.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.