Job 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 that 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.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is expected to be kind, responsive and professional, contributing to the quality of the service provided within the community learning disability teams across the health economy by:
- Developing effective and integrated care pathways in partnership with service users, commissioners and key stakeholders, particularly education and social care colleagues.
- Maintaining 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.
- Being responsible for evidencing service quality and productivity through production of reports and data sets, and utilisation of benchmarking data in order to ensure continuous learning and improvement.
- Leading on service improvement and redesign and embedding changes into everyday practice through strong management of professional leads and team managers.
- Providing robust management and leadership to the professional/consultant leads ensuring teams are working in line with professional, organisational and local policies and guidelines.
- Making recommendations and taking actions in order 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.
Working for our organisation
Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’ve got a passion for delivering high standards of patient care and excellent services to improve the health of our communities. To do this we need outstanding people who share our values compassionate Aspirational Responsive Excellent
We know a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion leads to better patient care and a happier workforce. We pride ourselves in being diverse and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences
We ask for information about your protected characteristics on our application forms. This isn’t visible to anyone involved with shortlisting or interviewing you, except when you choose to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme due to disability. Short listers will see two ticks alongside your application to ensure they apply the principles of the scheme to your submission
The data we collect helps us to ensure we are attracting diversity in our applicants, that all our colleagues have equitable access to career opportunities and supports us on our journey to being a Great Place to Work
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want you to be able to work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Talk to us about a flexible working arrangement that won’t involve sacrificing time for personal interests or family commitments. We’ll support you to work flexibly in a way that will suits us both
See where you can go with KCHFT
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please 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.
Job responsibilities
As a community Trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. Where driving is a requirement of the role, you will be asked to confirm that you hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via quoting the vacancy reference number, so we can support you further.
The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.
Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.
We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.
At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.
Find out more about the community difference here.
Good luck! We can’t wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.
It is important to us that all our staff are aligned to our Values and in particular the behaviours we expect from KCHFT managers.
With this in mind 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 that you will invited to. This extended selection process is designed to assess your management style and the specific details of the exercises will be given if you are successfully shortlisted.
The provisional date of the selection event is 05 February 2026, although this may be subject to change.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Degree level qualification in health/social care or equivalent level of relevant experience, with evidence of post graduate training
2. Demonstrable evidence of management qualification or equivalent demonstration of extensive knowledge of the clinical, commissioning and financial environment
3. Current membership of relevant professional organisation/ regulatory body
Experience
Essential criteria
4. Direct NHS experience of delivering care for Adults with LD
5. Demonstratable management experience in the NHS including experience of managing a unit or function, planning monitoring and delivering services
6. Experience of managing service budgets
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
7. Team management and leadership skills
8. Ability to develop and maintain inter-agency and inter-disciplinary links
9. Ability to prioritise and work under pressure motivate and lead staff through change
Knowledge
Essential criteria
10. Current knowledge of child/adult protection procedures
11. Understanding of role of other professionals and partnership working
12. Demonstrate clear vision of patient care and service delivery models
Ability to manage
Essential criteria
13. Desire to develop management skills in a role that requires a sound clinical background, and excellent analytical and reflection skills.
Employer certification / accreditation badges