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Job requirements
Requirements from the employer’s person specification. These describe the role, not your personal match.
Essential
24 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Other
Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and neuro-affirming practice
- Other
Ability to travel across Buckinghamshire and surrounding localities as required by the role
- Experience
Significant post-registration experience working with children and young people with mental health and/or neurodevelopmental needs
- Experience
Experience of providing clinical supervision, mentorship or leadership to colleagues
- Experience
Experience of multidisciplinary and multi-agency working across health, education and social care
- Experience
Experience of complex assessment, formulation, risk management and clinical decision-making
- Experience
Experience contributing to service improvement, audit, quality assurance or governance activities
- Knowledge and skills
Sound knowledge of neurodevelopmental conditions, including Autism and ADHD
- Knowledge and skills
Understanding of neuro-affirming, child-centred and evidence-based practice
- Knowledge and skills
Ability to undertake specialist assessments and contribute to formulation-led care planning
- Knowledge and skills
Strong clinical risk assessment and risk management skills
- Knowledge and skills
Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions and manage clinical complexity
- Knowledge and skills
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to children, families and professionals
- Knowledge and skills
Ability to lead, motivate and support staff through change and service pressures
- Knowledge and skills
Understanding of clinical governance, safeguarding, quality improvement and performance management processes
- Knowledge and skills
Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities effectively
- Leadership and Management
Experience supporting staff development through supervision, coaching or leadership
- Leadership and Management
Ability to promote a positive, inclusive and psychologically safe team culture
- Leadership and Management
Ability to contribute to workforce planning, recruitment and staff development
- Leadership and Management
Demonstrates values-based, compassionate leadership and professional integrity
- Training and Qualifications
Registered Mental Health Nurse, Learning Disability Nurse, Paediatric Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Speech and Language Therapist, Social Worker or other relevant registered professional qualification
- Training and Qualifications
Current registration with relevant professional body (NMC, HCPC, Social Work England or equivalent)
- Training and Qualifications
Evidence of continuing professional development and maintenance of professional registration
- Training and Qualifications
Degree-level professional qualification or equivalent experience
Desirable
17 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Other
Lived experience of neurodiversity
- Experience
Experience working within a dedicated Neurodevelopmental Assessment Service or ADHD pathway
- Experience
Experience of line management and appraisal responsibilities
- Experience
Experience working within CAMHS community services
- Experience
Experience supporting ADHD medication pathways
- Experience
Experience leading service development or pathway redesign initiatives
- Knowledge and skills
Advanced knowledge of neurodevelopmental assessment frameworks and NICE guidance
- Knowledge and skills
Direct experience of conducting neurodevelopmental assessments
- Knowledge and skills
Knowledge of ADHD medication monitoring and governance requirements
- Knowledge and skills
Experience interpreting performance and activity data
- Knowledge and skills
Experience presenting information to senior leaders or external agencies
- Leadership and Management
Formal leadership experience within CAMHS or neurodevelopmental services
- Leadership and Management
Experience managing performance, attendance or capability processes
- Training and Qualifications
Master's degree in a relevant clinical, leadership or management discipline
- Training and Qualifications
Leadership or management qualification
- Training and Qualifications
ADOS trained and/or additional neurodevelopmental assessment training
- Training and Qualifications
Teaching, supervision or mentoring qualification
Job overview
Do you want to take a step up into leadership in a clinical setting supporting young people with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental challenges?
We are looking for a Deputy Operational Lead to join our Aylesbury based team on a. You will be joining a busy service of committed and welcoming people who strive to offer a high-quality service. You should be a motivated individual who is confident to support the operational lead in maintaining the high standards.
Both teams have recently undergone significant redesign which has included a change in processes and recruitment, they have met this challenge with enthusiasm and a focus on quality and commitment to enabling best outcomes for the families in Bucks. The team strive to be neuro-affirming and embrace the role they undertake using a strength based approach.
You should have a background of being a social worker, mental health nurse, OT or SALT professional ideally having worked with children and young people.
This could be your first step into a leadership position in a clinical setting or continuing to build and hone your skillsets in a slightly different environment.
Main duties of the job
- Support the Operational Lead in managing and developing the Buckinghamshire Neurodevelopmental Assessment and ADHD Pathway, including clinical structures, staff recruitment, and service implementation.
- Deputise for the Operational Lead as needed, ensuring the delivery of high-quality community mental health care packages.
- Line manage, supervise, and appraise team colleagues, contributing to the development and implementation of a robust performance management system.
- Collaborate with team leaders and managers to enhance community mental health service provision across the wider service.
- Ensure effective joint working with statutory and voluntary agencies to deliver responsive and appropriate services to users and carers.
The ability to travel independently between sites within the Trust is essential for this role.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the “supporting statement” element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.
The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.
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.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Deputy Operational Lead with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust in Oxford, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Operations manager role. The advertised salary is £49,387 - £56,515 per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 10 Sep 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (28 Aug 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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