Job requirements
Essential
9 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Knowledge
Comprehensive understanding of the national policy, legislative and regulatory environment affecting mental health, children and young people, learning disability and specialist services.
- Knowledge
Strong understanding of NHS operational performance, access, waiting-time, quality, safety, workforce and financial requirements
- Experience
Significant senior operational leadership experience in a complex NHS, health or social care environment.
- Experience
Experience of leading a substantial, multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed workforce through senior managers.
- Experience
Experience of managing CAMHS, CYPF, learning disability, adult specialist mental health, or closely related services.
- Experience
Demonstrable responsibility for operational performance, quality, workforce and financial delivery across multiple services or a complex portfolio.
- Experience
Experience of leading major service transformation, redesign or recovery programmes involving multiple professional groups and partner organisations.
- Qualifications
Educated to master's level in a relevant health, social care, management, leadership or related discipline, or equivalent level of knowledge and experience
- Qualifications
Current registration with an appropriate professional body, where applicable to the candidate's professional background.
Desirable
2 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Qualifications
Formal leadership or management qualification at postgraduate level, or equivalent demonstrable senior leadership development.
- Qualifications
Programme, project or change management qualification or equivalent practical expertise.
Job overview
Ready to lead services that change lives?
Join Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to shape high-quality mental health, CAMHS, CYPF, Learning Disability and Adult Specialist Mental Health services across the Black Country.
The Challenge
You will provide strategic and operational leadership across a complex portfolio, with accountability for quality, performance, workforce, finance and service development. Working with clinical leaders, commissioners, local authorities, Integrated Care Boards and partners, you will deliver sustainable improvement and effective models of care.
Main duties of the job
The Impact
You will:
✅ Lead specialist mental health, CAMHS, CYPF and Learning Disability services
✅ Shape strategy and lead transformation across organisational boundaries
✅ Inspire multidisciplinary teams and champion compassionate, inclusive leadership
✅ Improve access, experience and outcomes for patients, families and carers
✅ Deliver strong performance and responsible use of workforce and financial resources
Who We're Looking For
We are seeking an experienced senior NHS, health or social care leader who can combine strategic thinking with strong operational delivery.
You'll bring:
- Senior operational leadership experience in complex NHS, health or social care services
- Knowledge of mental health, CAMHS, CYPF, Learning Disability or related services
- A strong record of service transformation, performance improvement and partnership working
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing workforce and budgets
- Compassionate, inclusive leadership with a commitment to reducing health inequalities and delivering person-centred care
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please take the time to read the FULL attached Job Description and Person Specification for this role.
Vacancy ends 1st July 2027
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Head of Service for CAMHS, CYPF, LD & Adult with Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in Dudley, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Head of service role. The contract type is 9 months (Fixed Term/Secondment ends 1sy July 2027). The application deadline is 28 Oct 2026.
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