MHST Band 7 Operational Lead

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Operational Lead to join our Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) leadership team.

Working alongside the existing Operational Lead and reporting to the Service Manager, you will provide operational leadership across the MHST service, supporting the delivery of high-quality mental health services for children and young people across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.

This is a demanding and rewarding senior operational leadership role within a busy and evolving service. We are looking for an experienced operational manager who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is confident making autonomous decisions, and can effectively balance multiple competing priorities. This is not a developmental opportunity. The successful candidate will be expected to make an immediate contribution to the service and should already have substantial operational management experience within the NHS or a comparable healthcare environment.

This is a full-time post (37.5 hours per week), working Monday to Friday, 9.00am5.00pm. A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes are essential.

Informal Enquiries Surekha Joshi Service Manager surekhaben.joshi@nhs.net or Gemma Billson Operational Lead gemma.billson@nhs.net

For further information, please refer to the attached Job Description, Person Specification and additional information for candidates.

Main duties of the job

As Operational Lead, you will support the day-to-day operational management of a large, geographically dispersed service, ensuring the safe, effective, and efficient delivery of care.

No two days are the same. Success in this role requires excellent organisational skills, sound judgement, resilience, and the ability to prioritise effectively whilst maintaining high standards of service delivery.

What We're Looking For:

We are seeking an experienced operational leader who can demonstrate: Significant operational management experience within the NHS or a comparable healthcare organisation. Extensive experience of leading and managing staff and multidisciplinary teams from a range of professional backgrounds, disciplines, and skill sets.

Proven experience of performance management, supporting staff wellbeing, leading through change, and developing high-performing teams.

Confidence and experience in managing difficult conversations, addressing performance concerns, resolving conflict constructively and making difficult decisions with compassion, fairness, and integrity.

Personal accountability and resilience, with the confidence to work independently, exercise sound judgement and take ownership of operational decisions.

Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities and adapt to rapidly changing operational demands

About us

We may close the advert early, if we receive a sufficient number of applicants, so please apply as soon as possible.

About Us:

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) provides a range of community health, mental health and learning disability services for people of all ages. Delivered through over 100 settings from inpatient wards to out in the community, our 6,500 staff serve over 1 million people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

We aim to develop a workforce that reflects our community. We actively implement equal opportunities in employment and service delivery and seek people who share our commitment.

We strongly encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly from underrepresented groups. Details of our benefits, leadership behaviours and other important information can be found in the Information for Applicants, please view the supporting documents.

We will consider requests to work alternative hours or varied working patterns in line with our flexible working policy. For all substantive roles, new staff (excluding medical staff) are appointed subject to a 6-month probationary period (see Probation Policy).

All jobs will require permission to work in the UK. For all jobs the cost of any DBS disclosure required will be met by the individual. This will be deducted from salary once started.

Applicants at risk within the local NHS who meet essential criteria will have preference for interview.

Details

• Date posted: 17 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 7
• Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 006839
• Job locations: County Hall, Penn Lloyd Building,, Glenfield,Leicester, LE3 8TB, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE3 8TB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

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