Job summary
- Main area
- CAMHS
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 267-BM8233772
- Employer
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Sue Nicholls Center
- Town
- Aylesbury
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/09/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Deputy Operational Lead
Band 7
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has been rated as Good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
We are a responsive and innovative Foundation Trust that places our values of Caring, Safe and Excellent at the heart of everything we do. We take great pride in our staff and believe that investing in you is key to us achieving our vision of outstanding care delivered by outstanding people.
We work with a wide range of partner organisations to deliver care and support to people in their own homes and from a number of hospitals and community bases. We focus on delivering care as close to home as possible for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.
We actively support anti-racism, equality, diversity, and inclusion so, if you’re excited about this job opportunity and you meet our Trust values, but feel unsure about applying, then please get in touch and we will be happy to have a conversation with you.
We are also committed to increasing diversity in the workforce, that is why we actively encourage applications from those groups of people who are currently under-represented, which include amongst others: people with disabilities; men from all socio-economic backgrounds; people from diverse ethnic backgrounds; and people from the LGBTQIA+ community.
Good luck and we hope to hear from you.
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.
Working for our organisation
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.
Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible
Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”
Our values are: “Caring, safe and excellent”
At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
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.
Person specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Registered Mental Health Nurse, Learning Disability Nurse, Paediatric Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Speech and Language Therapist, Social Worker or other relevant registered professional qualification
- Current registration with relevant professional body (NMC, HCPC, Social Work England or equivalent)
- Evidence of continuing professional development and maintenance of professional registration
- Degree-level professional qualification or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
- Master's degree in a relevant clinical, leadership or management discipline
- Leadership or management qualification
- ADOS trained and/or additional neurodevelopmental assessment training
- Teaching, supervision or mentoring qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant post-registration experience working with children and young people with mental health and/or neurodevelopmental needs
- Experience of providing clinical supervision, mentorship or leadership to colleagues
- Experience of multidisciplinary and multi-agency working across health, education and social care
- Experience of complex assessment, formulation, risk management and clinical decision-making
- Experience contributing to service improvement, audit, quality assurance or governance activities
Desirable criteria
- Experience working within a dedicated Neurodevelopmental Assessment Service or ADHD pathway
- Experience of line management and appraisal responsibilities
- Experience working within CAMHS community services
- Experience supporting ADHD medication pathways
- Experience leading service development or pathway redesign initiatives
Knowledge and skills
Essential criteria
- Sound knowledge of neurodevelopmental conditions, including Autism and ADHD
- Understanding of neuro-affirming, child-centred and evidence-based practice
- Ability to undertake specialist assessments and contribute to formulation-led care planning
- Strong clinical risk assessment and risk management skills
- Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions and manage clinical complexity
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to children, families and professionals
- Ability to lead, motivate and support staff through change and service pressures
- Understanding of clinical governance, safeguarding, quality improvement and performance management processes
- Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities effectively
Desirable criteria
- Advanced knowledge of neurodevelopmental assessment frameworks and NICE guidance
- Direct experience of conducting neurodevelopmental assessments
- Knowledge of ADHD medication monitoring and governance requirements
- Experience interpreting performance and activity data
- Experience presenting information to senior leaders or external agencies
Leadership and Management
Essential criteria
- Experience supporting staff development through supervision, coaching or leadership
- Ability to promote a positive, inclusive and psychologically safe team culture
- Ability to contribute to workforce planning, recruitment and staff development
- Demonstrates values-based, compassionate leadership and professional integrity
Desirable criteria
- Formal leadership experience within CAMHS or neurodevelopmental services
- Experience managing performance, attendance or capability processes
Other
Essential criteria
- Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and neuro-affirming practice
- Ability to travel across Buckinghamshire and surrounding localities as required by the role
Desirable criteria
- Lived experience of neurodiversity
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Natasha Maber
- Job title
- Operational Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07557166134
- Additional information
At Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust we want to employ people not just with experience, but with the aptitude and motivation to succeed and whose values resonate with our own.
Therefore, if you don’t meet all the requirements of the role and are unsure about applying but are excited about the opportunity, please do get in touch. We will be happy to discuss the requirements in more detail ahead of making a written application.
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