We are seeking an experienced and motivated senior leader to take on the pivotal role of Head of Service, Locality Therapy and Nursing Services. This role provides strategic and operational leadership across community pathways, ensuring high‑quality, safe, effective and person‑centred care for adults and older adults.
You will work in partnership with system partners across health, social care and the VCSE sector, shaping the future of community service provision and driving improvement aligned with local, regional and national priorities.
What we’re looking for
- Substantial experience managing community nursing and therapy services.
- Proven ability to lead complex change and improvement programmes.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to work collaboratively across systems.
- Commitment to improving patient outcomes, safety, experience and reducing health inequalities.
- Ability to work in a dynamic, challenging environment with competing priorities.
Applicants must have a full valid driving licence and have access to a vehicle for work. Adjustments can be considered in line with the Equality Act 2010 where required.
Interviews will be held on the 23rd June at Abingdon Community Hospital.
Operational & Strategic Leadership — Maintain firm oversight of community pathways, leading service development, transformation and improvement initiatives.
Quality, Safety & Governance — Provide leadership across all aspects of clinical and operational governance, ensuring compliance with national standards and embedding a culture of openness, learning and continuous improvement.
Performance & Financial Management — Lead delivery of performance targets, manage budgets, and ensure financial sustainability, including delivery of CIPs.
Workforce Leadership — Line‑manage senior clinical and managerial leaders, promote staff wellbeing, and champion inclusive, compassionate leadership.
Partnership Working — Build strong relationships with system partners, representing the Trust at local and regional forums and influencing strategic direction.
Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the “candidate guide to making an application” and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.
As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast 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”
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 apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
As part of the Senior Management Team (SMT) the Head of Service is responsible for contributing significantly to overall Directorate strategy/policy to ensure that the Directorate delivers its quality, quality improvement, people, finance and performance objectives.
As part of a ‘matrix’ style organisation structure the Head of Service is also responsible for working highly collaboratively with ‘horizontal’ leads from across the Directorate and the broader Trust. This includes clinical and non-clinical professional leads such as medical, nursing, therapies, social work, psychology, learning disabilities, finance, HR, IM&T, estates, emergency planning etc. The role will have close external partnership working and is required to represent the Trust in a professional collaborative manner at all times.
As a very senior leader in the organisation the post holder is expected to role model exemplary personal and leadership qualities at all times.
This role may involve working unsocial hours during evenings and at weekends as well as working in hours as service need dictates to attend Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust meetings as required.
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.
