Important Visa Information
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to offer a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role. However, all applicants requiring sponsorship must verify their eligibility with the employer before applying. The Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. If you require sponsorship to work in the UK, please contact the employer directly to confirm your eligibility and discuss the sponsorship process.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced, visionary leader to join our Trust as Head of Operations for Adult Mental Health. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering high-quality care for adults across our inpatient and community services. The postholder will support the Deputy Director to deliver the Trust’s operational plan and strategic framework.
Job Details
Company: Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust
Job Title: Head of Operations Mental Health
Location: Lynfield Mount Hospital, Heights Lane, Daisy Hill, Bradford, BD9 6DP
Salary: £76,965 to £88,682 per annum
Working Pattern: Full-time
Contract Type: Permanent
Reference Number: 453-25-7553622
Application Deadline: 9th November 2025
Shortlisting Date: 10th November 2025
Interview Date: 21st November 2025
About the Organisation
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is dedicated to providing high-quality mental health and learning disability services. Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: We Care – We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference. We Listen – We understand people’s views and respond to their individual needs. We Deliver – We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners.
We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including increased mileage rates for those covering over 3,500 miles, a wide range of health and wellbeing support packages, and a range of internal and external development and learning opportunities.
We are proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Deputy Director of Operations and working closely with senior clinical and operational leaders, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across the adult mental health pathway including:
- Adult Mental Health Inpatient Services including acute, PICU and adult secure
- Acute Community Services including Psychiatric Liaison, First Response and Intensive Home Based Treatment
- Community Mental Health Services including CMHT, IOT, EIP, Peri-natal and IPS
Person Specification – Qualifications
Essential:
- Relevant health or social care post graduate professional qualification
- Masters Level or equivalent experience
- Appropriate management and professional qualification or equivalent experience
Desirable:
- Project management qualification or equivalent experience
Person Specification – Experience
Essential:
- Significant experience of operational service management at a senior level in community or inpatient services
- Experience of leading the provision of clinical services
- Experience of managing service budgets, contributing to strategic and operational business plans linked to a financial strategy
Desirable:
- Specific operational experience in mental health and learning disability inpatient and services
Additional Requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.
Certificate of Sponsorship Information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.
Right to Work in the UK
Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.
As a condition of continuous employment, it is essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please visit the NHS Jobs website and complete the online application form. We recommend international applicants take the following steps:
- Verify your eligibility for sponsorship with the employer before submitting your application
- Prepare your professional qualifications and certifications for upload
- Ensure you have a current CV highlighting your relevant experience
- Prepare a cover letter explaining your interest in this role and how your skills align with our requirements
- Contact the recruitment team if you have any questions about the sponsorship process
For questions about the job, please contact Alix Jeavons (Deputy Director of Operations) at alix.jeavons@bdct.nhs.uk.
Contact Information
For questions about the job, contact:
Name: Alix Jeavons
Job Title: Deputy Director of Operations
Email: alix.jeavons@bdct.nhs.uk
Phone: Not provided
Employer Information
Employer Name: Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Lynfield Mount Hospital, Heights Lane, Daisy Hill, Bradford, BD9 6DP
Employer Website: https://www.bdct.nhs.uk/current-vacancies/
Privacy Notice: Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust’s privacy notice
Equal Opportunities
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and experienced candidates regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and hold a range of accreditations including Age Positive, Apprenticeships, CQC Good, Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver, Living Wage Employer, and MINDFUL employer.
Supporting Documents
Please ensure you upload all relevant supporting documents with your application, including your CV, covering letter, and copies of your professional qualifications. The full job description and person specification are available to download with the application form.
Further Information
The Trust reserves the right to close this position early if a significant number of applications are received. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible.
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees can reach their full potential. We welcome applications from candidates who share our values and are passionate about making a difference in mental health services.
Relocation Support
While this post includes sponsorship for eligible candidates, we encourage all international applicants to thoroughly research relocation to Bradford and the surrounding area. Bradford offers a rich cultural heritage, excellent transport links to major cities including Manchester and Leeds, and a lower cost of living compared to many other UK cities.
We understand that relocating to a new country can be challenging, and we are committed to supporting our international employees throughout the transition process. Our HR team can provide information on local housing, schools, and community resources to help you and your family settle into your new life in the UK.