Operations Manager (Experts at Hand) – CFHD

Reference number C9369-26-0586 | Fixed term for 1 year | Full-time, flexible working

About the role

CFHD is recruiting a Band 8a Locality Lead to support the 12-month rollout of Experts at Hand across the South Devon pilot site. This role will support the delivery of the Experts at Hand offer across Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) in partnership with Devon County Council. The post holder will share responsibility for the mobilisation and locality leadership of a designated service area, coordinating support across CFHD and Devon County Council.

The role will focus on supporting the delivery of Experts at Hand and coordinating support with schools, helping to manage the resource and input of Speech and Language Therapy (SALT), Occupational Therapy (OT), Specialist Teachers, and Educational Psychologists.

The Experts at Hand health offer includes specialist Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) provided through CFHD, alongside Educational Psychologists and Specialist Teachers provided through the local authority. This role will support the coordination of these services through advice, consultation, strategy modelling, training, and targeted interventions, delivered in partnership with clinical leads across the specialities.

The local authority offer provides specialist teaching and educational psychology support. Health and local authority services work closely together to promote a whole-school approach and deliver support into schools, strengthening SEND provision for children, families, and educational communities.

The post holder will require a strong understanding of SEND and education, alongside a commitment to collaborative working and enthusiasm for developing this new service in partnership with the local authority. The successful candidate will work closely with schools to support and coordinate the rollout of the South Devon pilot site across Devon County Council and CFHD.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate specialist Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) services through advice, consultation, strategy modelling, training, and targeted interventions.
• Support the mobilisation and locality leadership of a designated service area in partnership with Devon County Council.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with multi-agency colleagues, including schools, to deliver a whole-school approach for SEND provision.
• Manage the resource and input of SALT, OT, Specialist Teachers, and Educational Psychologists.
• Lead and coordinate the rollout of the South Devon pilot site for Experts at Hand.
• Provide clinical supervision and manage staff, including complex employee relations cases.
• Analyse and present complex data at a strategic level.
• Manage budgets effectively.

Requirements

Knowledge

• Proven comprehensive understanding of the Mental Health Act and mental health presentations in children/young people across the age range.
• Proven comprehensive understanding of complex mental health issues and Early Intervention and Preventative practice.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and developments in the field of preventative early intervention in children’s mental health, including evidence-based practice.
• Understanding of CYP-IAPT principles and application to practice.

Qualifications

• Professional clinical knowledge acquired through a degree supplemented by a postgraduate diploma, specialist training, management qualification, or equivalent experience.
• A professional qualification relevant to children’s healthcare (such as Social Work, Nursing, Clinical Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Psychological Therapy Qualification, Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy).
• Professional registration/accreditation with a recognised body (e.g., NMC, HCPC, Social Work England, UKCP, BABCP).

Experience

• Experience and understanding of working with education providers, including awareness of pressures in the school environment.
• Proven experience of building and maintaining effective relationships with multi-agency colleagues who may hold different perspectives and priorities.
• Extensive experience of managing a busy caseload of clients with a range of complex needs.
• Substantial experience of working at a senior management level.
• Extensive experience of providing clinical supervision and managing staff, including complex employee relations cases.
• Experience in budget management.
• Extensive experience of leading a clinical team.
• Experience of analysing and presenting complex data at a strategic level.

About Us

At Children and Family Health Devon, we are dedicated to improving the physical and mental health of children and young people across Devon and Torbay. We aim to create an environment where children and young people can thrive and are committed to reducing health inequalities and providing specialised support, empowering them to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

Our children and young people say: We would like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to be understanding, patient, and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make us feel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills and experience to listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way. When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment that is informal and without pressure.

Who We Are: We are an alliance of NHS organisations led by Devon Partnership Trust. We are a group of professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, and many other professions.

Location

Join us in beautiful Devon. With access to moors, sea, and cities, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the region. Whether you enjoy spending time in the cultural hub of Exeter, exploring the Jurassic coastline, or discovering the world surfing reserve in North Devon, there really is something for everyone.

Job location: Children & Family Health, Lescaze Offices, Shinners Bridge, Dartington, TOTNES, Devon, TQ9 6JD, United Kingdom.

Pay

Band 8a on the Agenda for Change pay scheme, with a salary range of £57,528 to £64,750 a year pro rata.