Job summary

We are seeking an experienced, compassionate and highly credible senior nursing leader to join our Nursing and Allied Health Professional leadership team as Associate Director of Nursing for Mental Health, Learning Disabilities.

This is a key professional leadership role within Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CFT), providing strategic, professional and operational nursing leadership for Mental Health and Learning Disability services, alongside strategic safeguarding leadership, assurance and oversight across both CFT and Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT).

Working closely with the Chief Nursing Officer and Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals, the postholder will provide visible and influential leadership across quality, patient safety, professional practice, workforce development, safeguarding, improvement and research. They will champion high standards of safe, effective and person-centred care, ensuring that the voices of people who use our services, their families and carers are central to how services develop.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence professional practice and service development across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, working collaboratively with clinical and operational leaders, system partners, education providers and the voluntary sector to improve outcomes for our communities.

Main duties of the job

• Provide strategic and professional nursing leadership for MentalHealth and Learning Disability services, ensuring high standards of clinical practice, quality, safety and patient experience.
• Hold professional responsibility for Mental Health and Learning Disability services and specialtyConsultant Practitioners across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
• Provide strategicsafeguarding leadership, assurance and oversight across CFT and RCHT, ensuring both organisations meet their statutory safeguarding responsibilities for children and adults.Provide line management and professional leadership to the Head of Safeguarding, supporting robust safeguarding governance, escalation and partnership working.
• Provide expert professional advice and assurance to senior leaders and governance forums on nursing practice, safeguarding, quality, safety and professional standards.Lead and influence the development of a skilled, compassionate, inclusive and sustainable nursing and clinical workforce, supporting professional development, recruitment, retention and succession planning.
• Promote evidence-based practice, research, innovation and quality improvement, translating learning into improvements in clinical outcomes and experience.
• Strengthen the involvement of people who use services, families and carers in the design, delivery and improvement of care.

About us

We're an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people's physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 5,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 10 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increase the numbers of people who use out services.

Details

Date posted

08 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£94,356 to £108,814 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

201-26-906

Job locations

Carew house

Dunmere Road

Bodmin

PL31 2QN

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see supporting documents.

Job description Job responsibilities To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see supporting documents.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

• Registered mental health nurse
• Doctorate level qualification or Masters level qualification combined with demonstrable post grad training and experience
• In depth mental health practice experience in a senior role

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of the key national and policy initiatives and drivers relating to the services for people with mental health needs, learning disabilities and those who are cared for in secure 1provision'
• Ability to cope with highly complex clinical or management issues when working with competing agendas and opinions and where judgment and decision making maybe required

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of strong clinical leadership resulting in high clinical standards
• Evidence of working across organisational boundaries and developing productive partnership arrangements

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Excellent planning/ organisational skills with the ability to work under pressure with competing and ambitious deadlines.
• Ability to write sub/ board level assurance reports and ability to summarise key risks and mitigations based on analytical review of the evidence.

Person Specification Education and qualifications Essential Registered mental health nurse Doctorate level qualification or Masters level qualification combined with demonstrable post grad training and experience In depth mental health practice experience in a senior role Skills and Knowledge Essential Knowledge and understanding of the key national and policy initiatives and drivers relating to the services for people with mental health needs, learning disabilities and those who are cared for in secure 1provision' Ability to cope with highly complex clinical or management issues when working with competing agendas and opinions and where judgment and decision making maybe required Experience Essential Evidence of strong clinical leadership resulting in high clinical standards Evidence of working across organisational boundaries and developing productive partnership arrangements Personal Qualities Essential Excellent planning/ organisational skills with the ability to work under pressure with competing and ambitious deadlines. Ability to write sub/ board level assurance reports and ability to summarise key risks and mitigations based on analytical review of the evidence.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Carew house

Dunmere Road

Bodmin

PL31 2QN

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.cornwallft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Carew house

Dunmere Road

Bodmin

PL31 2QN

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.cornwallft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)