East London NHS Foundation Trust
Operational Lead
The closing date is 19 July 2026

Job summary
The Operational Lead for the front door will lead the operational management of the Cityand Hackney Front Door, whilst working pro-actively with the Service Manager to ensure safe and effective implementation of service developments relevant to the team.

You will be responsible for the safe and effective management all operations in the team.be responsible for overseeing the management of the urgent and non-urgent assessment service including the walk in service and supporting the transition to the four quadrant mental health teams. The post holder will work closely with clinical and operational leads in the front door service This leadership role is one of five operational managers in the community in City and hackney and will need to work closely with their operational counterparts in the quadrant teams, and in the Crisis Pathway which includes psychiatric liaison and Home Treatment. You will be required to work closely with the Crisis Pathway Lead to develop the team in line with commissioner requirements and Trust objectives, consulting all key stakeholders, and positively reinforcing the expectations of the organisation through collaborative and dynamic management and leadership that is both supportive and encouraging in nature to enable the team to adapt to key changes smoothly.

Main duties of the job
Working in close partnership, encourage and maintain effective communication links with City and Hackney inpatient and community areas in order to promote good working relationships and continuity of quality clinical care.

To forge and maintain working relationships to ensure national and local models are adhered to. Ensuring structures exist for all new referrals into the service.

Supervise input for clients in crisis and routine assessments and ensure that relevant information is provided to all staff in order to maintain safe levels of practice.

Ensure that care is planned within the multi-disciplinary team, delivered to a high standard and evaluated regularly.

To work closely with other Team Managers in providing a comprehensive, Borough wide service.

To work closely with staff from the Crisis Pathway and community services in the development and delivery of services.

Provide leadership, working in partnership across service interfaces. Co-ordinate service development in order to ensure an effective multi-disciplinary service.

To play a key role across the service in promoting the Crisis Pathway and access to community services

About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Details
Date posted: 07 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £66,274 to £73,496 a year per annum Inc HCA
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 363-CH7956311
Job locations: The Raybould Centre, City & Hackney Centre for Mental Health, Homerton Hospital, Homerton, E9 6AT, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
The Operational Lead for the front door will lead the operational management of the Cityand Hackney Front Door, whilst working pro-actively with the Service Manager to ensure safe and effective implementation of service developments relevant to the team.

You will be responsible for the safe and effective management all operations in the team.be responsible for overseeing the management of the urgent and non-urgent assessment service including the walk in service and supporting the transition to the four quadrant mental health teams. The post holder will work closely with clinical and operational leads in the front door service This leadership role is one of five operational managers in the community in City and hackney and will need to work closely with their operational counterparts in the quadrant teams, and in the Crisis Pathway which includes psychiatric liaison and Home Treatment. You will be required to work closely with the Crisis Pathway Lead to develop the team in line with commissioner requirements and Trust objectives, consulting all key stakeholders, and positively reinforcing the expectations of the organisation through collaborative and dynamic management and leadership that is both supportive and encouraging in nature to enable the team to adapt to key changes smoothly.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Professional in either Mental Health Nursing, Social Work, Psychology or Occupational therapy with current registration with RMN NMC, HCPC or equivalent
• Evidence of post registration continue professional development, qualifications or equivalent experience
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Non-clinical professional applications would be considered if candidates had the appropriate operational/management qualification and operational management experience

Desirable

• Diploma in Management studies or equivalent
• BIA assessor oAMHP
• Educated to Masters level or equivalent
• Practice Educator or mentor

Experience
Essential

• Previous experience of managing a group of clinical staff
• Previous experience of organisational change
• Previous experience of service development, quality improvement and of bringing innovation and new ideas to practice
• Previous experience of working within the NHS and with senior allied professionals, internal and external stake holders

Skills
Essential

• Computer literacy
• Excellent organisational skills - able to prioritise own work and manage own time.
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills and the ability to meet tight timelines
• Excellent skills of conflict resolution, negotiation and facilitation
• Anticipates and takes action in order to create and seize opportunities to avoid crises taking an overview of complex situations to generate new perspectives - 'thinks outside the box' identifies and implements quick wins where possible
• Acts upon service user and carer feedback and information to improve the way things are done taking personal responsibility for resolving
• Ability to build relationships and negotiate satisfactory outcomes with internal and external Stakeholders.
• Ability to concentrate for long periods of time, manage frequent interruptions, readjust and prioritise work load according to the needs of the service.

KNOWLEDGE
Essential

• Very good knowledge of current and relevant local and national agendas that impact upon community mental health services and the wider health and social care system and the ability to understand and disseminate this knowledge to others
• Sound knowledge and understanding of the Mental Health Act (1983/ 2007/ 2014/5), Care Act (2014), relevant national standards, No Health without Mental Health (2011), PLAN Standards (2017), Crisis Concordat (2014), Achieving better access to 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Mental Health care (2016), and other relevant national and local policies and best practice guidance
• Sound knowledge and understanding of recovery principles and NICE guidance in relation to mental health and the ability to ensure that evidence based practice with clear clinical outcomes is embedded into practice

Personal Attributes
Essential

• Self aware demonstrating a consistent inclusive leadership style focused on achieving the best results and overcoming obstacles
• Takes action to enable teams to achieve maximum contribution, communicates vision, direction, and outcomes clearly, motivating others to achieve
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team and able to both/influence and work across professional boundaries
• Takes specific action to improve team or individual performance intervening promptly and constructively to support
• Ability to communicate positive expectations of the organisation to teams in a enabling and supportive manner
• Ability to remain calm under pressure, motivate others and be flexible and adaptable to change
• Ability to manage emotional or distressing circumstances in a calm, compassionate and professional manner, that promotes confidence in others in your ability to manage the situation effectively
• Demonstrates they care and values others, able to acknowledge and reward good work, celebrating team and individual success
• Develop team spirit and inclusivity and respect for each other

Employer details
Employer name: East London NHS Foundation Trust
Address: The Raybould Centre, City & Hackney Centre for Mental Health, Homerton Hospital, Homerton, E9 6AT, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
City and Hackney Interim Crisis Pathway Lead, Derek Miller, derek.miller1@nhs.net, 07932737280

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.
Certificate of Sponsorship: 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.
UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.