Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Go back Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 06 August 2026

Following the successful recruitment of the Deputy Chief Operating Officer to the permanent Chief Operating Officer role, Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to offer an exciting 9-month secondment / fixed term opportunity.

We are seeking an exceptional, values-led Deputy Chief Operating Officer to provide senior operational leadership across Mental Health, Learning Disabilities, CAMHS and Children's operational services.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the post holder will play a pivotal role in the strategic and operational delivery of safe, high-quality and effective clinical services across the Trust. The role is central to operational performance, service improvement, financial management, workforce planning and delivery against key regulatory and performance standards.

The post holder will deputise for the Chief Operating Officer at board level and gain valuable experience for candidates aspiring to an executive director role.

This will require a highly motivated, strategic thinking, innovative and experienced senior manager with evidence of a successful track record of achieving results and delivering against challenging performance targets in a senior leadership role in an NHS Trust.

The post holder will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer and work closely with other Executive directors and their teams. They will also provide support and guidance leadership to deliver on Trust objectives and ensure the effective day to day running of the Trust.

The Deputy Chief Operating Officer will lead on the delivery of key national constitutional standards and assist the Chief Operating Officer in driving improvements in performance, they will also lead transformation programmes as identified by the Chief Operating Officer, working closely with the clinical divisions, corporate teams and external stakeholders.

You must be able to lead by example, motivate and empower teams to ensure consistently high standards, with a focus on compassionate and inclusive leadership. You must also have the ability to rapidly gain insight into services and drive improvement where opportunities arise. Your values will be aligned to our Trust core values and you will demonstrate honesty and professional integrity.

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country. Across the whole of the region, we provide:

Adult and older adult mental health services

Specialist learning disability services

CAMHS

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2020, after NHS England and NHS Improvement approved the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

Combining resources, strategies and talented workforce enables us to deliver a wider variety of outstanding services that are based on best practice and are continually improving.

As a public body, we are accountable to the people we serve. The Trust Board is responsible for determining the strategy and overall direction of the Trust in an open, honest, and transparent manner.

Provide senior managerial and leadership support to the Chief Operating Officer.

Lead operational performance and delivery of services across the Trusts divisions.

Ensure divisional service improvement, finance and workforce plans are developed, monitored and delivered against agreed performance criteria.

Support compliance with required performance measures, including CQC improvement and robust financial management.

Promote safe, high-quality services and a positive staff and patient experience.

Lead and embed effective governance, risk management and regulatory compliance across operational services.

Develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders across the local health and social care system.

Support service transformation, revised pathways and new models of care aligned to…