Head of Vulnerable Adults & Complex PathwaysNHS

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an exceptional leader to join us as Head of Vulnerable Adults and Complex Pathways.

Reporting to the Group Director of Nursing, Medical Care Group, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for vulnerable adults, mental health and complex care pathways across the Trust. Working closely with executive, clinical and operational leaders, you will drive service transformation, support the delivery of the Trust's Mental Health Strategy, and lead the development of innovative, person-centred services that improve quality, safety and patient outcomes.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape services for vulnerable adults and patients with complex needs across Dorset. You'll join a supportive senior leadership team and play a key role in delivering high-quality, compassionate care and improved outcomes for some of our most vulnerable patients.

If you are a strategic, compassionate and values-driven leader, we would welcome your application.

Interview Date: 3rd December 2026

Main duties of the job

• Professional registration (NMC, HCPC, Social Work England or equivalent).
• Master's level qualification or equivalent experience.
• Significant senior leadership experience in healthcare, social care, safeguarding, mental health or complex care services.
• A proven track record of service transformation, quality improvement and partnership working.
• Experience of operational, workforce and financial management.
• Excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills.

The post holder is expected to lead the strategic direction and policy setting for vulnerable adults, incorporating mental health services within UHD, forming an essential communications link between the wider nursing, medical, and Allied Health Professionals (AHP) / Health Care Scientists teams and operational teams.The post holder will be based within the Medical Care Group, leading the Mental Health Directorate and will work closely with members of the Care Group Triumvirate teams in all Care Groups (surgery, medicine, and specialities). The role will contribute to the implementation of a patient centred clinical operational strategy for the management and care of patients attending the Trust with Mental Health needs.

Job description

• Providing corporate leadership for Mental Health, strategic oversight of the MCA, and leadership across system partnerships to deliver integrated pathways for vulnerable adults.
• Be accountable for all aspects of service delivery, ensuring care is safe, effective, responsive, and aligned to Trust priorities, CQC standards, and system objectives.
• Provide highly visible, credible, and authoritative clinical leadership for nursing and AHP teams, promoting professional excellence, evidence-based practice, and improved patient outcomes.
• Ensure services are effective, well-coordinated, and responsive to the evolving needs of patients with mental health conditions, driving innovation and continuous quality improvement.
• Lead partnership working across the Integrated Care System (ICS), collaborating with community providers, local authority partners, mental health trusts and the voluntary sector to deliver integrated, person-centred pathways and improve population health outcomes.
• Contribute at place and system level to shared strategic priorities, ensuring seamless pathways and patient flow across acute, community, and mental health services.
• Provide senior leadership for safeguarding and MCA practice, ensuring robust systems, compliance with legislation, and assurance to the Trust Board and external regulators.

About us

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.