Trac proudly powers the recruitment for
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust
About
We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.
From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.
We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.
We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.
We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.
Contact
- Address
- Trust Headquarters
- West Park Hospital
- Edward Pease Way
- Darlington
- County Durham
- DL2 2TS
- Contact Number
- 01325 552000
Chief Operating Officer
Accepting applications until: 19-Oct-2026 23:59
Vacancy status: Open
Accepting applications until: 19-Oct-2026 23:59
Key details
Location
- Gwefan
- West Park Hospital
- Cyfeiriad
- Edward Pease Way
- Tref
- Darlington
- Cod post
- DL2 2TS
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Oriau
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Salary
- Cyflog
- £100,000 - £200,000 per annum
- Cyfnod cyflog
- Yearly
- Gradd
- (Executives / VSM: Executives / VSM)
Specialty
- Prif leoliad
- Chief Operating Officer
We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.
From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.
We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.
We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.
We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.
Trosolwg o'r swydd
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Chief Operating Officer
Location: West Park Hospital, Darlington
Salary: Attractive VSM
As Chief Operating Officer, you will be a voting Executive Director and a key member of the Trust Board and Executive Team. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across our clinical services, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, responsive and sustainable care. You will play a pivotal role in leading operational performance, quality improvement, transformation and recovery, while strengthening partnerships across the wider health and care system. This is a high-profile leadership opportunity at a critical point in the Trust’s journey, requiring a leader who can provide operational grip, pace and assurance whilst inspiring teams to deliver meaningful and lasting improvement.
Advert
We are seeking an accomplished operational leader with substantial experience in large and complex NHS or healthcare organisations. You will bring a successful track record of leading large-scale operational services and managing complex quality, workforce, financial and performance challenges. Experience leading across mental health, learning disability, autism, community services, or similarly complex pathways will be essential, alongside the credibility to influence at Board level and build strong relationships with clinicians, staff, partners and regulators. Above all, you will be a visible, values-led leader with the resilience, compassion and ambition to help deliver outstanding care and outcomes for our patients, carers and communities.
Gweithio i'n sefydliad
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health, learning disability and autism services to more than 2 million people across County Durham, Tees Valley, North Yorkshire and York. Our dedicated staff operate from more than 90 sites, working in partnership with patients, carers, communities and system partners to deliver high-quality care. Whilst we have made significant progress in improving our services, we remain rated ‘Requires Improvement’ by the CQC.
With a new Chair and Chief Executive, a refreshed Board, and a renewed focus on transparency, learning and improvement, we are committed to building a stronger, safer and more compassionate organisation. Guided by Our Journey to Change and our values of Respect, Compassion and Responsibility, we are determined to continue improving outcomes and experiences for the communities we serve.
Swydd-ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl
We want our Board to be as inclusive and diverse as possible, and we are keen to attract candidates who can bring diverse perspectives. We warmly welcome expressions of interest from the widest possible range of backgrounds, particularly those who are under-represented at board level in the NHS.
To learn more about this incredible opportunity, please contact our recruitment partners at Gatenby Sanderson:
Laura Cubillo-Aparicio, Niamh Blair, or Robin Staveley via
We are working in partnership with Gatenby Sanderson to manage the recruitment process for this role. All applications should therefore be submitted directly through Gatenby Sanderson. Please be aware that applications submitted via TRAC will not be considered.
Right to Work in the UK
Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Browse: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.
Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead, subject to role meeting the required conditions.
We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your Right to Work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.
AI in Recruitment
We are aware that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is increasingly being used to generate responses for application forms. Applications for this role should be written by the applicant and if, during shortlisting, a Recruiting Manager believes AI has been used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
Employment History
When completing your application form, please ensure that you include your full employment history, in chronological order with your most recent job/employment at the top. Failure to complete your employment history in full could result in your application being rejected.
Fixed Term Posts/Secondments
If the contract type on the vacancy states 'Fixed Term' this would mean the vacancy is being advertised to address a temporary need for the duration stipulated on the advert, however, in the event that permanent funding is secured for the post the successful applicant will be confirmed in post on a permanent basis.
Internal applicants must ensure that prior to applying they have agreement from their current line manager that they can be released on a secondment basis.
Support with applications
We have computers facilities available in our libraries (Durham, Middlesbrough, and Darlington) to support applicants. If you would like to access to a laptop for your application, please contact the library team to arrange a time to visit, please email: [email protected] . We will always endeavour to make this available however we cannot guarantee that we will be able accommodate this before the vacancy closes.
Trust Welcome Day
Here at Tees, Esk and Wear Valley Foundation NHS Trust, we want you to have a positive experience when you start your new role with us. We run a monthly face to face Trust Welcome Day and where possible, this will be your first day of employment. However, if this date is not possible, you will be required to attend a Trust Welcome Day within 4 weeks of your start date.
Applying for this post
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from individuals who have experience of mental ill health or learning disabilities. Our service users and carers tell us our staff should be consistently concerned with maintaining and improving care with pride, empathy and compassion.
This job advert may close early if a high volume of applications have been received. If interested, please apply for this post as soon as possible.
In order for your application to be successfully processed we will require references from your current and previous employer(s) which must cover a minimum period of three years. Please ensure that the reference section of your application is completed appropriately giving the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current and previous line manager(s). If this section is not fully completed your application may not be processed.
If your application is successful, the information you give on your application form will be used to create and be retained on your electronic staff record and to provide access to core Trust systems.
Please note that if the post you are applying for requires a DBS check, you will be required to also subscribe to the DBS Update Service, if successful, and thereafter renew your subscription each year. The Trust will reimburse the subscription fee.
After applying via the NHS Jobs link, you will be taken to our preferred Third party recruitment system so submit your application. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, that as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website.
By applying for this post you are agreeing to Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Additional Information
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the protection of staff, service users and visitors to the Trust from second hand smoke and currently operates a no smoking policy which ensures all buildings and grounds are smoke free.
Applicant requirements
Person specification
Qualifications
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Educated to master's level, or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and experience gained through senior operational leadership, supported by evidence of externally accredited postgraduate leadership or management development
- Degree or equivalent professional qualification
- Evidence of significant continuing professional development
Skills
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Highly developed leadership, communication, negotiation and influencing skills
- Ability to communicate complex, sensitive and contentious information clearly and credibly
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex operational, financial, workforce and quality information
- Ability to make sound executive decisions under pressure
- Ability to provide grip, pace and clarity in complex and ambiguous situations
- Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Ability to lead through change with compassion, credibility and resilience
- Ability to provide constructive challenge and hold senior leaders to account
- Ability to translate strategy into operational delivery and measurable outcomes
- Strong written and verbal presentation skills, including Board-level reporting
Knowledge
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Extensive knowledge of NHS operational delivery within a large, complex healthcare organisation
- Knowledge of mental health, learning disability, autism and community service delivery, including national priorities and operational challenges relating to access, urgent and emergency mental health care, crisis pathways, inpatient flow, discharge, safeguarding, restrictive practice, out of area placements, community transformation, health inequalities and partnership working
- Significant understanding of NHS performance, quality, safety, regulatory and governance frameworks
- Significant understanding of CQC requirements, NHS England oversight, national access standards and operational planning
- Extensive knowledge of service transformation, performance recovery, productivity, efficiency and improvement methodologies
- Knowledge of EPRR, business continuity, incident response and senior or executive on-call arrangements
- Understanding of financial management, workforce planning, business planning and risk management
- Strong understanding of partnership working across integrated care systems, local authorities, commissioners and provider collaboratives
Experience
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Extensive senior operational leadership experience in a large, complex NHS or other healthcare organisation
- Significant experience operating at or close to Board, Executive Director or equivalent senior leadership level within a large, complex organisation
- Experience of leading operational delivery across mental health, learning disability, autism, community or similarly complex multi-service pathways
- Proven experience of leading large-scale operational services and delivering measurable improvement
- Track record of managing complex operational performance, quality, workforce and financial challenges
- Experience of leading operational recovery, escalation and transformation in a complex environment
- Experience of providing assurance to Executive Teams, Board committees or equivalent senior governance forums
- Experience of working effectively with system partners, regulators, commissioners and external stakeholders
- Experience of leading and developing senior leaders and multidisciplinary teams
- Experience of managing significant risk, complexity and competing priorities
Further details / informal visits contact
- Enw
- Gatenby Sanderson
- Teitl y swydd
- Recruitment Partners
- Cyfeiriad ebost
- [email protected]
- Rhif ffôn
- 0113 205 6071
- Gwybodaeth i gefnogi eich cais
We are working in partnership with Gatenby Sanderson to manage the recruitment process for this role. All applications should therefore be submitted directly through Gatenby Sanderson. Please be aware that applications submitted via TRAC will not be considered.
Start your application
Sign in
Create an account
Create your account and apply for your new job!





.png)


