Chief Medical Officer

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Cornwall

  • Location Cornwall
  • Sector Health
  • Client Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
  • Job Type Permanent
  • Remuneration Competitive
  • Reference GSe123860
  • Closing Date Wednesday 20th August 2025

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CFT) is seeking an exceptional Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to join our executive leadership team. This is a pivotal opportunity to help shape the future of healthcare in one of the most distinctive and beautiful regions of the UK.

We are an NHS community and mental health provider trust supporting the health and wellbeing of over 570,000 local people who call Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly home, with demand for our services inevitably increasing during holiday periods.  Our care is delivered to people at home, in the community and in hospital - we operate from 100 sites with clinical teams working across four operational service lines.  We have an enthusiastic and passionate workforce of over 4,500 people, who are all dedicated to delivering our vision of Outstanding Care for All. Our culture and values place people at the heart of everything we do. 

Despite the challenged context within which we operate we are proud of our achievements and recognise the hard work and dedication that runs throughout our teams.  Our focus remains on ensuring that our services are delivered safely and to a high quality, and that our staff have enjoyable, safe and fulfilling work lives. We continue to push boundaries and encourage innovation in order to deliver the best possible outcomes to those we serve.  Expanding Research plays a vital role in improving mental and physical health outcomes across the region, and as a Trust we are committed to embedding research into everyday clinical practice, ensuring that patients benefit from the latest evidence-based treatments and innovations. Furthermore our role as a Lead Provider within the ICS means that we play a central role in coordinating care, improving service models, and fostering collaboration across health and social care sectors. This includes leading initiatives in adult and children’s community services, mental health, learning disabilities, dementia care, and specialist support services.

We are now seeking an exceptional Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to provide visionary clinical leadership and strategic direction across the breadth of our medical services. This is a pivotal executive role, one which offers a unique and compelling opportunity to strengthen the medical leadership within a uniquely challenged service delivery context.  Responsible for inspiring and leading the medical workforce to deliver outstanding patient care, champion innovation, and drive continuous improvement in clinical effectiveness, safety, and outcomes, the appointed individual will play a central role in leading service transformation, and ensuring the medical workforce is fully engaged, respected, and influential across all areas of care delivery.  Responsible for research and development, we are seeking an individual who understands and is able further our work in this area, maximising benefits to patients and encouraging staff to be innovative and committed to promoting clinical excellence.

The successful candidate will be a senior medical leader (ideally a psychiatrist) with experience on or near board-level experience in a complex healthcare environment, a proven track record of delivering high-quality results, and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in mental health and learning disabilities services. They will be responsible for overseeing medical education, clinical governance, research and development, and the implementation of quality improvement initiatives.

CFT’s commitment to excellence in patient care, professional development, and research provides a dynamic environment for a senior medical leader to make a significant impact.  This is more than a leadership role—it’s a chance to make a lasting difference in a region known for its natural beauty, strong communities, and rich cultural heritage. Cornwall offers an exceptional quality of life, with stunning coastlines, vibrant towns, and a deep sense of place. Whether you’re drawn to the sea, the countryside, or the opportunity to lead meaningful change, this role offers the perfect blend of professional challenge and personal fulfilment

To discuss further, please contact:

 

Serena Dobson, Senior Consultant

E: serena.dobson@gatenbysanderson.com

T: +44 (0) 7530 627 120

 

Melanie Shearer, Partner

E: melanie.shearer@gatenbysanderson.com

T: +44 (0) 7785 616 548

 

Closing date: Wednesday 20th August 2025

Stakeholder Sessions and Final Interviews: Monday 8th September 2025

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Documents

  1. Fit and Proper Person Declaration - New.docx

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