Head of Service - Reading and West Berks Community Mental Health

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 74,000 - 86,000

Job description

Head of Service - Reading and West Berks Community Mental Health

Band 8C

Main area: MH Community Management Grade Band 8C

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Job ref: 371-MHS719

Site: 7-9 Cremyll Road, Town: Reading

Salary: £74,290 - £85,601 per annum

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 27/03/2025 23:59

Interview date: 11/04/2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Head of Community Mental Health Services for Reading and West Berkshire.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, skilled and experienced Head of Service who will be responsible for the delivery of coherent, effective mental health services across both localities for adults and older adults.

They will manage service development, change and transformation with the aim of developing a culture of partnership and integration, ensuring that robust corporate and clinical governance processes are adhered to.

They will also participate in strategic planning, operational management, and delivery of Mental Health Services in the area of designated responsibility, on behalf of Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust (BHFT) and take a key role in Community Mental health developments in the locality and participate in developments within the wider MH division and Berkshire West ICS footprint.

The postholder will manage the provision and delivery of Mental Health services provided by BHFT and ensuring effective joint working between inpatients and community services, and between mental health and social care services.

Main duties of the job

• Manage the overall delivery of Mental Health Services provided by BHFT in accordance with the agreed Business, Directorate and Team Plans compliant with the BHFT Trust Plan.
• Oversee the quality and cost of commissioned services on behalf of BHFT and participate in council and health initiatives to improve quality, safety and value.
• Participate in the development and modernisation of services according to the NHS Long Term Plan, Berkshire West ICS and the Care Integrated Care System Plan, the Community Mental Health Framework, Personalisation agenda, Care Act 2014, ASCOF, Dementia Challenge, Parity of Esteem, and other relevant initiatives and standards specified by Care Quality Commission and NICE.
• Ensure that service users are effectively safeguarded in line with multi-agency procedures and BHFT processes. This includes oversight of safeguarding standards and practice within the broad areas of responsibility.
• Implement legal frameworks including Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, and promote recovery, social inclusion, physical health and wellbeing for all diverse service users and carers within Reading and West Berkshire.
• Manage cost centres on behalf of BHFT to ensure balanced budget and delivery of financial targets.
• Ensure delivery of key indicators and qualitative performance measures.
• Participate as a member of the appropriate senior management team.
• Represent BHFT at relevant local, regional and national forums as required.

Working for our organisation

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The “must haves” for this role:

• Extensive Senior operational management experience of the Mental Health Services within Health or Social Services
• Proven experience of successful achievement of organisation change
• Successful track record of strategy formulation & implementation
• Comprehensive knowledge of mental health policy
• Knowledge of Strategic planning process
• Ability to build alliances and secure ownership of proposals across organisational boundaries

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We have identified that this is a role where we have underrepresentation of ethnically diverse colleagues. As part of our commitment to inclusion and Unity Against Racism we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who meet the essential criteria and identify as: Asian or Asian British, Black or Black British, Mixed and ‘Other’ Ethnic Groups.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Kishan Waas on 07825 262339 or email: [e-mail] who’ll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

• Professional registration RMN, SW, OT
• Recognised Management Qualification to degree level

Continuous Professional Development

• Evidence on continuous professional development

Previous Experience

• Successful track record of strategy formulation & implementation
• Proven experience of successful achievement of organisation change
• Proven record of establishing constructive interagency partnerships Senior management experience within the Public Sector
• Extensive Senior operational management experience of the Mental Health Services within Health or Social Services
• Successful track record of delivering services to ethnic minority communities

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of mental health policy
• Knowledge of Strategic planning process
• Comprehensive knowledge of equal opportunities
• Open, participative, dynamic and supportive leadership and management style
• Ability to inspire and lead
• Ability to build alliances and secure ownership of proposals across organisational boundaries
• Ability to balance vision with pragmatism where appropriate
• Ability to manage in an outcome focused way against targets and timescales
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Additional Requirements

• Car owner/driver and possesses full UK driver's licence or evidence of ability to travel to designated base and other sites.

These are the values that we live by at Berkshire Healthcare:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.

Please find attached the behaviour framework that underpins these values for this job role.

At Berkshire Healthcare, we foster an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs.

We welcome talent from all backgrounds and offer guaranteed interviews to disabled applicants and armed forces community members who meet the minimum criteria.

Please note we may close positions before the advertised date.

Once you have applied, please check your email regularly for updates. All appointments are subject to NHS Employment Checks, and false information may result in withdrawal of offers. For information on how we store your information, please review our privacy statement.

No agencies, please.