Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

General Manager

The closing date is 29 January 2026

Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced manager to operational lead the NMHT Community Services in Eastbourne and In Patient services currently at the Department of Psychiatry and Thinking Well Service.This is a key operational leadership role, within the East Division that is responsible for ensuring safe, effective, and high-quality care. We are seeking someone with a values-driven approach and a strong track record of delivering against local and national targets to balance the need for authenticity and compassion in leadership alongside performance improvement and financial accountability.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will ensure that all aspects of service delivery, development and quality improvement are focused on patient/carer experience, patient safety and clinical effectiveness. With this in mind, we are seeking a leader that can establish excellent relationships with clinical staff, leaders and external stakeholders successfully developing high quality clinical services in response to evidence-based practice, service targets and objectives as set out in the business plan and commissioner requirements. As a service we strive to ensure that all care pathway services within the area of responsibility meet their quality objectives and comply with the governance requirements of CQC, NHS Improvement, and the Mental Health Act. The post offers a fantastic career development opportunity to progress career and work closely with the Divisional Leadership team and partners to drive service improvement in line with national agendas and embedding of neighbourhood mental health teams developing key relationships with our stakeholders. The role offers a diverse portfolio, as there is also a role in leading the in patient services currently at Department of Psychiatry, and this service is due to move in Winter of 2026 to a new purpose-built hospital Combe Valley Hospital in Bexhill and our complex needs pathway Thinking Well Service.

About us

1) Corporate: As a member of the DLT, work closely with service managers, professional leads, colleagues in corporate services and partner agencies (including the Children's Trusts where relevant) to continuously improve services. Is committed to ensure service user / carer experience is positive, services are responsive and accessible, and transitions between services are smooth and seamless. To communicate effectively with all staff, recognising the need for good information during periods of change. At all times supporting the Trust's reputation and that of all senior colleagues, maintaining a positive attitude with strongcommitment to results. Take part in the on-call rota.2) Service Specific: working within the DLT contributing to the formulation of businessobjectives and service plans. Accountable for implementation and leading on servicedevelopment actions that arise in this context, taking account of the needs of the relevant localcommunities, striving at all times to promote personalised care, wellbeing, safety and socialinclusion. Proactively identifying and using all opportunities to maximise benefits of integratedleadership in service improvement.

Details

Date posted

15 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year pa

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

354-AE-21244

Job locations

St Mary's House

52 St Leonard's Road

Eastbourne

BN21 3UU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Work effectively within the DLT facilitating trust, holding self and colleagues to accountappropriately and demonstrating personal commitment to integrated(managerial/professional) leadership. Achieve a defined set of health and social care performance targets, in accordance withcontractual requirements and the performance framework for Monitor, the Care QualityCommission, and other relevant statutory and professional bodies.Provide services within the agreed financial resources and achieve all financial targets,including cost efficiency savings, ensuring maximum value in terms of clinical and costeffectiveness.To actively contribute in the planning and delivery of the business objectives, service plansand change projects, ensuring customer focus, consistency, quality, and cost effectiveness.Respond to Serious Untoward Incidents (SUIs), complaints and communications, ensuringtimely and thorough investigation, disseminating recommendations and monitoring thatactions are fully implementedIdentify risks and take corrective action in line with trusts integrated governance framework.Promote through personal actions support for the Trusts key policies on Equality andDiversity, Exemplar Employer and use of the recovery orientated approach for people withlonger term problems Contribute to external groups and specific projects and work streams as required e.g. within the local health and social care community

Job description

Job responsibilities

Work effectively within the DLT facilitating trust, holding self and colleagues to accountappropriately and demonstrating personal commitment to integrated(managerial/professional) leadership. Achieve a defined set of health and social care performance targets, in accordance withcontractual requirements and the performance framework for Monitor, the Care QualityCommission, and other relevant statutory and professional bodies.Provide services within the agreed financial resources and achieve all financial targets,including cost efficiency savings, ensuring maximum value in terms of clinical and costeffectiveness.To actively contribute in the planning and delivery of the business objectives, service plansand change projects, ensuring customer focus, consistency, quality, and cost effectiveness.Respond to Serious Untoward Incidents (SUIs), complaints and communications, ensuringtimely and thorough investigation, disseminating recommendations and monitoring thatactions are fully implementedIdentify risks and take corrective action in line with trusts integrated governance framework.Promote through personal actions support for the Trusts key policies on Equality andDiversity, Exemplar Employer and use of the recovery orientated approach for people withlonger term problems Contribute to external groups and specific projects and work streams as required e.g. within the local health and social care community

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree/ diploma level with a relevant qualification or equivalent experience
  • Clinical/post graduate management qualification to masters or equivalent level of experience and proven ability to perform at this level

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

  • Extensive experience of and demonstrable achievement in managing health/social care services.
  • Management of resources and good track record with change management, efficiency savings and financial recovery plans
  • Experience of modernising services without additional resources
  • Experience of developing and maintaining effective partnerships with stakeholders in the redesign of services
  • Experience of project management and imaginative planning
  • Experience of managing a diverse practitioner team (multi site)
  • Measurable track record in involving and motivating staff to improve performance.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree/ diploma level with a relevant qualification or equivalent experience
  • Clinical/post graduate management qualification to masters or equivalent level of experience and proven ability to perform at this level

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

  • Extensive experience of and demonstrable achievement in managing health/social care services.
  • Management of resources and good track record with change management, efficiency savings and financial recovery plans
  • Experience of modernising services without additional resources
  • Experience of developing and maintaining effective partnerships with stakeholders in the redesign of services
  • Experience of project management and imaginative planning
  • Experience of managing a diverse practitioner team (multi site)
  • Measurable track record in involving and motivating staff to improve performance.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Mary's House

52 St Leonard's Road

Eastbourne

BN21 3UU


Employer's website

https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Mary's House

52 St Leonard's Road

Eastbourne

BN21 3UU


Employer's website

https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Managing Director East Sussex

Ruth Hillman

ruth.hillman1@nhs.net

07880576106

Details

Date posted

15 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year pa

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

354-AE-21244

Job locations

St Mary's House

52 St Leonard's Road

Eastbourne

BN21 3UU


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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