Job summary
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) is recruiting for a senior leadership role that oversees three Specialist Provider Collaboratives across the South-East, covering Adult Secure Mental Health, Tier 4 CAMHS, and Adult Eating Disorder Services.
The post holder will lead both the strategic planning and operational delivery of these collaboratives, ensuring high-quality care, strong partnership working with NHS and independent providers, and financial sustainability. A major priority is reducing out-of-area placements so patients can receive care closer to home.
As Managing Director for the lead provider, the successful candidate will be responsible for commissioning and oversight of services, managing specialist placement budgets, and expanding delegated commissioning arrangements in line with Trust strategy. The role includes strengthening collaboration with the voluntary sector and ensuring value for money.
The post holder will also play a pivotal part in integrating strategy, transformation, and continuous improvement, ensuring all initiatives align with SPFT's long-term 2025-2030 strategy/support a culture of innovation and quality improvement.
As DCSPOthe individual will report directly to the Chief Strategy and Partnerships Officer and lead on:
- Developing and implementing Trust-wide strategy
- Coordinating annual and long-term planning cycles
- Aligning transformation, improvement, and innovation programmes with strategic goals
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be:
- Accountable for the strategic development and operational delivery of the three Provider Collaboratives which SPFT lead on and the key contact for other Provider Collaboratives as are developed (e.g. specialist perinatal).
- Accountable for all aspects of delegated commissioner/lead provider responsibilities as agreed with the ICB.
- Responsible for strengthening SPFT's skills and competencies in being a commissioner as well as a provider of mental health, learning disability and autism services.
The postholder will be expected to work very closely with SPFT Executive, Executive/Director colleagues and other partners, including Local Authorities, NHSE, ICB and the voluntary sector to ensure that benefits of the Provider Collaboratives are maximised for the populations they serve.
About us
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced and collaborative senior leader to join us as Managing Director/ Deputy Chief Strategy & Partnerships Officer for our Provider Collaboratives.
In this key role, you will:
- Lead strategic planning and delivery for our four Specialist Provider Collaboratives (Tier 4 CAMHS; Secure Care; Adult Eating Disorders).
- Oversee the development and operationalisation of our delegated commissioning functions and lead provider arrangements.
- Build strong partnerships across the NHS, local authorities, VCSE partners and people with lived experience.
- Support delivery of our Trust strategy: People, Prevention and Partnership.
We are looking for a compassionate, innovative and influential leader with a strong track record in senior mental health, learning disability or autism services.
Sussex Partnership is rated 'Good' overall and 'Outstanding' for caring by the CQC. Join us to make a meaningful difference to communities across the South-East.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and particularly encourage candidates from underrepresented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder leads the Trusts strategic development, commissioning, and Provider Collaborative functions, reporting to the Chief Strategy and Partnerships Officer. They drive delivery of the Trust Strategy, develop 35year commissioning intentions, and build strong relationships with senior leaders, Local Authorities, national commissioners, and partner providers.
They ensure robust governance, highquality care, and effective performance across all Provider Collaboratives while maintaining financial sustainability and oversight of commissioning budgets. The role includes ensuring safe admission and discharge processes, highquality reporting, strong quality assurance, and alignment of improvement and transformation initiatives.
As a senior leader, they manage Programme Directors and commissioning staff, promote staff wellbeing and development, uphold HR and equality standards, and provide inspirational leadership. They oversee strategic performance monitoring, risk management, complaint resolution, and will regularly deputise for the CSPO. The post holder also handles emotionally sensitive situations related to patient care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder leads the Trusts strategic development, commissioning, and Provider Collaborative functions, reporting to the Chief Strategy and Partnerships Officer. They drive delivery of the Trust Strategy, develop 35year commissioning intentions, and build strong relationships with senior leaders, Local Authorities, national commissioners, and partner providers.
They ensure robust governance, highquality care, and effective performance across all Provider Collaboratives while maintaining financial sustainability and oversight of commissioning budgets. The role includes ensuring safe admission and discharge processes, highquality reporting, strong quality assurance, and alignment of improvement and transformation initiatives.
As a senior leader, they manage Programme Directors and commissioning staff, promote staff wellbeing and development, uphold HR and equality standards, and provide inspirational leadership. They oversee strategic performance monitoring, risk management, complaint resolution, and will regularly deputise for the CSPO. The post holder also handles emotionally sensitive situations related to patient care.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level with a relevant qualification at Masters level or equivalent experience.
- Post graduate management qualification or equivalent level of experience and proven ability to perform at this level.
- Highest level of managerial knowledge at PhD level or through equivalent levels of experience such as strategic leadership or through managing a complex function
Knowledge/Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of mental health and the role of Specialist Provider Collaboratives in the commissioning of services
- Extensive experience at senior management level in a health or social care organisation
- Significant experience of commissioning within healthcare
- Proven experience of successful achievement of leading complex change across services, involving and supporting teams and individuals to achieve objectives
- Proven track record of extensive health / social care strategy formulation and implementation including innovative thinking and the ability to explore imaginative ways of optimising use of resources.
- Experience of modernising services without the benefit of additional resources
- Significant experience of working with and influencing a range of key stakeholders (NHSE, ICB, providers, national independent sector providers)
- Significant experience of involving service users and carers in the development and improvement of services
- Managing significant budgets and achievement of recurrent efficiency servings
- Proven experience of negotiating complex contracts, managing customer expectations, influencing commissioning decisions and developing business case
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level with a relevant qualification at Masters level or equivalent experience.
- Post graduate management qualification or equivalent level of experience and proven ability to perform at this level.
- Highest level of managerial knowledge at PhD level or through equivalent levels of experience such as strategic leadership or through managing a complex function
Knowledge/Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of mental health and the role of Specialist Provider Collaboratives in the commissioning of services
- Extensive experience at senior management level in a health or social care organisation
- Significant experience of commissioning within healthcare
- Proven experience of successful achievement of leading complex change across services, involving and supporting teams and individuals to achieve objectives
- Proven track record of extensive health / social care strategy formulation and implementation including innovative thinking and the ability to explore imaginative ways of optimising use of resources.
- Experience of modernising services without the benefit of additional resources
- Significant experience of working with and influencing a range of key stakeholders (NHSE, ICB, providers, national independent sector providers)
- Significant experience of involving service users and carers in the development and improvement of services
- Managing significant budgets and achievement of recurrent efficiency servings
- Proven experience of negotiating complex contracts, managing customer expectations, influencing commissioning decisions and developing business case
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.
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).
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.
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).
