Job summary
We are seeking three experienced Service Managers to join the leadership team of the Mental Health Care Group.
1. Service Manager for Acute and Forensic Mental Health Inpatient Services - permanent
2. Service Manager for Acute Community Services - permanent
3. Service Manager for Older Adults Mental Health and Learning Disabilities - fixed term or secondment to 31st January 2027
Please indicate which post you are applying for in your supplementary information, based on your previous experience.
As a Service Manager you will play a critical role in ensuring safe and effective delivery of care whilst identifying and delivering improvement opportunities to support the organisations priorities.
Closing Date: 10th August 2025
Shortlisting Date: WC 11th August 2025
Interview Date: TBC
Main duties of the job
- To provide leadership and operational management of a specified set of team(s)and services within a defined locality or specialist area.
- Be accountable for the direct delivery of these services within own area ofresponsibility.
- To ensure that operational services are developed in line with population needs, service demand and national and local priorities.
- To contribute, as part of the senior management team, to the Trust's strategic agenda and business planning systems for own area of responsibility.
- The post holder is expected to work within organisational and other national and local policies; to interpret and embed these within own area of responsibility and to be accountable for service development and its practicalimplementation.
- The post holder may be required to deputise for their line manager, asrequired.
About us
Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -
We Care- We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen- We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver- We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners
We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :
Increase mileage rates for > 3500
A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
Plus many more.
We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate's best interest to apply as soon as possible
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will, in conjunction with senior managers, be accountable for the operational delivery of a defined group of teams and services or locality within the Mental Health Care Group.
Within their defined area of responsibility, the post holder will:
- Manage, maintain, monitor and facilitate the delivery of a high-quality services in the most efficient and effective manner within existing resources and within the parameters set out within the contracting agreement between the Trust and its commissioning bodies.
- Deliver high quality services to provide assurance that services meet the appropriate internal and national quality standards and best practice
- Work with the Senior Leadership Team in developing and producing robust operational plans, in line with organisational planning cycles and service development opportunities
- Understand and contribute to setting and achieving organisational and system strategic objectives; with a focus on reducing inequalities and integrated system working
- Manage and support services in understanding, escalating and finding solutions to day-to-day operational and managerial issues, ensuring that services are safe and that health and safety and other relevant legislative requirements are adhered to
- Ensure services are provided in a safe and well governed way, ensuring risk management strategies are implemented and monitored including risk register maintenance and assurance frameworks
- Contribute to the development and implementation of Quality Improvement Plans, underpinned by Quality Improvement Methodology
- Lead on the management of various projects and ensure the development of new initiatives within existing and emerging transformational programmes
- Take responsibilityfor the performance management of contracts, reporting performance standards, communicating with internal and external stakeholders and responsible commissioners
- Chair and lead relevant service / project meetings
- Represent the Trust at external forums as required
- Participate in the managers On-Call rota.
- Develop links with other services to enable benchmarking, comparative and collaborative working.
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT).
Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will, in conjunction with senior managers, be accountable for the operational delivery of a defined group of teams and services or locality within the Mental Health Care Group.
Within their defined area of responsibility, the post holder will:
- Manage, maintain, monitor and facilitate the delivery of a high-quality services in the most efficient and effective manner within existing resources and within the parameters set out within the contracting agreement between the Trust and its commissioning bodies.
- Deliver high quality services to provide assurance that services meet the appropriate internal and national quality standards and best practice
- Work with the Senior Leadership Team in developing and producing robust operational plans, in line with organisational planning cycles and service development opportunities
- Understand and contribute to setting and achieving organisational and system strategic objectives; with a focus on reducing inequalities and integrated system working
- Manage and support services in understanding, escalating and finding solutions to day-to-day operational and managerial issues, ensuring that services are safe and that health and safety and other relevant legislative requirements are adhered to
- Ensure services are provided in a safe and well governed way, ensuring risk management strategies are implemented and monitored including risk register maintenance and assurance frameworks
- Contribute to the development and implementation of Quality Improvement Plans, underpinned by Quality Improvement Methodology
- Lead on the management of various projects and ensure the development of new initiatives within existing and emerging transformational programmes
- Take responsibilityfor the performance management of contracts, reporting performance standards, communicating with internal and external stakeholders and responsible commissioners
- Chair and lead relevant service / project meetings
- Represent the Trust at external forums as required
- Participate in the managers On-Call rota.
- Develop links with other services to enable benchmarking, comparative and collaborative working.
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT).
Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant health or social care postgraduate professional qualification or a business-related subject or equivalent experience.
- Masters level or equivalent qualification (or experience usually gained by working in a senior manager position for several years, or willing to study towards)
Desirable
- Clinical Qualification and current professional registration
- Quality Improvement Methodology
Experience
Essential
- Significant senior management / clinical leadership experience within clinical services e.g community services, Inpatients, therapy services .
- Developed knowledge of Health and Social Care service management including change management and workforce redesign
- Experience of managing medium/large teams which are multidisciplinary in nature to deliver locality/service objectives .
- Experience in analysing a wide range of data and providing reports for management decision making .
Desirable
- Previous experience in managing area of responsibility or knowledge of mental health & LD services
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of relevant national policies, best practice, quality frameworks and local approach to implementation within specific area of responsibilities such as Inpatients, Allied Health Professional services
Skills
Essential
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant health or social care postgraduate professional qualification or a business-related subject or equivalent experience.
- Masters level or equivalent qualification (or experience usually gained by working in a senior manager position for several years, or willing to study towards)
Desirable
- Clinical Qualification and current professional registration
- Quality Improvement Methodology
Experience
Essential
- Significant senior management / clinical leadership experience within clinical services e.g community services, Inpatients, therapy services .
- Developed knowledge of Health and Social Care service management including change management and workforce redesign
- Experience of managing medium/large teams which are multidisciplinary in nature to deliver locality/service objectives .
- Experience in analysing a wide range of data and providing reports for management decision making .
Desirable
- Previous experience in managing area of responsibility or knowledge of mental health & LD services
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of relevant national policies, best practice, quality frameworks and local approach to implementation within specific area of responsibilities such as Inpatients, Allied Health Professional services
Skills
Essential
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).
