Deputy Head Of IAC Mental Health/Learning Disability

Job summary

Are you a passionate and experienced leader looking for an opportunity to shape services and improve outcomes for people with complex Mental Health and Learning Disability needs?

We are seeking an exceptional individual to join our senior leadership team as Deputy Head of Individual Assessment and Commissioning (Mental Health and Learning Disability). This is a high-profile role where you will have the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making, lead service improvement, and ensure some of the most vulnerable people in our communities receive high-quality, personalised care that delivers meaningful outcomes.

Working across Cheshire and Merseyside, you will provide expert leadership and help to support the delivery of statutory responsibilities including Section 117 aftercare, Mental Health Act requirements, Mental Capacity Act processes and complex commissioning arrangements.

As a visible and credible leader, you will work across organisational boundaries to bring together health, social care, education and provider partners, ensuring services are safe, effective, person-centred and represent value for money. You will lead a highly skilled team, champion innovation and quality improvement, and play a key role in shaping future models of care across a large and ambitious Integrated Care System.

Main duties of the job

• Provide strategic, professional and operational leadership for MH and LD services within the Individual Assessment and Commissioning Team
• Lead and support a team of specialist practitioners, creating a culture of high performance, continuous learning and professional excellence
• Ensure individuals receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time through effective assessment, review, case management and commissioning arrangements.
• Lead on the delivery of statutory responsibilities relating to the Mental Health Act, Section 117 aftercare, Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Court of Protection processes
• Act as a recognised subject matter expert, providing specialist advice and support on complex MH and LD cases across the system.
• Build strong and productive relationships with Local Authorities, NHS providers, Provider Collaboratives, NHS England and wider partners to drive integrated ways of working.
• Lead programmes of transformation and service improvement that enhance quality, patient experience and value for money.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures and pathways that support best practice and ensure compliance with national guidance and legislation.
• Champion safeguarding, quality assurance and governance, ensuring risks are identified, managed and acted upon effectively
• Represent the organisation at local, regional and national forums, influencing future developments and sharing best practice across the system.

About us

This is more than a leadership role. It is an opportunity to influence how services are designed and delivered for people with complex Mental Health and Learning Disability needs across Cheshire and Merseyside.

You will join a forward-thinking organisation committed to innovation, collaboration and improving health outcomes for local people. In return, you will be supported to develop your leadership career, work alongside experienced and passionate colleagues, and contribute to meaningful change across one of the largest Integrated Care Systems in England

If you are an experienced leader with the vision, credibility and passion to drive improvement and deliver outstanding outcomes, we would love to hear from you.

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. Please view the attached documents.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse / valid NMC registration
• Educated to master's level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
• Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of identifying and interpreting National policy.
• Experience of working with adults and children with complex health needs (physical, mental health and Learning Disability)
• Awareness of the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of liberty protection safeguards
• Experience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of the individuals.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement
• Extensive knowledge and expertise of The National Framework for NHS Continuing Health Care and NHS Funded Nursing Care
• Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisations
• Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change
• Negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options
• Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.
• Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium, and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
• Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales
• Skills for managing relationships with a range of different stakeholders.