Care Group Director (Planned Care)

Director of Planned Care – Overview We’re now seeking an exceptional Director of Planned Care to join our Executive leadership team and help shape the next chapter of our organization.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, you will lead our Planned Care Group, providing strategic and operational leadership across community mental health services, talking therapies, outreach, and other planned care pathways.

Responsibilities Lead and oversee the Planned Care Group, delivering strategic and operational leadership across community mental health services, talking therapies, outreach, and other planned care pathways.

Partner with senior clinical leaders to ensure operational performance, quality, finance, workforce, transformation, and governance meet strategic objectives.

Drive continuous improvement and transformation at a system‑wide level to improve outcomes and deliver exceptional care closer to home.

Qualifications and Experience Significant senior operational leadership experience within a large, complex healthcare organization.

A track record of delivering high‑quality services alongside sustained operational and financial improvement.

Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams through transformation and organizational change.

Strong partnership working across integrated care systems, local authorities, and wider health and care partners.

Excellent strategic thinking, political awareness, and the ability to influence at board and system level.

A commitment to equality, inclusion, and reducing health inequalities for diverse communities.

The ability to create compassionate, high‑performing cultures where colleagues feel empowered to deliver their best.

Educated to Masters’ level or equivalent experience at board level.

Postgraduate or leadership/management qualification.

Substantial and relevant proven experience at senior management level with responsibility for operations in a complex health or social care setting (service director or equivalent).

Experience delivering high standards of performance to achieve national and local targets within a complex healthcare setting.

Experience of business planning, complex finance and budgetary planning, management and cost improvement.

Experience managing large‑scale organizational change in a complex environment.

Experience delivering efficiency and productivity targets at operational level.

Experience of working effectively in partnership with other organizations.

Experience dealing with difficult situations, including conflict resolution and influencing others to accept demanding outcomes.

Demonstrable knowledge of the relationship between NHS England, NHS England and Improvement, and Integrated Care Systems.

Experience of operational planning with a track record of delivery to deadlines.

Significant experience and evidence of creative strategic thinking.

Recent evidence and experience of positive leadership skills and the ability to transform and lead a team to work effectively together.

Experience translating strategic goals into effective operational plans and objectives.

Demonstrated achievements in improving patient care, meeting NHS targets, and managing within budgets.

Must have operational experience working in a mental health setting and a sound understanding of NHS current legislation, national strategy, and regulatory frameworks.

Proven intellectual flexibility and the ability to look beyond existing processes to produce more effective service delivery.

Specialist knowledge and experience in Human Resources, Finance, Performance Management, Planning, and Communications, in addition to extensive operational management knowledge.

Demonstrable understanding of quality and risk management issues and standards, and evidence of sound understanding of continuous improvement methodologies.

Experience working with multi‑agency committees and establishing relationships with external organizations. #J-18808-Ljbffr