Directorate Manager in Plymouth

37.5 hours per week. We are seeking an experienced Directorate Manager to help steer, drive, support and deliver service improvement within the Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodiversity (MHLDN) & Wellbeing Services directorate in Livewell Southwest.

Please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. Please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information regarding eligibility. Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity. All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

This is a key post for the future development of Livewell Southwest. This role will support the Assistant Director in the delivery of the implementation of contracted models within an integrated system of care across the community, working with key stakeholders and includes close working with Local Authorities, Education, Primary Care Networks, Acute and other community services. The post holder will be responsible and accountable to the Assistant Director for leading on the delivery of safe, high quality and effective services.

The post holder will work under the direction and line management of the Assistant Director and be responsible for ensuring patient safety and excellent service quality across designated areas of responsibility, implementing and embedding LSW values and Leadership behaviours, providing operational leadership to all aspects of (MHLDN) & Wellbeing Services within LSW as part of the City of Plymouth and wider Devon areas.

Ensure that (MHLDN) & Wellbeing Services are developed in line with the contract, population needs, service demand and agreed national and local priorities; thus ensuring services are responsive to need. Provide operational leadership in all aspects of designated services within LSW developing a positive working environment and open culture which fosters high morale and commitment amongst all staff and promotes their wellbeing, professional and personal development.

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs. As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values: kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve. We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation. Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide operational leadership in all aspects of designated services within LSW developing a positive working environment and open culture which fosters high morale and commitment amongst all staff and promotes their wellbeing, professional and personal development.
• Support the Organisations strategic objectives (one year and five-year goals) by developing and implementing changes to operational practices to ensure strategic objectives are delivered within designated Services.
• Lead work on corporate projects as designated by the Assistant Director and where required in liaison with external agencies, partners, people who use our service and regulatory bodies.
• Ensure effective and mutually beneficial joint working across the organisation to support the delivery of iThrive, Neighbourhoods, Primary Care Networks and Place Based care.
• Be part of and work with external stakeholders in order to deliver continuous improvement and maximise the health outcomes of the local community.
• Support the delivery of all care and performance in line with LSW governance frameworks and adhere to the regulatory framework bodies e.g. CQC, NHSI, NHSE, CIC regulator.
• Accountable to the Assistant Director for the delivery of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodiversity (MHLDN) and Wellbeing Services within the financial envelope of the contract.
• Work to the delegated level of autonomy that is appropriate for the level of seniority of the post and within LSW management policies, demonstrating sustained management capability and excellent levels of individual performance.
• Deputise for the Assistant Director and other senior managers as and when required.
• Participate in the senior managers on-call rota if requested to do so by the Chief Operating Officer.

Role and Context:

The post holder will provide leadership and management for all Service managers, Team managers, Matrons and other direct reports/managers within Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodiversity (MHLDN) and Wellbeing Services. To be accountable to the Assistant Director for the delivery of all operational performance indicators within Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodiversity (MHLDN) and Wellbeing Services including contractual, financial, resources and staff.

Develop effective working relationships with key partners, Primary Care Networks, Education, People who use our services, Commissioners, Acute Trust, Local Authorities, voluntary sector and staff side in order to deliver continuous improvement in the Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodiversity (MHLDN) and Wellbeing Services pathways. Work collaboratively at all times with all direct reports and peers to achieve high quality services and high performance standards. Continually review services and pathways, working with key stakeholders to effectively redesign services and pathways in order that they meet the needs of people, and carers and enable designated services to achieve key performance indicators.

To manage and deliver high quality mental health services which meet the needs of local people by working to ensure that performance standards are met and applied to a high standard consistently across the defined populations. Implementing effective processes for monitoring and managing activity, providing assurance via LSW governance structure for safe and effective service delivery. To ensure all complaints, incidents, SIRIs and HR processes are investigated and/or managed appropriately, in accordance with policy of the LSW, apply duty of candour and ensure that the learning is used to continuously improve quality. To ensure that policies and procedures in regard to safeguarding adults and children are understood, adopted and applied by all staff.

Communication and Key Working Relationships:

External: Service Users, colleagues in primary care, education, public, voluntary, private sectors acute providers, social care, NHS Devon ICB, One Devon, and NHSE regarding the development of service plans and quality standards. Establish effective communications and working relationships with other services, departments and external agencies, to support the development of services and patient pathways and organisational boundaries in order to support partnership working across Plymouth city, Wider Devon and as part of the NHSE Southwest region.

Internal: Members of the LSW Senior Management Team regarding both operational and strategic elements for Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodiversity (MHLDN) and Wellbeing Services and linking into any relevant community and/or specialist services when needed, e.g. to support transition from children's services to adult provision. Trade Unions and Staff Organisations regarding partnership working as delegated and developing effective communications. Other managers/officers within LSW responsible for Human Resources and policy/operations of Community Service.

Leadership, Policy and Service Development:

To provide the leadership of several service areas including the Service management team with delegated accountability for delivery of the Service contract, key targets, including the outcome measures, performance and operational financial sustainability on behalf of LSW. To be part of the LSW Management Team overseeing the delivery and development of services within LSW. To be a member of the LSW Management Groups, including senior management team meetings, operations team meeting etc. as required. Deputise for Assistant Director at relevant meetings as required. Build relationships at a local level which deliver the vision for integrated health, education & social care within Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodiversity (MHLDN) and Wellbeing Services as part of the local system.

To take lead responsibility for specific projects and prepare and deliver reports and presentations as appropriate to operational and senior management within LSW and externally when required. Work with strategic and operational professional leads, service manager, families/carers to ensure, policies, protocols and service development plans are formulated, developed and implemented as part of the wider system delivery and in partnership. To promote the principle that people who use our services, and their families / carers, should be at the centre of all we say and do in all contacts and interactions with staff, people who use our services, families/carers, partner organisations and members of the public.

Financial and Physical Resources:

To hold and be responsible and accountable to the Assistant Director for several devolved health and social care budgets in line with locally managed services. To deliver on financial balance and to include financial recovery as required in line with strategic financial plans for Community Service, this includes efficiency savings and financial sustainability. To ensure that risk management policies and procedures are implemented, in the defined area, and that risks are managed/mitigated locally or escalated to an appropriate level in the organisation.

Support, Management and Development of Staff:

To be responsible for managing a diverse, multi-disciplinary/multi-agency staff group across a range of service functions. To provide effective leadership to all designated teams in order to achieve effective integration and operational management of services. To actively work with direct reports to support workforce planning, recruitment and staff development. Support staff in identifying and addressing training and development needs in collaboration with the team leaders and the Professional Training and Development Department. To implement and maintain the appraisal and supervision standards for the staff in accordance with the organisational policies and procedure and approach. Ensure that appropriate action is taken to deal with issues of discipline, grievance, poor performance and sickness in conjunction with team managers. To ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of all staff, in reference to the relevant HR and operational policies.

Communication and Relationship Skills:

Lead on service redesign and organisational change with internal and external stakeholders. To represent LSW at appropriate forums, local, national and regional to support delivery of service strategies and to promote the organisation. To communicate highly complex information to staff, partner organisations and the public. This will involve communicating internally with staff groups and in public forums on behalf of LSW. To support Assistant Director in liaison with local and national commissioners in order to influence their decisions and enable positive outcomes for provision within Community Service. To ensure that people who use our services, and their families/carers, are appropriately involved at all stages of service development and delivery. To foster and develop partnership approaches with a number of key partners in order to ensure that services are developed and delivered in a co-ordinated way that is responsive to need and that places individuals at the centre of the care they require.

Person Specification:

Knowledge:

• Essential: Knowledge of operational management roles in more than one area/service (must include substantial up-to-date knowledge of mental health services).
• Knowledge of Health and Social Care system including relevant legislation, guidance and policies.
• Knowledge of Performance management.
• Financial management and business acumen.
• Up to date knowledge of national and local policy within the NHS, Local Authority and other public sector bodies.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of both Adult and Children's Social Care.
• Understanding of complaints procedure.

Qualifications:

• Essential: Hold a Masters Level qualification in a health related subject with demonstrable management experience working at senior manager level or has equivalent level of knowledge gained through significant experience at senior Health and/or Social care management level.