Service Manager – NHS Talking Therapies

Overview

Senior operational leader for NHS Talking Therapies, overseeing delivery, governance, and improvement across the adult service. You will work with system partners and leadership to meet national standards, local priorities, and performance targets, focusing on access, waiting times, recovery outcomes, and patient experience. You’ll shape strategy, lead transformation, and ensure robust governance in a dynamic, collaborative environment. This is a mission-critical role with visible leadership and impact across Pennine Care’s mental health services.

Pay / Benefits

• Generous annual leave
• Flexible working opportunities
• Access to Continued Professional Development
• Involvement in improvement and research activities
• Staff health and wellbeing services
• Staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operational management of NHS Talking Therapies services against access, waiting times and recovery targets
• Provide visible leadership to multidisciplinary teams with clear accountability and performance oversight
• Collaborate with the Trustwide Operational and Clinical Lead to plan, monitor and improve service performance
• Maintain strong relationships with ICB, commissioners, primary care and system partners with regular performance updates
• Ensure robust clinical governance, risk management, incident investigation, audits and information governance compliance
• Drive service improvement and transformation, developing new pathways and models of care
• Manage budgets and resources, identify cost pressures, and deliver efficiency plans
• Oversee workforce management including recruitment, supervision, appraisal and staff development
• Promote an inclusive culture with a just culture approach and high professionalism
• Analyze service data to inform decision-making and continuous improvement
• Ensure compliance with NHS Talking Therapies models, outcomes and national guidance
• Contribute to borough and Trust-wide strategic planning and service development
• Represent NHS Talking Therapies in local/system forums to support wider mental health service development

Key requirements

• Significant experience in operational management within NHS or similar healthcare setting
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering against performance targets (access, waiting times, outcomes)
• Experience in financial and budget management and workforce management
• Experience working with external stakeholders (ICB, commissioners, primary care)
• Experience in NHS Talking Therapies / IAPT and leading service improvement or transformation programmes
• Knowledge of NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT) model and national guidance
• Strong governance, risk management, and quality standards knowledge
• Ability to analyze and interpret performance and activity data
• Financial awareness and resource management
• Excellent communication and influencing skills; ability to build partnerships across organizations

• Leadership and people management
• Effective communication and influencing
• Collaborative and cross-functional working
• NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT) knowledge
• Clinical governance, risk management and audit
• Data analysis and interpretation of performance metrics

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