Assistant Director - Mental Health

Surrey County Council; Reigate; On-site; GBP 87,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

Surrey County Council is seeking an Assistant Director for Mental Health to lead transformative initiatives across mental health services. The role requires a visionary leader with substantial experience in social care, capable of driving strategic transformation and promoting integration of services for residents. Join a supportive team dedicated to improving health and wellbeing outcomes for the community.

Benefits

26 days’ holiday, rising to 31 days

Employee Assistance Programme

Local government pension

Lifestyle discounts

Paid volunteering days

Qualifications

• Proven experience in senior management in social care.
• Deep knowledge of adult social care legislation, including the Mental Health Act.
• Ability to influence various stakeholders across systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for mental health and prison services.
• Ensure compliant service delivery and manage a budget of approximately £33.5 million.
• Champion a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Strategic Thinking

Influencing

Risk Management

Education

Professional qualification in social care or health discipline

Job description

Join to apply for the Assistant Director - Mental Health role at Surrey County Council

19 hours ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Join to apply for the Assistant Director - Mental Health role at Surrey County Council

The salary for this role is £87,561 - £98,431 per annum, working 36 hours per week.

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for transforming mental health services? Do you thrive in complex systems and want to make a real difference in the lives of adults across Surrey? If so, we invite you to join us as our next Assistant Director – Mental Health.

About Us

The Adults, Wellbeing & Health Partnerships directorate is on a significant and ambitious transformation programme, with a focus on driving collaboration between the Council and Health in order to deliver our joint accountabilities to improve care and wellbeing outcomes to Surrey’s adult population. A key focus is on independence, prevention and early intervention strategies, tackling inequalities and improving access to services to ensure that no-one is left behind.

You’ll be part of a forward-thinking leadership team, shaping the future of services for our residents. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to make a real difference.

About The Role

This is a pivotal leadership role within the Adults, Wellbeing & Health Partnerships directorate, responsible for shaping and delivering high-impact mental health and prison services, including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). You will work closely with the Director for Lifelong services to lead a team of senior managers and oversee a budget of approximately £33.5 million, ensuring services are person-centred, innovative, and aligned with statutory requirements.

You will champion a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and integrated care, working closely with internal teams and external partners across health and social care. Your leadership will be instrumental in driving strategic transformation, improving outcomes, and promoting independence and wellbeing for Surrey’s adult population.

Some of the key responsibilities for this role include:

• Providing strategic leadership for mental health and prison services, ensuring high-quality, responsive, and compliant service delivery.
• Leading operational transformation and service development aligned with the Council’s vision and priorities.
• Representing the directorate at local, regional, and national forums, influencing policy and advocating for Surrey’s interests.
• Ensuring safeguarding, risk management, and regulatory compliance are embedded across all services.
• Fostering collaborative partnerships with health, community, and government stakeholders to promote integrated care.
• Driving performance through effective budget management, KPIs, and a culture of accountability and innovation.
  
  
  

The contractual base for this role is the Council’s headquarters at Woodhatch Place in Reigate, however travel around the County for meetings and visiting teams is required. Agile working is supported, meaning you can work however, whenever, and wherever suits you best around requirements to physically attend a Surrey location.

About You

We are looking for a proven and inspirational leader with the ability to work in a constantly changing and pressured environment. You will have proven experience of successful collaboration with Health partners performance excellence and accountability, aligned to public values and The Surrey Way.

Your application will clearly evidence that you have:

• A professional qualification in social care, occupational therapy, or a relevant health discipline, with appropriate registration.
• Substantial senior management experience in a complex social care environment.
• Deep knowledge of adult social care legislation, policy, and best practice, including the Mental Health Act (1983 and 2007) and the Mental Capacity Act (2005).
• A strong track record of managing risk, leading transformation, and delivering high-quality services.
• Political acumen, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence a wide variety of stakeholders across systems and sectors.
• A commitment to equity, inclusion, and empowering individuals through personalised care.
  
  
  

Contact Us

Please contact us for any questions relating to role requirements, flexible working requests, transferable skills, or barriers to employment.

For an informal discussion please contact Liz Uliasz at [e-mail].

Key Dates

• The job advert closes at 23:59 on 10/06/2025.
• Shortlisting is planned for the week commencing 16/06/2025.
• Interviews are planned for the week commencing 23/06/2025.
  
  
  

Rewards And Benefits

• 26 days’ holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
  
  
  

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.

Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!

Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council

Our Values

Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about ourvalues.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form
  
  
  

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Business Development and Sales

• Industries

  Government Administration

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