Assistant Director of Mental Health (LDA)

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 91,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking an Assistant Director for Mental Health, Learning Disabilities, and SEND. This vital role involves overseeing service delivery, contributing to system-wide strategies, and leading transformation programmes to enhance service quality and accessibility. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in health or social care and strong leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on complex matters.
• Credibility to challenge and influence individuals at all levels.
• Ability to analyse data and draw appropriate conclusions.

Responsibilities

• Providing oversight of commissioned providers to ensure safe service delivery.
• Contributing to development of system-wide strategies for mental health and SEND.
• Leading transformation programmes aligned with local needs.

Skills

Communication skills

Influence and negotiation

Data analysis

Education

Masters level education or equivalent experience

Management training

Job description

Job summary

Are you an experienced and inspiring leader with a passion for improving mental health, learning disabilities, and SEND services? We are offering an exciting opportunity for a 12-month secondment as Assistant Director for Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and SEND.

About the Role

This strategic leadership role will be central to shaping and delivering transformation across mental health, learning disabilities, and SEND services in the South East. The successful candidate will work across system partners—including NHS providers, local authorities, and voluntary sector organisations—to drive improvements in quality, equity, and outcomes.

Main duties of the job

• Providing oversight of commissioned providers, ensuring safe, high-quality, and effective service delivery.
• Contributing to the development and implementation of system-wide strategies for mental health, learning disabilities, and SEND.
• Leading transformation programmes, aligned with national priorities and local population needs.
• Championing inclusive leadership, co-production, and innovation across the system.

About us

Our work supports the NHS to deliver high quality services for patients and best value for taxpayers.

Our staff bring expertise across hundreds of specialisms—including clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial—enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

We lead the NHS in England by:

• Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
• Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
• Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values, and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care.
• Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation.
• Delivering value for money.

Contract Details

• Date posted: 03 November 2025
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 8d
• Salary: £91,342 to £105,337 a year per annum (exclusive of London Weighting)
• Contract: Secondment
• Duration: 11 months
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 990-SE-18734-E
• Job locations: NHSE Office in London/Berkshire/Kent/Surrey, SE1 8UG

Person Specification – Values and Behaviours

• Works well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others.
• Values diversity and difference; operates with integrity and openness.

Skills, Capabilities & Attributes

• Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situations.
• Credibility to successfully challenge and influence individuals at all levels and in different organisations and the ability to build relationships with senior leaders.
• Ability to analyse numerical and written data, assess verbal, written, numerical and draw appropriate conclusions.

Qualifications

• Educated to Masters level or equivalent level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
• Management training / qualification or equivalent experience.

Knowledge and Experience

• In depth additional expert knowledge acquired over a significant period of time in Local Authority/Health/Social Care.
• Subject matter expertise across a number of key areas relating to Mental Health, Learning Disabilities, Autism and SEND. Children and Young People's Health and Wellbeing.
• Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, the NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisations.

Employer Details

NHS England

NHSE Office in London/Berkshire/Kent/Surrey, SE1 8UG

Website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/