Community Development & Engagement Lead

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A local mental health service provider in London is seeking an Outreach and Engagement Lead to enhance community mental health services. This role involves leading outreach initiatives to reduce health inequalities and promote accessible mental health support. Applicants should possess strong leadership and communication skills, with experience in community engagement and a passion for mental health. This is a full-time, permanent position with competitive pay.

Qualifications

• Experience of leading outreach programmes in health or community settings.
• Demonstrable understanding of anxiety and depression.
• Strong administrative skills, including accurate record keeping.

Responsibilities

• Lead the outreach programme to meet local population needs.
• Promote population health and coordinate high standards across the team.
• Maintain working relationships with GPs and community groups.

Skills

Strong leadership skills

Excellent communication

Team management

Community engagement

Ability to manage priorities

Education

Relevant qualification or equivalent experience

Evidence of continuing professional development

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job summary

This role will facilitate effective engagement between Westminster Talking Therapies and local stakeholders, referrers and community. The postholder will develop proactive strategies to ensure the service is well understood in the community with clear and accessible referral pathways, and that the services develops and communicates in a way that is effective for the local population and referrers, whilst continuing to adhere to national guidance for NHS Talking Therapies Services. A key area of this role is to ensure the service is addressing health inequalities in the local population.

The postholder will be responsible for ensuring the service develops an effective outreach and engagement programme which enables the service to achieve the expected key performance indicators.

To be a key figure in the borough in helping the local community (both professionals and members of the public) understand local Mental Health services and how to navigate these, as well as ensuring that feedback from the community is heard and considered by Mental Health services.

The post holder will be expected to have well developed organisational and business support skills of their own in order to meet the requirements for this role.

Main duties of the job

Lead the Westminster Talking Therapies (WTT) outreach and engagement programme, working under the Clinical Lead and Deputy Clinical Leads.

Develop a co‑produced outreach programme to meet local population needs, reduce health inequalities, and support understanding and management of anxiety and depression.

Promote population health and innovation, while coordinating supervision and maintaining high standards across the Community Development Team.

Ensure compliance with legislative frameworks, Safeguarding, and CNWL policies.

Drive service evaluation, research, and policy development, supporting co‑creation and service user involvement.

Maximise opportunities through partnership with local Westminster organisations, other CNWL services, and relevant agencies.

Maintain robust administrative systems, facilitate support for carers, and ensure effective team leadership and professional development.

About us

At Westminster Talking Therapies (WTT), we are committed to improving mental health and wellbeing across our diverse local communities. Our team is supportive, collaborative, and innovative, combining clinical expertise with a focus on outreach, engagement, and co‑production with service users.

As Outreach and Engagement Lead, you will shape and deliver our community outreach programme, working directly with service users, carers, and partner organisations to increase awareness of mental health support, reduce inequalities, and improve access to evidence‑based therapies.

This role blends strategic leadership, team management, and hands‑on community engagement. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, drive service innovation, and ensure service development reflects the needs and voices of the people we serve.

If you are passionate about mental health, skilled in partnership working, and enjoy a role that combines leadership with real community impact, this is the opportunity for you.

Date posted

17 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum inc HCAS (pro rata if P/T)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full‑time

Reference number

333-J-WE-0777-A

Job locations

190 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 1DX

Job responsibilities

Act as a key member of the WTT Senior Management Team (SMT).

Work in partnership with service users, carers, and community representatives to ensure meaningful consultation on service standards and development.

Promote effective intra‑ and inter‑team communication and reflective practice.

Maintain strong working relationships with GPs, Primary Care Networks, and voluntary sector organisations.

Liaise with CNWL services and local Westminster community groups to resolve interface issues and support collaborative working.

Disseminate information about professional developments, policy or legislative changes, and community resources to ensure staff utilise them effectively.

Collaborate with CNWL Communications, the Talking Therapies Services Support Manager, and WTT digital leads to develop public‑facing materials (leaflets, social media content, etc.).

Represent WTT at senior‑level meetings, including partnership and Primary Care Network meetings and Octopus (INT) Meetings.

Attend liaison meetings with relevant agencies (e.g., CNWL, housing, learning disabilities).

Lead the outreach team, ensuring members have the skills and competence to deliver high‑quality outreach work.

Provide line management and ensure supervision and appraisal take place in line with CNWL policy.

Recruit staff as required and ensure CNWL HR procedures are followed.

Manage disciplinary, grievance, and attendance issues in accordance with CNWL policies.

Ensure team members adhere to operational policies and agreed standards.

Facilitate a multidisciplinary, shared leadership approach that optimises staff resources for the benefit of service users.

Ensure risk assessment and management procedures are in place and followed.

Work with the Service Lead and finance colleagues to manage budgets and resources appropriately.

Promote good team working, local leadership, and reflective practice.

Ensure compliance with CNWL standards and procedures for Health and Safety, Fire Safety, First Aid, and response to serious incidents.

Advise senior managers and professional leads on professional issues as required.

Undertake other duties relevant to the post as directed by senior management.

Research and Development

Lead and participate in research, Quality Improvement (QI), and audit projects as agreed with senior management.

Ensure all team activity is underpinned by evidence‑based practice wherever possible.

Develop and maintain strong connections with local community and third‑sector organisations, GPs, and Westminster Local Authority.

Use insights from these connections to adapt and improve the service in response to local need.

Maintain strong links with other CNWL community teams.

Actively engage service users, carers, and the local population in developing the Westminster Talking Therapies offer.

Education and Qualifications - Essential

• Relevant qualification or equivalent experience in community development, or leadership.
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD).
• Further training or significant experience to postgraduate level.

Education and Qualifications - Desirable

• Training in audit, research, or quality improvement methodologies.

Knowledge and Experience - Essential

• Experience of leading or coordinating outreach and engagement programmes within health, social care, or community settings.
• Demonstrable understanding of anxiety, depression, and related common mental health conditions.
• Active participation in service planning and developments
• Experience of partnership working with GPs, Primary Care Networks, and voluntary/community sector organisations.

Knowledge and Experience - Desirable

• Experience of supervising or line managing staff.
• Experience of working with diverse and marginalised communities and addressing health inequalities.
• Experience in co‑production and service user involvement.
• Good knowledge of communities local to Westminster.

Skills and Abilities - Essential

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage and influence at all levels.
• Ability to work collaboratively across organisational and professional boundaries.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work autonomously within defined frameworks.
• Competence in planning, delivering, and evaluating outreach and engagement initiatives.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, including accurate record keeping.
• Confident IT skills, including use of MS Office. Skills in public speaking, facilitation, and community engagement.
• Ability to work flexibly across Westminster.

Skills and Abilities - Desirable

• Ability to work flexible hours on occasion including evenings/weekends for community events.
• Confident in data analysis.
• Can apply future vision of NHS 10-year plan into service development.

Values and Behaviours - Essential

• Commitment to CNWL's values of compassion, respect, empowerment, and partnership.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and to reducing health inequalities.
• Commitment to service user and carer involvement in all aspects of service delivery.
• Willingness to adapt and respond to the changing needs of the service and community.
• Positive, proactive, and collaborative approach to leadership.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

190 Vauxhall Bridge Road

London

SW1V 1DX

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)