Delivery and Partnership Manager

Get Set UK; Colchester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days' annual leave

Vitality health & wellbeing support

24/7 Employee Assistance Programme

Workplace pension (salary sacrifice)

Share buy scheme

IncentFit for eligible activities

Discounts: wellbeing, retail, fitness,

Job summary

Get Set UK is seeking an experienced Delivery and Partnership Manager for Work Your Way across Essex. You will lead Team Leaders, oversee IPS employment services for people experiencing severe mental illness, and collaborate with NHS mental health services to deliver contracted outcomes.

This countywide role requires strong operational leadership, performance accountability and effective partnership management.

Qualifications

• Experience managing operational teams or Team Leaders within IPS, mental health employment support, employability or related services, with evidence of performance improvement.
• Experience managing subcontractors or supply chain partners, including monitoring contractual performance, managing relationships and addressing underperformance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee IPS employment services for people experiencing severe mental illness across Essex.
• Lead Team Leaders, manage subcontracted delivery and monitor referrals, caseloads, waiting times, job starts and sustained employment.
• Work with NHS clinical teams, commissioners and delivery partners to strengthen referral pathways and integrate employment support with mental health treatment.
• Prepare for fidelity reviews, coordinate evidence and ensure improvement actions lead to meaningful changes in delivery.

Skills

Operational leadership

Contract performance

Partnership management

NHS collaboration

Performance reporting

Coaching teams

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Delivery and Partnership Manager - Essex IPS SMI (Work Your Way) Lead the delivery. Strengthen the partnerships. Improve employment outcomes. Employment can play a powerful part in mental health recovery. But delivering effective employment support takes more than good intentions. It requires strong operational leadership, integrated clinical partnerships and consistent performance. As Delivery and Partnership Manager for Work Your Way, you'll oversee IPS employment services supporting people experiencing severe mental illness across Essex. You'll lead Team Leaders, manage subcontracted delivery, work closely with NHS mental health services and take responsibility for contractual performance, quality and IPS fidelity. This is a countywide role combining people leadership, performance accountability and partnership management. This is an Essex-based, countywide operational role requiring regular in-person engagement with delivery teams, NHS services and subcontracted partners. It is not a remote management position., You'll be responsible for making sure employment support works consistently across internal teams and subcontracted services. You'll lead allocated Team Leaders, review performance, coach managers and address issues before they affect participants or contractual outcomes. You'll monitor referrals, caseloads, waiting times, job starts and sustained employment. When performance falls behind, you'll investigate why, agree practical improvements and follow through. Partnership management is equally important. You'll hold subcontractors accountable for performance and quality while maintaining constructive working relationships. You'll work with NHS clinical teams, commissioners and delivery partners to strengthen referral pathways and integrate employment support with mental health treatment. IPS fidelity is a core responsibility. You'll prepare for and participate in fidelity reviews, coordinate evidence and ensure improvement actions lead to meaningful changes in delivery. You'll also maintain oversight of safeguarding, contractual compliance, service risks and accurate reporting. What success looks like Your teams and delivery partners understand their expectations and consistently work towards contractual employment outcomes. NHS partnerships support effective referrals and integrated employment provision. IPS fidelity reviews lead to sustained improvements, not simply completed action plans. Team Leaders receive effective coaching, underperformance is addressed and participants receive consistent, recovery-focused support. The working reality This is an operational management role with accountability for people, performance, partnerships and service quality. You'll work across Essex, engaging directly with teams, NHS services and subcontractors. Regular countywide travel is part of the role. The balance between managing internal teams and subcontracted provision may change as the service develops. You'll need to challenge performance constructively, resolve competing priorities and maintain effective relationships when difficult decisions are required.

What you get

• 25 days' annual leave, increasing with service.
• Vitality health and wellbeing support, including GP services, mental health support and physiotherapy.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, including up to six counselling sessions a year and legal, financial and debt guidance.
• Workplace pension, with salary sacrifice available subject to eligibility and scheme rules.
• Share buy scheme.
• Up to £360 a year through IncentFit for eligible activities.
• Wellbeing, retail, fitness, travel and mobile discounts, including 20% off eligible EE mobile plans.

About Get Set UK

Get Set UK delivers employment, skills, apprenticeships, health and justice services, helping people overcome barriers and progress towards meaningful, sustainable employment. We are part of Palladium, a global impact organisation with more than 60 years' experience delivering programmes and solutions internationally. Our values are Be Ambitious, Be Proud, Be Considerate, Be Inspiring and Own It, and they shape how we work with colleagues, participants and partners.

Eligibility and checks

You must have the full right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available for this role. Get Set UK is a Disability Confident and Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout recruitment.

Requirements

• Experience managing operational teams or Team Leaders within IPS, mental health employment support, employability or related services, with evidence of performance improvement.
• Experience managing subcontractors or supply chain partners, including monitoring contractual performance, managing relationships and addressing underperformance.
• Good working knowledge of IPS principles and fidelity, alongside an understanding of severe mental illness and barriers to sustainable employment.
• Experience working collaboratively with NHS mental health services, clinical teams or other health partners to improve service delivery.
• Evidence of managing contractual KPIs, employment outcomes and quality standards, using performance information to identify risks and take corrective action.
• Experience coaching and developing others, setting clear expectations and managing difficult performance conversations.
• Evidence of commitment, reliability and consistently delivering high standards of work, including agreed objectives and measurable results.
• Confident working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and performance reporting systems, with the ability to learn other digital platforms.
• Ability to present your recent employment history clearly, including explaining gaps or short-term roles during the previous five years.
• Strong working knowledge of Essex, including its geography, local communities, NHS mental health services and employment support networks, together with the ability to travel reliably across the county to meet the operational demands of the role.

Useful, but not essential

• Direct involvement in IPS fidelity reviews and subsequent improvement planning.
• Experience supporting IPS services specifically for people experiencing severe mental illness.
• Knowledge of Essex mental health services, referral pathways and local employment networks.