Head of Operational Implementation

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 82,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider is seeking a professional to enhance operational services across the trust. The role involves collaboration with various teams, leading strategic initiatives, and ensuring the implementation of effective service improvement plans. Candidates must possess a Master's level qualification and experience in change management.

Benefits

Generous pay and annual leave

Flexible working options

Career development opportunities

NHS discounts

Counselling service

Cycle to work scheme

Season ticket loan

Staff restaurants

Qualifications

• Master's level education in a relevant subject or equivalent post-graduate experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience in managing budgets and leading change.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for improving and optimizing operational services across the Trust.
• Lead initiatives to address challenges in current services.
• Design and produce plans with stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership skills

Excellent report writing

Data analysis

Education

Master's level education

Tools

Information Technology

Job description

Job summary

South London and Maudsley (SLaM) is on an ambitious journey to ensure its services deliver outstanding mental health care, responding to the needs of the communities it serves - across all settings.

This post will be responsible for working across directorates and executive portfolios to ensure operational services are optimised and work to continuously improve, develop and respond to needs.

This work will range from specific pathway or service work to deliver operational improvement initiatives, to leading cross-cutting enabling work to support high quality service delivery such as productivity, data quality, development of new ways of working, establishing partnerships and integrated, and/or model redesign (bringing in wider Trust support).

The post holder would be expected to work with teams across the Trust and across the South London system. It will work to the Chief Operating Officer's office, whilst being required to work closely with other key executives, including matrix-reporting to the Director of Strategy and Transformation on some initiatives and working in close collaboration with the Head of PMO and Head of Transformation within the Trust.

Main duties of the job

Responsible for ensuring the implementation of work to develop, improve and optimise operational services across the Trust.

• To lead major work across directorates and with partners on the implementation of a range of areas of focus that develop, improve and optimise operational services across the Trust.
• Work to understand challenges and needs in current services using data and engagement.
• Work to design and implement initiatives at the right scale with the right resource that will address challenges and optimise them.
• Co-produce plans with stakeholders and professional groups.
• To jointly lead on the feasibility alignment of services, reviewing the demand and capacity within the trust to help design the right provision for the future.
• To work within Trust and wider processes to get consensus, buy-in and sign off across portfolios including ensuring clear articulation of new/revised models.
• Holds a strong understanding of mental health services, the direction of travel both locally and nationally, and able to navigate conflicting priorities in the design and development process.

About us

We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance.

There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family. We want you to feel like you are part of a close-knit team at SLaM. It's important to us that you are valued and appreciated, therefore we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer.

Some of our amazing benefits are highlighted here:

• Generous pay, pensions and annual leave.
• Work life balance and supportive of a range of flexible working option
• Career development, There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programme
• Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars
• Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected site
• NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.

Other benefits include:

• Counselling service
• Wellbeing event
• Long service award
• Cycle to work schem
• Season ticket loan
• Staff restaurants

Details Date posted

18 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£82,462 to £93,773 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-NCL-7154778-TA-A

Job locations

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Denmark Hill

London

SE5 8AZ

Job description Job responsibilities

• To work flexibly across the portfolio, recognising this may mean rapid reprioritisation based on need

• To cover where appropriate for other members of the team

• The post holder may be required to undertake additional duties appropriate to the pay band.

• The post may change over time to reflect the developing needs of the Trust and its services, as well as the personal development of the post holder

See JD for full details

Job description Job responsibilities

• To work flexibly across the portfolio, recognising this may mean rapid reprioritisation based on need

• To cover where appropriate for other members of the team

• The post holder may be required to undertake additional duties appropriate to the pay band.

• The post may change over time to reflect the developing needs of the Trust and its services, as well as the personal development of the post holder

See JD for full details

Person Specification Education and Qualifications Essential

• Master's level education in a relevant subject or equivalent post-graduate experience
• Evidenceof continuing professional development.

Experience Essential

• Experience of managing budgets and resources effectively
• Experience of leading and managing change to deliver organisational goals
• Strong understanding of the national policy particularly related to inpatient quality transformation

Desirable

• Experience of transformation and innovation for pathways for mental health
• Experience working across health and social care and working to integrate wider partners such as VCSE in pathway delivery
• Experience working to implement national initiatives for mental health

Skills and Knowledge Essential

• Excellent report writing and presentation skills and proven ability to evaluate services and present findings to stakeholders
• Leadership skills especially the ability to lead and manage change through influence without direct management
• High level competency in using Information Technology (word, excel, access, PowerPoint etc), especially spreadsheets and databases, to analyse and interpret complex data
• Able to analyse complex issues/problems, gather relevant information and exercise sound judgement in reaching the most appropriate conclusions.
• Knowledge of recent legislation affecting the NHS and local authority.

Personal Qualities Essential

• Recognition of own limitations, strengths and weaknesses and an ability to seek advice when necessary.
• Able to easily gain the trust, confidence and respect of service users, their relatives, and staff of a variety of levels and disciplines.

Person Specification Education and Qualifications Essential

• Master's level education in a relevant subject or equivalent post-graduate experience
• Evidenceof continuing professional development.

Experience Essential

• Experience of managing budgets and resources effectively
• Experience of leading and managing change to deliver organisational goals
• Strong understanding of the national policy particularly related to inpatient quality transformation

Desirable

• Experience of transformation and innovation for pathways for mental health
• Experience working across health and social care and working to integrate wider partners such as VCSE in pathway delivery
• Experience working to implement national initiatives for mental health

Skills and Knowledge Essential

• Excellent report writing and presentation skills and proven ability to evaluate services and present findings to stakeholders
• Leadership skills especially the ability to lead and manage change through influence without direct management
• High level competency in using Information Technology (word, excel, access, PowerPoint etc), especially spreadsheets and databases, to analyse and interpret complex data
• Able to analyse complex issues/problems, gather relevant information and exercise sound judgement in reaching the most appropriate conclusions.
• Knowledge of recent legislation affecting the NHS and local authority.

Personal Qualities Essential

• Recognition of own limitations, strengths and weaknesses and an ability to seek advice when necessary.
• Able to easily gain the trust, confidence and respect of service users, their relatives, and staff of a variety of levels and disciplines.

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).

Additional information 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 Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Denmark Hill

London

SE5 8AZ

Employer's website

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

Employer details Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Denmark Hill

London

SE5 8AZ

Employer's website

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