National Priority Programme Director - Mental Health

NHS ENGLAND; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A national health organization is seeking a senior leader in mental health and learning disabilities. This role involves setting strategic directions, advising government officials, and developing partnerships to enhance service delivery. Ideal candidates will have expertise in autism, ADHD, and a strong background in leadership. Flexible working arrangements are available.

Benefits

Flexible work arrangements

Inclusive workplace

Development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in senior leadership for mental health and learning disabilities.
• Ability to develop strong partnerships and drive program delivery.
• Subject-matter expertise in mental health conditions, particularly autism and ADHD.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership in mental health and learning disabilities.
• Act as a key advisor to the Secretary of State.
• Develop delivery plans and advise on national priorities.

Job description

Overview

The NHS is building a positive, compassionate and inclusive culture. We are committed to protecting and promoting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all colleagues, underpinning our values in the NHS Constitution and supporting us to be an Employer of Choice. We support flexible working arrangements where possible and will consider flexible patterns and workplace locations to suit service needs. We are an accredited Living Wage Employer.

Role purpose and responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership for mental health, learning disabilities and neurodevelopmental conditions, setting the strategic direction in line with Ministerial expectations and ensuring robust delivery plans with leads across the department and NHS England.
• Act as the Secretary of State's key advisor in this area, maintaining regular engagement with the Secretary of State, ministerial teams and other government departments (e.g., Department for Work and Pensions, Home Office, Department for Education, Cabinet Office) to deliver Government Missions (growth, opportunity and safer streets).
• Develop strong partnerships to drive delivery of programmes across the system, identify risks and issues, support behavioural change, galvanize partners and use soft levers to improve quality and performance.
• Report to the NHS Chief Executive and advise Ministers; lead transformation efforts, working with the national executive of the Department and NHS England to design an effective approach to delivering national priorities in Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Neurodevelopmental Conditions.
• Ensure the Department is equipped to meet Ministerial priorities and realise benefits of organisational redesign, including efficiency savings and creating a new operating model that empowers local systems.
• Provide subject-matter expertise on mental health, learning disabilities and neurodevelopmental conditions, with emphasis on autistic spectrum conditions and ADHD, and work with Directors to set plans, performance thresholds and appropriate improvement interventions.
• Collaborate with executive teams to draw in specialist expertise from across the organisation in a matrix model, coordinating across teams to deliver strategic goals, with regional oversight and support for local delivery.
• Open to level transfer to DHSC and available to eligible colleagues in NHS England; secondment to NHS England may be offered for the duration of the role.

Qualifications and application components

• CV outlining career history (max 2 sides) with key responsibilities and achievements, including explanations for any gaps within the last three years.
• Personal statement (about 500 words) showing your interest and how your skills, qualities and experience align with the person specification.
• Applicants must have prior agreement to be released for the duration of the secondment.
• Feedback is provided only if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security and working arrangements

• Successful candidates must meet security requirements; security check level will apply where needed. See the vetting charter and Baseline Personnel Security Standards checks as applicable.
• We operate a flexible working approach where possible, including home and office locations; eligibility and arrangements will be discussed during appointment.

Our commitments to you

• We are committed to an inclusive workplace that values diversity and believes diverse ideas and backgrounds lead to better patient outcomes.
• We offer development opportunities and a supportive environment where you can grow and excel.
• We welcome applications from disabled candidates and guarantee an interview if you meet all essential criteria.
• Applicants are encouraged to reflect their own knowledge, skills and experience in their application, including any support they may have received.
• For secondments, obtain prior agreement from your current line manager to apply.
• We do not accept applications via recruitment agencies.

Additional information

• The NHS Business Services Authority processes applications; privacy notices describe how your data will be handled. If you applied via NHS Jobs, your data may be transferred to the NHS ESR system and apps.trac.jobs.
• If successful at interview, an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via ESR may be initiated to support onboarding, with opt-out available at any stage.
• Our work supports the NHS to deliver high-quality services for patients and best value for taxpayers, drawing on expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education and commercial functions.