Talking Therapies Service Manager

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please note that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.

JOB LOCATION

Surrey Wide with Head Office in Redhill

JOB SUMMARY

The Talking Therapies Service Manager plays a pivotal role in leading a large, diverse team to deliver high-quality psychological interventions. Working closely with Clinical Leads and Locality Managers, the post holder will provide both operational and clinical leadership, ensuring services meet national protocols and local contractual requirements.

Key aims of the role include:

• Delivering a dynamic, effective, and efficient service that meets contractual, organisational, and patient needs.
• Providing strong people management, including recruitment, retention, performance, and welfare.
• Building collaborative relationships across primary care, mental health pathways, and partner organisations.
• Driving innovation, embracing change, and ensuring continuous improvement.
• Aligning service objectives with NHS and organisational goals.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POST

Service Delivery

• Set and monitor performance targets with the COO, Clinical Lead, and Locality Managers.
• Lead service development and integration of Talking Therapies into neighbourhood models.
• Implement improvements based on co-design with people with lived experience and best practice guidance.
• Ensure effective operational management of the IAPT team and compliance with statutory/regulatory requirements.
• Oversee risk management practices and ensure clinicians receive supervision and professional development.
• Maintain smooth patient pathways, including referrals to secondary care.
• Ensure waiting time targets are consistently met.
• Monitor clinical performance and manage resources within budget to ensure sustainability.
• Analyse service usage to improve accessibility and efficiency

Organisation

• Provide clear, positive leadership to motivate and inspire staff.
• Line manage Clinical Leads, Admin Leads, and Locality Managers, delegating appropriately while retaining accountability.
• Review service performance regularly, resolving issues and reporting findings to senior management.
• Ensure appraisal systems and staff support structures are in place and adhered to.

Communication

• Maintain effective communication systems within the service and with stakeholders.
• Actively listen to and incorporate feedback from people with lived experience.
• Respond appropriately to sensitive or contentious enquiries.
• Represent the service at internal and external meetings.

WORK SETTING AND REVIEW

Manage workload efficiently and independently, escalating issues when necessary.

Maintain confidentiality at all times.

Participate in learning opportunities, progress reviews, and receive support from senior management.

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Adhere to DHC policies, procedures, and relevant legislation.
• Complete mandatory training and ensure compliance at all times.
• Engage in reflection, self-evaluation, and continuous professional development.
• Contribute to organisational projects as required.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with the role as agreed.

CONFIDENTIALITY

The post holder must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients, staff and DHC business in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and Caldicott principles.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

All Managers have a general accountability for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of the employees under their direction at work.

• Ensure the health, safety, and welfare of employees under your direction.
• Take reasonable care for your own actions and their impact on others.
• Follow all health and safety procedures and report any concerns promptly.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

DHC is committed to equal opportunities. All employees must uphold the spirit and requirements of the policy, avoiding direct or indirect discrimination.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of general education (English and Maths at GCSE or equivalent level).
• Education to degree level or equivalent.

Desirable

• Formal training in Leadership and Management

Experience

Essential

• Experience of successfully managing a public-facing service, including clinical delivery, that meets KPIs and is within a budget.
• Experience of successfully managing large and diverse teams, including welfare, performance and development.
• Experience of writing and producing reports, audits, business proposals and project plans, sometimes with short timeframes.
• Ensuring a high level of standards is met across all aspects of Governance.
• Experience of delivering service development to enable integration and change in a diverse and evolving landscape.

Desirable

• Experience of working as an operational Leader in mental health.
• Experience using record systems such as SystmOne, IAPTUS or RADAR.
• Experience in managing contracts.

Skills & Competencies

Essential

• Highly developed leadership skills.
• Highly developed communication skills in a range of formats to a diverse audience, including highly sensitive and complex information.
• Highly developed people management skills with the ability to motivate, develop and inspire others as well as manage performance, sickness and welfare as required.
• Competent IT skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office and an ability to learn and support digital technologies.
• Ability to manage operational processes within the service and know when to escalate or take action.
• Ability to be an advocate for service, to develop and promote the service to all stakeholders.
• A can do attitude who can meet targets, stay calm under pressure and promote a positive, safe work environment.
• An understanding of the clinical delivery of Talking Therapy services and how they fit into the wider health system and neighbourhoods.
• Commitment to challenging the stigma of mental illness, seeking to break down barriers to treatment and recovery through continuous service improvement and working with people with lived experience.
• Experience of working with diverse communities and within a multicultural setting.
• Ability and willingness to regularly travel to locations throughout the organisation, some of which are rural and not accessible by Public Transport.

Desirable

• Experience of providing operational leadership of a large and diverse team.
• Experience of Managing projects.
• Experience of working to targets within a budget.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Dorking Healthcare Ltd.

Address

Holmhurst Medical Centre

12 Thornton Side

Redhill

Surrey

RH1 2NP

Employer's website

https://dhcclinical.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)