Assistant Commissioning Manager (MH) - Band 7

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Essex Adult Mental Health Transformation Programme. The post supports the commissioning and transformation of adult mental health services across Essex, working with Mental Health Trusts, VCSE partners, Social Care and ICB colleagues. This includes supporting delivery of key priorities and the development of the adult mental health urgent care pathway.

We are seeking a motivated individual with strong programme and project management skills, knowledge of mental health services and an understanding of contracts. You will work across complex systems, manage competing priorities and contribute to the delivery of Essex ICB ambitions, the Population Health Improvement Plan and the Governments 10-Year Health Plan.

The successful candidate will be organised, adaptable and proactive, with excellent communication, problem-solving and partnership-working skills.

Please note that use of a car or the ability to access public transport within work hours is essential, as you will be required to attend various places.

Main duties of the job

The Assistant Commissioning Manager (MH) is responsible for supporting the strategic and operational commissioning of a range of Mental Health services across Essex. Working in partnership with the strategy, analytical commercial, financial and quality teams, you will support the effective commissioning and contract management in the delivery of Mental Health services.

To support delivery, you should take an inclusive and values-based approach to leadership, ensuring effective delivery through collaboration with NHS providers, local authorities, primary care and the voluntary and community sector.

You will have the following skills. Experience & knowledge of mental health services as well as an understanding of the full commissioning cycle to support the development of key objectives of national guidance and service frameworks, including the Essex ICB strategy.

Ability to work independently and flexibly to tight deadlines to meet and manage competing priorities of varied portfolios of work in supporting the management and implantation of new care and service models.

Experience at a senior level in supporting effective contract and performance management of contracts with the ability to negotiate and influence through effective communication.

Experience of coproduction of services to support the development of service delivery plans; and lead where necessary on projects.

Office based twice a week -Chelmsford / Other office locations across Essex.

About us

NHS Essex ICB is a statutory organisation responsible for the planning and funding of NHS services for around 1.9 million people across Essex. Our role as an ICB is to bring health and care services together, improve the health and wellbeing of our population and ensure equitable access to services and outcome for everyone. The organisations headquarters is Seax House, Chelmsford, and we operate a hybrid working model (2 office-based days) that includes working across Essex and from home. Essex ICB currently has offices in Brentwood, Harlow and Colchester, in addition to the Chelmsford HQ.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We know that different experiences, ideas and perspectives help create a stronger and more innovative organisation that delivers better outcomes for patients. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, including people of all ages, disabilities, sex, gender identity or expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or personal circumstances. Our policies ensure all applicants are treated fairly and consistently throughout the recruitment process, including consideration of reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants.

Please note that the organisation does not hold a sponsorship licence.

Details

• Date posted: 19 August 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 7
• Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: D9708-MSE550
• Job locations: Seax House, Victoria Road South, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1QH, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

ROLE PURPOSE / SUMMARY

The proposed Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) will be a new organisation formed through the consolidation of three ICB areas in response to the NHSs ambition to deliver a more streamlined, strategic and cost-effective model of health commissioning. The ICB will oversee the commissioning of care for the approximately 2 million people who live in Essex. Operating within a reduced running cost envelope and aligned to the new requirements of ICBs in England, the proposed Essex ICB will focus on improving population health outcomes, health equity and smarter resource allocation.

The Assistant Commissioning Manager (MH) is responsible for leading and supporting the strategic and operational commissioning of a range of Mental Health services across Essex. Working in partnership with the strategy, analytical commercial, financial and quality teams, the Assistant Commissioning Manager (MH) will support the effective commissioning and contract management of Mental Health services. This may include ensuring that plans and projects to support commissioning Mental Health align with national, region and local strategic ambitions and support the three shifts outlined in the Governments 10 Year Health Plan; treatment to prevention, hospital to community and analogue to digital. To support delivery they should take an inclusive and values-based approach to leadership, ensuring effective delivery through collaboration with NHS providers, local authorities, primary care and the voluntary and community sector.

The Assistant Commissioning Manager (MH) will be required to:

• Contribute to the management of the Mental Health commissioning team, including participating in regular appraisals, staff development and performance management
• Support an effective needs assessment of Mental Health services, supported by integrated data and intelligence
• Support implementation of business planning for Mental Health
• Support oversight and management of the Mental Health budgets for Essex ICB
• Support the development of the ICBs strategic delivery plan for Mental Health services
• Support delivery of Mental Health projects to support effective commissioning and transformation of Mental Health services, including elective, diagnostics and cancer services across Essex
• Support implementation of new care and service models that support the three shifts and enable delivering of high quality efficient care that draw on evidence based best practice, innovations and the national modern service frameworks
• Work in partnership with the Neighbourhood Commissioning teams to support the development of Neighbourhood Health Services and the implementation of models of care that facilitate prevention, personalisation and the left shift to care closer to home
• Ensure commissioning priorities and service delivery plans are co-produced with people with lived experience, carers and clinicians
• Support effective contract and performance management of Mental Health contracts for the ICB, working with teams across the ICB to hold providers to account for performance, quality, workforce and financial delivery through effective contract management
• Ensure that decisions relating Mental Health commissioned services follow the ICBs agreed governance, including completing integrated impact assessments
• Use the ICBs agreed evaluation framework to evaluate the impact of diagnostic service and other Mental Health projects, tracking impact and outcomes and taking decommissioning or disinvestment decisions as required
• Support high quality reporting on progress and impact

As the ICB transitions to become a leaner, more focused strategic commissioning organisation the post holder will be expected to support the Mental Health Team in delivering on the three fundamental shifts set out in the NHS 10-year plan:

• From Treatment to Prevention: Embedding preventative, personalised and population based approaches to commissioning.
• From Hospital to Community: Championing care model redesign that supports community and neighbourhood health.
• From Analogue to Digital: Enabling clinically driven transformation through digital innovation, data analytics and evidence based improvement.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To deliver on the job description set out above, the job holder will be expected to deliver on the requirements set out below:

Policy and service development

• Implement policy and / or service developments related to Mental Health, drawing on requirements from NHS strategies, including the ICB strategy and the 10 Year Health Plan
• Ensure compliance with relevant ICB policies
• Use research, innovation and audits to inform service improvements or performance management

Strategy and analysis

• Analysis of complex qualitative and quantitative data relating to Mental Health
• Turns analysis into useful insights and reports that can be used to inform decision making and delivery
• Present complex data, information and insights, including qualitative and quantitative data, through clear and simple written and verbal briefings
• Use of data and insight to contribute to reporting, including performance management, financial and quality reporting against agreed contractual or project deliverables
• Use of Population Health Management methodologies and tools to inform projects and programmes that will improve outcomes for patients and sustainability of health services

Planning and organisation

• Develop and deliver project plans relating to Mental Health, ensuring appropriate governance, risk management, escalations and reporting
• Managing competing priorities, prioritizing own and team resources to effectively deliver on short, medium and longer term priorities
• Ensure accurate reporting and records management
• Support delivery and monitoring of business plan for Mental Health

Communications and Partnerships

• Work collaboratively, modelling inclusive, respectful and compassionate leadership
• Able to take account of a broad range of perspectives, including staff, patients and the public, to inform decision making
• Comfortable presenting information and training to internal and external stakeholder groups
• Build strong, trust-based relationships across the ICB, with NHS providers, local government, VCFSE partners and communities as needed
• Effective engagement with patients and the public as required
• Work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams to enable the collective ownership and delivery of projects that are seeking to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and deliver a sustainable health and care system
• Share complex and challenging information which may relate to service performance or staffing
• Able to manage conflict, find compromise and persuade based on evidence as needed

Financial and resource management

• Supports delivery of budget for Mental Health, including effective budget reporting as required
• Supports procurement of relevant services

Team management and capability building

• Support the management of the Mental Health team, including recruitment, onboarding, development and performance management of team members
• Able to influence in order to deliver effectively through those not directly line managing
• Support staff through ICB transition, including the development of teams to deliver on new ICB portfolios as agreed through transition
• Support the effective transition of relevant functions to new portfolios within or beyond the ICB to support the new NHS operating model, in line with the requirements of the Model ICB Blueprint
• Work collaboratively with system partners to facilitate transitional arrangements
• Maintain a focus on quality, safety and affordability during transition
• Supporting effective Information Asset Management for the team

Other

• Use initiative and work independently as needed to deliver on requirements of the role
• Primarily desk-based work that requires use of visual display units, focused concentration and frequent participation in on-line or in person meetings
• Able to use software required to develop report, including ability to deliver high quality documents through Microsoft suite (word, power point, excel), analytical tools to support analysis and population health management and project management tools

Flexibility and evolving responsibilities

As the ICB continues to evolve, portfolios may be subject to change to reflect the needs of the organization, the health and care system and national policy direction. This may include adjustments to areas of responsibility or realignment of reporting structures.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will need to build constructive relationships with partners from across the health and care system. Key relationships will be with:

-ICB senior leadership

-Information Governance team

-Local Authority partners

-NHS Providers

-NHSEI regional partners

-Other system partners, such as VCFSE