Deputy Director

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, dynamic and motivated leader to join NELFT as Deputy Director for Basildon, Brentwood and Thurrock. This senior leadership role will provide strategic and operational leadership across a diverse portfolio of community health services, working closely with clinical, operational and corporate colleagues to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality care for local communities. As a key member of the Directorate Senior Leadership Team, you will play a pivotal role in shaping service delivery, driving transformation & delivering value and supporting the achievement of local and Trust-wide priorities. You will lead and inspire multidisciplinary teams, develop strong relationships with system partners, commissioners and stakeholders, and ensure services remain responsive to the changing needs of the population we serve

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be an experienced senior manager with a proven track record of leading complex services, managing organisational change and delivering sustainable improvements in quality, performance and patient experience. You will be able to demonstrate excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills, with a commitment to collaborative working and continuous improvement

About us

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and community services for over 4.9 million people living in the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and across Essex. We work to ensure our patients, their friends and family, feel confident that their health needs are well met. With an excellent reputation for research and development, our skilled health professionals are at the cutting edge of evidence-based innovation, opening up the possibilities for better ways of working and delivery of care.

Details

• Date posted: 04 September 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 8d
• Salary: £94,356 to £108,814 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: NDD-001915
• Job locations: Phoenix House, Basildon, Essex, SS14 3EZ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Joining NELFT means becoming part of a compassionate, inclusive and ambitious organisation that values its staff and is committed to delivering outstanding care. We offer a supportive working environment, opportunities for professional development and the chance to make a significant contribution to the future of healthcare services across Basildon and Brentwood.

This is an exciting time to join NELFT as we continue to strengthen integrated working, improve outcomes for our residents and deliver innovative services across our local communities. We are looking for an exceptional leader who shares our values and is passionate about making a positive difference for patients, carers and staff.

Our Values

We are Kind

We are respectful

We work together with our communities

Main duties of the job

• To formally deputise for the Service Director, both externally and internally on all aspects of the directorate. To build effective partnerships with ICBs, Local Authorities, Acute Care Trusts, and other Public Sector/Voluntary Sector providers in both your own portfolio and other directorate portfolios (supporting ADs). To ensure that communication with partners is effective and enables a cohesive system-wide environment to foster positive patient outcomes from both a health and social care perspective. To communicate effectively to ensure that Directors and above are appraised of key operational issues. To effectively communicate with direct reports and all staff to cascade decisions, operating procedures, policies and learning, to ensure effective and safe services. To communicate escalations promptly, in order to ensure the Trust’s reaction is responsive, considered and with an awareness of the effect on the Trust’s reputation. To set and review objectives, in the context of strategic developments, within the Services. To work in partnership with patients and carers working towards the highest standards. To establish effective means of service co-ordination of services to ensure care is delivered in the least restrictive and disruptive manner possible. To hold budgetary responsibility and accountability relating to all service areas within the remit of the post. To effectively report against targets and provide insights into the performance of the Directorate. To develop effective patient centred decision-making processes. To address the need to enhance the role, status, training, support, and career development of staff
• To ensure effective and appropriate leadership and management expertise. To promote ways in which services can project a more positive and socially inclusive view of health and social care. As Deputy Director to engage fully across all areas of business focusing on improving the physical and mental health of all serving populations. To maintain compliance against any Section 75/sub-contract arrangements. To ensure a culture where staff, patients, the public and carers are involved in the decision-making processes of services and in the wider context of NELFT is maintained. To participate in all discussions and decision-making processes that relate to the strategic plans, liaising closely with, and ensuring these augments with those of other areas. To promote patient and public involvement in all areas of responsibility.

Working for Us Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives, along with staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest significantly in your development because when you feel valued and supported, we can deliver the highest quality care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been recognised in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and hold a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Through our staff networks and training opportunities, we strive to foster a just and compassionate culture at NELFT.

Probationary Period This post will be subject to a probationary period.

Select One:

High Cost Area Supplement – Fringe (Basildon, Thurrock, Brentwood, Harlow and Dartford only) This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £1,346 to a maximum of £2,270 p.a. pro rata for part time)

Certificates of Sponsorship Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AI

We value applications that genuinely reflect each candidate’s own skills, experience and motivations. We therefore strongly discourage the use of AI-generated content in applications.

Applications should be written in your own words and accurately represent your knowledge, skills and experience.

We reserve the right to reject an application where we reasonably believe AI has been used to generate or materially contribute to its content.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Please apply as soon as possible as some posts close early to limit the number of applications.

For an informal chat or to arrange a visit, please contact:

Name: Melissa Hall

Job title: PA to Service Director

Email: Melissa.Hall25@nhs.net