Director of MH Urgent Care & Inpatient Services

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a Director of Mental Health Inpatients and Urgent Care to join our senior leadership team on a 12-month secondment basis.

This is a high-profile, system leadership role responsible for the strategic and operational delivery of inpatient and urgent mental health services across a large and complex footprint. Working as part of a triumvirate with medical, clinical and quality leaders, you will provide visible, values-led leadership to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality services.

We are looking for an experienced and dynamic leader with a proven track record in managing complex services, driving performance and delivering improvement at scale. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape integrated neighbourhood models of care, strengthen system partnerships and lead transformation across urgent and inpatient pathways.

The successful candidate will bring strategic insight, strong leadership, and a commitment to collaboration, inclusion and continuous improvement as we continue to modernise services and meet the evolving needs of our population. If you are motivated by making a lasting difference in mental health care and thrive in a dynamic, purpose-driven environment, we would love to hear from you.

EPUT offers a fantastic relocation package of up to £8,000.  Covering a number of expenditures for new recruits relocating from 30 miles or more from their new work base at EPUT.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide strategic and operational leadership across Mental Health Inpatient and Urgent Care services.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality services, ensuring performance against national and local targets
• Providing strong operational oversight, ensuring robust governance, performance monitoring and continuous improvement
• Developing and implementing innovative service models that improve flow, reduce length of stay and enhance patient outcomes
• Leading integrated working across health and social care, working closely with Local Authority partners and system organisations
• Managing financial and workforce resources effectively, ensuring delivery within agreed budgets
• Building and maintaining strong partnerships across the system, including with ICS and provider collaborative partners
• Driving a culture of accountability, inclusion, continuous learning and high performance aligned to Trust values
• Participating in the senior on-call rota

This role requires a highly visible leader who can operate confidently at scale, influence across organisational boundaries and lead complex transformation programmes.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This is a senior leadership post responsible for the overall strategic and operational management of Mental Health Inpatient and Urgent Care services, including social care integration.

The post holder will:

• Ensure effective governance arrangements are in place to deliver safe, high-quality and efficient services
• Lead performance management across services, ensuring KPIs are achieved and risks are identified and addressed
• Drive service improvement and transformation, ensuring services are aligned to best practice and future service models
• Work collaboratively with clinical and professional leads to ensure services are effective, evidence-based and sustainable
• Lead partnership working with Local Authorities and system partners to deliver integrated and person-centred care
• Ensure effective leadership structures are in place across services, developing high-performing teams
• Promote a culture that reflects Trust values and supports continuous improvement, equality and inclusivity

The successful candidate will be expected to operate at a senior system level, leading across organisational boundaries and influencing strategic direction.