Head of Service Delivery

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and inspirational operational leader to join South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust as our Head of Adult Community Services.

This is a pivotal senior leadership role, responsible for leading a portfolio of adult community mental health services and driving the delivery of high-quality, safe and effective care across South West London.

As part of a multidisciplinary leadership team, you will work closely with clinical, professional and operational colleagues to deliver excellent outcomes for service users, carers and communities. You will play a key role in shaping the future of community mental health services, developing innovative models of care and supporting the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan and Community Mental Health Framework.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join an ambitious and forward-thinking organisation at a time of significant transformation and investment in community mental health services.

If you are an ambitious and compassionate leader ready to shape the future of Adult Community Mental Health Services across South West London, we would love to hear from you. Please send a CV and Cover letter to Veda Kakad (People Business Partner for Adult Community) via email to Veda.Kakad@swlstg.nhs.uk by Sunday 9th August 2026.

Main duties of the job

As Head of Adult Community Services, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, person-centred and recovery-focused care.

You will:

• Lead multidisciplinary community mental health services to deliver outstanding care and outcomes.
• Work in partnership with Clinical Directors, Associate Directors of Nursing, Heads of Profession and senior leaders across the Trust.
• Drive service transformation, innovation and continuous quality improvement.
• Ensure delivery of key operational, quality, workforce and financial objectives.
• Develop effective partnerships with local authorities, primary care, voluntary sector organisations and wider system partners.
• Use data and intelligence to improve performance, reduce inequalities and support evidence-based decision making.
• Champion staff wellbeing, engagement and development, creating inclusive and high-performing teams.
• Represent the Trust at Borough, Place and Integrated Care System meetings and forums.
• Ensure the voices of service users, carers and communities influence service development and improvement

Join our Webinar on Wednesday 5th August at 17.15 – contact Veda to register your details.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We are looking for an experienced and values-driven leader who can demonstrate:

Essential

• Significant senior leadership experience within a complex healthcare, mental health or social care environment.
• Experience of leading large multidisciplinary teams and operational services.
• A strong track record of service improvement, transformation and change management.
• Experience managing significant budgets, resources and performance targets.
• Experience of working effectively across organisational and professional boundaries.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Master's degree, postgraduate management qualification or equivalent experience.
• Strong commitment to quality improvement, equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable

• Experience within mental health services.
• Programme or project management experience.
• Experience of working at borough, place or system level.

All public facing roles require a proportionate level of English language proficiency for written and verbal communication and the Trust is required to verify results of certain English language competency tests relied upon. When the fluency duty is met by the provision of a sign language interpreter, the interpreter should be registered with the National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPD).

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications

If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.

Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.

Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.

Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.