MHTR Operational Manager

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated registered mental health professional (Mental Health Nurse, OT or Social Worker) to join the Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) Service as an Operational Manager. The Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) Service forms part of the national Community Sentence Treatment Requirement (CSTR) programme, providing specialist mental health assessment, treatment and care coordination for individuals serving community sentences. Working at the interface between health and criminal justice, the service supports individuals whose mental health needs contribute to offending behaviour, improving access to timely, evidence-based treatment while supporting recovery, rehabilitation and the reduction of health inequalities. The Operational Manager will provide day-to-day operational leadership for the MHTR Service, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, responsive and person-centred care in accordance with Trust policies, professional standards and national guidance. The post holder will be responsible for the effective management of service delivery, workforce, performance, governance and quality improvement, ensuring the service meets local and national performance expectations while maintaining high standards of patient care.

Main duties of the job

The role combines operational management with professional and clinical leadership. As a registered healthcare professional, the post holder will provide clinical oversight and support to the multidisciplinary team, promoting evidence-based, trauma-informed and recovery-focused practice. They will provide advice and guidance on complex clinical and operational issues, support robust risk management processes, ensure effective safeguarding arrangements are in place and promote high-quality assessment, care planning and treatment delivery across the service.

Working collaboratively across organisational boundaries, the post holder will develop and maintain strong partnerships with the Probation Service, Liaison and Diversion Services, Community Mental Health Teams, primary care, substance misuse services, social care, housing providers, voluntary sector organisations and other criminal justice partners. They will ensure effective communication, coordinated care pathways and appropriate information sharing to improve continuity of care and support positive outcomes for individuals subject to community sentences.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational management of the Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) Service, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, responsive and person-centred care in accordance with Trust policies, national guidance and contractual requirements.
• Lead the operational delivery of the service, ensuring effective management of referrals, caseloads, waiting times, treatment pathways and discharge processes to achieve local and national performance standards.
• Provide line management, leadership and support to the multidisciplinary team, ensuring staff receive regular supervision, appraisal, mandatory training, professional development and appropriate wellbeing support.
• Promote a positive, inclusive and compassionate team culture, managing workforce issues including recruitment, induction, attendance management, performance management and employee relations in accordance with Trust policies.
• Provide professional and clinical leadership to the team, supporting practitioners in the assessment and management of individuals with complex mental health needs, offending behaviour and associated risks.
• Provide advice and guidance on complex clinical, safeguarding and operational issues, ensuring robust risk assessment, risk management and escalation processes are embedded within the service.
• Ensure high standards of assessment, formulation, care planning, treatment delivery and clinical record keeping, promoting evidence-based, trauma-informed and recovery-focused practice.
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships with the Probation Service, Liaison and Diversion Services, Community Mental Health Teams, primary care, substance misuse services, social care, housing providers, voluntary sector organisations and other criminal justice partners to improve continuity of care and patient outcomes.
• Represent the service at internal and external operational, clinical and partnership meetings, contributing to the development of integrated pathways across health and criminal justice systems.
• Lead on clinical and operational governance within the service, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, professional standards, Trust policies and information governance legislation.
• Oversee the management of incidents, complaints, safeguarding concerns and patient safety events, ensuring learning is identified, shared and embedded through continuous quality improvement.
• Monitor service performance using activity, quality and outcome data, identifying trends, risks and opportunities for improvement and implementing appropriate action plans.
• Lead and participate in clinical audit, service evaluation, quality improvement initiatives and the implementation of evidence-based practice to support continuous service development.
• Support the implementation of national policy, NHS England guidance, Community Sentence Treatment Requirement (CSTR) and Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) developments, ensuring the service remains compliant with evolving standards and best practice.
• Work collaboratively with commissioners, partner agencies and Trust colleagues to develop innovative approaches that improve access, reduce health inequalities and strengthen integrated care pathways for individuals within the criminal justice system.
• Contribute to business planning, workforce planning, financial management and resource utilisation to ensure the efficient and sustainable delivery of the service.
• Utilise Trust information systems to monitor workforce, activity, quality, performance and governance, ensuring accurate reporting and effective use of data to inform operational decision-making.
• Support education, training and awareness programmes for staff and partner organisations to improve understanding of mental health, trauma-informed practice and the health needs of people in contact with the criminal justice system.
• Act as a role model for professional practice, demonstrating the Trust's values and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the responsibilities and grade of the post, as reasonably required by the Service Manager.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.