Specialist Support Services Manager

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the leadership team in south east Essex as Head of Specialist Services for community health services.


The Head of Specialist Services will provide clinical and operational leadership to specialist community physical health services in south east Essex. The Head of Specialist Services will use extensive clinical knowledge and experience to promote excellence in clinical practice in order to deliver a high quality personalised service which is dynamic, proactive and responsive to health needs.


The post holder will support development and delivery of the overall strategic direction, performance and success of the services they are responsible for. They will be expected to develop close partnership working with all relevant internal and external stakeholders, developing integrated pathways across community physical and mental health services to support patients at place. The Head of Specialist Services will be expected to support the transformation of services across the Mid and South Essex Community Collaborative and work with the Acute Trust to improve specialist pathways.


Clinical delivery and performance management
Workforce planning
Contribution to the development of the Care Unit

Season Ticket Loans
NHS discounts for staff
Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
Day One Flexible Employer

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment


Join our Staff bank


What is Staff Bank?


Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.


All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.


If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.
Provide a visible, accessible and professional presence for staff, service users and their families across community services.
Act as professional lead for specialist services.
Have overall responsibility for the safe and effective delivery of clinical teams within specialist services.
Develop services in line with best practice, national standards and local innovation, leading local implementation of relevant national policies and local transformation agendas.
Contribute to and lead key aspects of the development of business plans in accordance with Care Unit and Trust strategy, ensuring services are fit for purpose and meeting performance and quality specifications.
Lead the implementation of service developments as agreed.
Provide management support to enable staff members to achieve their objectives and personal development plans.
Lead service reviews as necessary to ensure efficient use of resources and to ensure the most appropriate person undertakes tasks/care.
Provide line management responsibility for the Clinical Leads of specialist services within south east Essex and other senior clinical staff as required, providing 1-1 support, appraisal and reviews to all direct reports.
Select and support others to develop clinical leadership and agree a system of delegated responsibility for direct reports and other staff.
Support the implementation of new roles and extended clinical practice to modernise the service to benefit patients and their families.
In collaboration with senior clinical colleagues, develop and review nursing and AHP workforce plans for the Care Unit including an annual review of nursing and AHP skill mix.
Work collaboratively with the Heads of Community Nursing to develop effective communication and working relationships that support the integration of community nursing and specialist services.
Work with internal and external stakeholders to support the integration of community physical and mental health services.
Support the transformation of specialist services across the Mid and South Essex Community Collaborative, including undertaking a lead role for identified transformation work streams.
Work with colleagues in the Acute Trust to improve specialist pathways and the transition of patients from secondary to community care.
Ensure the specialist teams meet their responsibilities to provide clinical experience and mentor support for pre and post registration nurse education, in line with internal and external standards.
Ensure a system is in place to analyse the training and development needs for nursing within the integrated teams.
Support all direct reports to plan for 100% compliance with statutory and mandatory training for nursing staff on an annual basis.
Support all direct reports to plan for 100% compliance with appraisals and personal development plans for all nursing staff on an annual basis.,
Support systems for measuring and improving the quality of the patient experience within the Care Unit.
In collaboration with the service manager/clinical lead, ensure there are systems in place to learn from all patient experience safety and outcomes information and develop systems of audit to ensure continuous improvement.
Undertake management and investigation of incidents within the Care Unit.
Manage complaints in line with agreed processes and where required to resolve complex complaints, meet with complainants to address their concerns to ensure local resolution is achieved wherever possible.
Ensure the safeguarding agenda within the integrated teams is implemented with effective systems throughout the service including effective liaison with other agencies as required.
In collaboration with the senior management team, support the Directorates approach to improving compliance with NHSLA standards, CQC registration and other regulatory requirements.
Work with the senior management team to ensure the delivery of the Care Unit and Corporate Objectives.
Support the Care Unit with the delivery of the CQUINs.
Be responsible for providing governance and assurance mechanisms for specialist services reporting to Head of Specialist Services.
As part of the Care Unit management team, manage the delegated budgets and ensure financial targets for the teams are met.
Comply with financial processes, standing financial instructions and deadlines.
Ensure relevant financial information is presented to staff and meetings, as appropriate.
To be actively involved in service development initiatives.
Participate in the manager on call rota.
Registered Nurse/AHP with current NMC/HCPC registration


Management Qualification or equivalent relevant experience
Master's Degree or equivalent relevant experience

Clinical experience within specialist services
Advanced knowledge of community service provision
Good working knowledge of all areas of clinical and non-clinical governance, including quality, audit and risk management

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Rochford Hospital