Engagement and Improvement Lead

Job summary The two South East Perinatal Mental Health Mother and Baby Units based in Winchester and Dartford have formed a South East Perinatal Provider Collaborative to transform mental health services for women and families. Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) is the lead provider and host of the South East Perinatal Provider Collaborative. Working as part of the South East Perinatal Provider Collaborative, we are committed to working to provide high quality, safe care to patients who use our services. The South East Perinatal Provider Collaborative is looking for a skilled, enthusiastic and committed Engagement and Improvement Lead to embed and create new ways of involving our service users and carers across the South East Perinatal Provider Collaborative. The post holder will work strategically across the South East to develop and implement a strategy that supports the broad participation agenda. As the Engagement and Improvement Lead role, you will work alongside partner organisations such as Trusts, ICBs, local authorities, and voluntary and community partners and stakeholders across Kent and Medway, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Frimley, Surrey and Sussex to look towards the innovation of health care along with the NHS Long-Term Plan. Please note you will be expected to travel all of the south east, not just the Kent area. Main duties of the job The Provider Collaborative Engagement and Improvement Lead will be a flexible person to support the South East Perinatal Provider Collaborative in the provision of services across the South East region. The focus of this post will be leading the participation agenda as well as supporting the delivery of day to day activities and projects. This will involve promoting improved service user and carer experiences through new insights and perspectives in all aspects of planning and delivery of perinatal mental health services within the South East Perinatal Provider Collaborative (SEPPC). The post holder will provide strong leadership, advice and project manage a variety of work streams that underpin the collaborative participation agenda. The post holder will work closely with internal colleagues, external stakeholders, service users and their carers. As the Provider Collaborative covers the South East region, we welcome applicants from across the whole of the South East region. About us We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated 'Good' by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year. Our vision is simple: We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. And everything we do is guided by our values caring, inclusive, curious and confident. Join us - if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's doing well together. Details Date posted: 08 December 2025 Pay scheme: Agenda for change Band: Band 7 Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata Contract: Fixed term Duration: 15 months Working pattern: Part-time Reference number: 380-SS0706-A Job locations: Poppy House, Maidstone, 20 Oakapple Lane, Aylesford, ME16 9NW Job responsibilities The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010). Please see the attached job description for full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role. Person Specification Essential qualifications Educated to degree or equivalent level. Desirable qualifications Further education/training in the areas of user and/or carer involvement. Essential experience A good working knowledge of current user and carer related legislation and codes of practice. Involvement in service redesign and development. Experience of project management and service transformation. Desirable experience Experience of partnership working with third sector agencies or organisations and communities. Lived experience of admission to Mother and Baby Unit, Acute Mental health ward for perinatal mental illness or secondary care perinatal mental health community service. Experience of work on users and carer related issues. Experience of working in a perinatal mental health or related setting. Essential knowledge and skills Able to devise and undertake audits, surveys and consultations. Ability to work to tight deadlines, under pressure and to prioritise own work streams. Good interpersonal skills with the ability to deal with a wide range of people. Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Employer details Employer name: Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust Address: Poppy House, Maidstone, 20 Oakapple Lane, Aylesford, ME16 9NW Website: https://www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk #J-18808-Ljbffr