The Service Manager for Community Mental Health Services provides senior operational leadership across the Tendring & Colchester Community Mental Health Teams, Dementia Services, Early Intervention in Psychosis and At Risk Mental State Services in North East Essex. Acting as a senior liaison point between acute hospitals, community services, third-sector and primary care partners, the role drives effective collaboration and system-wide integration to improve patient flow, capacity management, and timely access to mental health support. This includes seamless coordination across multiple interfaces (emergency departments, discharge hubs, primary care, etc.) to ensure high-quality, person-centred, trauma-informed care is delivered.
Operational Leadership: Provide operational management and oversight of the the Tendring & Colchester Community Mental Health Teams, Dementia Services, Early Intervention in Psychosis and At Risk Mental State Services and community flow/capacity initiatives (including management of High Needs Users). Ensure these services function cohesively and effectively within the wider system involving Acute Trusts, Essex Social Care, Primary Care Mental Health and Third-Sector partners.
See Job Description for further information
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
Benefits
27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
£8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us (subject to T&Cs)
Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
The Service Manager for Community Mental Health Services provides senior operational leadership across the Tendring & Colchester Community Mental Health Teams, Dementia Services, Early Intervention in Psychosis and At Risk Mental State Services in North East Essex. Acting as a senior liaison point between acute hospitals, community services, third-sector and primary care partners, the role drives effective collaboration and system-wide integration to improve patient flow, capacity management, and timely access to mental health support. This includes seamless coordination across multiple interfaces (emergency departments, discharge hubs, primary care, etc.) to ensure high-quality, person-centred, trauma-informed care is delivered.
This pivotal role leads on service planning, performance management, and pathway optimisation as part of the senior leadership team, ensuring services meet national and local targets while being responsible for embedding continuous improvement and innovation. The post holder must be a highly motivated, collaborative leader with deep understanding of urgent and integrated care systems, able to influence across organisational boundaries to enhance system efficiency and patient outcomes. They will need to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information, using advanced communication and negotiation skills to secure cooperation and shared ownership among stakeholders. The role also demands strategic system leadership – representing the Trust in multi-agency forums and shaping developments across the local Neighbourhood System as the area rapidly mobilises in alignment to Neighbourhoods as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.
Importantly, the Service Manager will ensure that service developments align with national and local strategic priorities. This includes advancing the goals of the NHS Long Term Plan (integrating services and expanding community-based care) and implementing the principles of the Community Mental Health Framework for place-based, integrated mental health care. The role directly contributes to EPUT’s Strategic Objectives 2023 – 2028 – delivering safe, high-quality integrated care, working with partners to improve services, and supporting our communities to thrive – thereby supporting the Trust’s vision and the wider system’s strategic aims.
