Rethink Mental Illness
Head of Equity and Racial Justice
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Head of Equity and Racial Justice (Maternity Cover)
Location: Home-based with agile working and occasional travel to deliver community engagement sessions
Salary: £45,000 starting salary (+ London allowance if this applies)
Contract: Fixed-term maternity cover for 5 months
Hours: 0.8 FTE
Lead change. Champion equity. Transform mental health outcomes.
At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone deserves access to high-quality mental health care and support, regardless of their background, ethnicity, faith, or life circumstances.
We're looking for an exceptional Head of Equity and Racial Justice to join us on a maternity cover contract and play a leading role in tackling racial inequalities across mental health and social care systems.
This is a unique opportunity to influence national policy, lead high-profile programmes, and help drive our commitment to becoming an anti-racist organisation. You'll work at the heart of our Policy and Practice directorate, shaping change that improves outcomes for people from racialised communities affected by severe mental illness.
About the role
Reporting to the Associate Director for Policy and Influencing, you will provide strategic leadership for Rethink Mental Illness's work supporting the Department of Health and Social Care's Mental Health Act Code of Practice review and implementation programme, with a particular focus on engagement with Ethnic Minority and Racialised Communities.
You will lead relationships with government departments, NHS England, voluntary sector partners, community organisations and experts by experience, ensuring that lived experience and community voices are central to policy development and implementation.
Alongside this national programme, you will contribute to the development and delivery of our wider Equity and Racial Justice strategy, helping to influence policy, practice and systems that better serve communities experiencing mental health inequalities.
You will also:
- Provide line management and strategic support to the Equity and Racial Justice Manager.
- Oversee our Faith and Mental Health and Sanctuary Seeking and Mental Health workstreams.
- Develop and maintain influential partnerships across the sector.
- Lead complex programmes, budgets, governance arrangements and risk management.
- Identify and secure income generation opportunities to sustain and grow the Equity and Racial Justice portfolio.
- Act as a senior leader within the Policy and Practice Leadership Team.
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Essential criteria
We're looking for a strategic, collaborative and influential leader who is passionate about equity and social justice.
You'll bring significant experience of leading complex programmes, influencing policy and driving meaningful change through partnership working.
You will have:
- Strong knowledge and understanding of the mental health experiences and needs of racialised communities, including faith communities and people seeking sanctuary.
- Experience of leading national programmes, projects or policy initiatives.
- A proven track record of building and managing relationships with government departments, statutory agencies or national system partners.
- Experience of securing funding, developing partnerships and generating income from a range of sources.
- Experience of line management, coaching and developing staff.
- Outstanding stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills.
- The ability to work across teams and organisations to achieve shared objectives.
- The confidence and credibility to lead change, challenge inequality and influence decision-makers.
- Experience of the Mental Health Act, Mental Health Act Reform Programme and/or Mental Health Act Code of Practice would be advantageous.
Lived experience matters
We know that meaningful change happens when diverse voices are heard and represented.
We understand how important it is that our workforce reflects the communities we serve. Lived experience of racial injustice, exclusion or mental health inequalities is therefore considered a significant asset for this role.
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We actively welcome applications from people from racialised communities and from anyone whose experiences can help strengthen and inform our work towards equity and racial justice.
Why join Rethink Mental Illness?
We believe people do their best work when they feel supported, valued and able to be themselves. You'll benefit from:
- An inclusive culture, with colleague-led staff networks for Disability & Neurodiversity, Race & Ethnicity, LGBTQIA+, Gender Equality and Menopause.
- Flexible working and 25 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays and your birthday off), with the option to buy or sell leave.
- Wellbeing support including our Wellbeing Hub, Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Champions and Unmind.
- Learning and development opportunities to help you grow your career.
- Financial and family benefits including a contributory pension, enhanced family leave and travel schemes.
- Recognition and rewards including discounts, cashback offers and a Blue Light Card.
- Referral bonus where you can earn up to £300 for introducing someone to our team.
Our commitment to inclusion
We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. We're also committed to becoming a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider supported by a multi-year equity, diversity and inclusion programme of work. For more information please view https://www.rethink.org/media/hdtjjy5b/revised-edi-plan-rethink.pdf
We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and want everyone to have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and experience. If you need reasonable adjustments during recruitment or when in your role, please let us know and we will work with you to understand what support you need.
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