Rethink Mental Illness
Head of Service
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Join Our Team as a Head of Service at Hawkesbury Lodge
Location: Coventry
Role: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Hawkesbury Lodge represents an important investment in supporting people across Coventry and Warwickshire on their recovery journey. Developed in partnership with Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, the service combines a 14-bed residential rehabilitation service with an integrated Care Hub, providing a welcoming and recovery-focused environment. Together, these services offer personalised support to people living with severe and enduring mental illness, helping them build confidence, develop greater independence, enhance their wellbeing, and take positive steps towards living successfully within their local communities.
How you will make a difference as a Head of Service
As a Head of Service I empower people affected by mental illness to rebuild confidence, strengthen independence, and reconnect with their communities. Through focused, recovery-based support, I help individuals set meaningful goals, overcome barriers, and access the resources they need to move forward and create lasting positive change.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic and Operational Leadership: Provide strategic and operational leadership for Hawkesbury Lodge, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, recovery-focused residential rehabilitation and Care Hub services. Lead the mobilisation, development and continuous improvement of the service, embedding a culture of compassion, co-production, innovation and learning. Contribute to the strategic leadership of the Central Regional Services team, supporting organisational priorities and service development.
- Partnership and System Leadership: Develop strong partnerships with commissioners, NHS colleagues, Local Authorities and community organisations to support integrated pathways and improved outcomes.
- Registered Manager, Quality and Governance: Act as the CQC Registered Manager, ensuring the service consistently meets all statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements. Maintain effective governance arrangements, ensuring compliance with CQC Fundamental Standards, safeguarding responsibilities, medicines management, health and safety, information governance, Duty of Candour and organisational policies. Ensure robust systems are in place to monitor quality, manage risk, investigate incidents and drive continuous improvement. Lead service readiness for CQC inspections and ensure improvement actions are implemented and sustained.
- Service Delivery and Operational Management: Lead the day-to-day operation of the residential rehabilitation service and integrated Care Hub, ensuring safe, effective and person-centred support. Oversee referral, assessment, admission and discharge processes, ensuring timely access and effective rehabilitation pathways. Monitor service performance, occupancy, rehabilitation outcomes and contractual KPIs, taking action where improvements are required. Ensure resources are deployed effectively to deliver high-quality services and positive outcomes.
- People Leadership: Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing, values-led workforce that delivers compassionate and person-centred care. Ensure effective recruitment, induction, supervision, appraisal and professional development for all colleagues. Foster an inclusive culture that promotes wellbeing, psychological safety, equality, diversity and continuous learning. Manage workforce performance and employee relations in accordance with organisational policies.
- Financial and Performance Management: Manage delegated budgets and resources responsibly, ensuring financial sustainability and value for money. Monitor operational and financial performance, using data and insight to drive continuous improvement. Ensure contractual obligations, reporting requirements and organisational performance standards are consistently achieved.
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Essential Skills and Experience
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care (Adults), or an equivalent qualification that meets the requirements for CQC Registered Manager registration.
- Professional qualification in health, social care or a related discipline, or equivalent senior leadership experience within regulated health or social care services.
- Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development.
- Significant senior leadership experience within regulated mental health, health or social care services.
- Previous experience as a CQC Registered Manager, or substantial experience as a Deputy Manager or Service Manager within a CQC-regulated service with demonstrable readiness and capability to undertake the Registered Manager role.
- Experience of leading residential mental health, rehabilitation or recovery-focused services supporting adults with severe and enduring mental illness and complex needs.
- Experience of leading multidisciplinary teams and developing effective partnerships with NHS organisations, Local Authorities, commissioners and other stakeholders.
- Experience of leading quality assurance, clinical governance, safeguarding and risk management frameworks to ensure safe, high-quality service delivery.
- Experience of preparing for and supporting services through CQC inspections and implementing quality improvement plans.
- Experience of managing operational budgets, contractual performance and service resources effectively.
- Experience of leading workforce planning, recruitment, supervision, appraisal, performance management and employee relations.
- Experience of leading service improvement, transformation or mobilisation within a complex operational environment.
- Experience of managing complex incidents, safeguarding concerns and organisational risk.
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
- CQC Single Assessment Framework and Fundamental Standards.
- Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
- Recovery-oriented and trauma-informed practice.
- Safeguarding Adults legislation.
- Clinical governance, quality assurance and risk management.
- Integrated health and social care systems.
- Inspirational and compassionate leadership.
- Strategic thinking with strong operational delivery.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills.
- Strong financial and analytical capability.
- Ability to build effective partnerships and collaborative relationships.
- Highly organised with excellent planning and decision-making skills.
- Commitment to recovery, co-production and person-centred practice.
- Values-led leader with resilience, integrity and accountability.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Enhanced DBS clearance.
- Eligible to become the Registered Manager for the service.
- Ability to travel across the region as required.
- Participation in the organisational on-call rota.
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Desirable Skills and Experience
- Level 7 qualification in Leadership, Health and Social Care, Healthcare Management, Business Management or a related discipline.
- Registered healthcare professional, preferably a Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) with current NMC registration.
- Postgraduate leadership or management qualification.
- Experience of mobilising, opening or registering a new CQC-regulated service.
- Experience of leading an integrated mental health service in partnership with NHS organisations.
- Experience of delivering residential mental health rehabilitation or step-down services with demonstrable rehabilitation and move-on outcomes.
- Experience of achieving a Good or Outstanding CQC rating as the Registered Manager.
- Experience of contributing to regional operational leadership, service development or organisational strategy.
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 Revised EDI Plan.
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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