Senior Manager

Job summary

Our Initial Response Service (IRS) is a centralised, triage-led function designed to provide a single point of access for urgent mental health referrals, bringing together the elements of 111 Mental Health Option, Crisis and Home Treatment pathways. It is responsible for receiving, screening and clinically triaging referrals, ensuring service users are directed to the most appropriate service in a timely and safe manner.

The model supports rapid decision making, prioritisation of risk, and coordination of responses, including escalation to face-to-face crisis assessment where indicated. The service aims to reduce duplication across services, and deliver consistent performance against response standard.

As the Initial Response Service (IRS) Manager, you will lead both the operational delivery and strategic development of a high-impact, front-door mental health service, ensuring safe, responsive and effective care for those in urgent need. You will be accountable for delivering consistent performance against national standards while maintaining a relentless focus on quality, safety and patient experience across all aspects of the service.
**** Job Description subject to valuation and may change - a professional registration is likely to be required for this position
*** Main duties of the jobA core element of the role is providing visible leadership onquality and safety, embedding a culture of continuous improvement, learning and openness. You will ensure robust clinical governance, oversee risk management, and drive improvements in safety outcomes, using data, audit and service user feedback to reduce variation and enhance care delivery. Operationally, you will lead demand and capacity planning, workforce optimisation and pathway redesign, ensuring the service is agile and able to respond to system pressures.

You will use performance and activity data to drive improvements in access, flow and outcomes, ensuring the IRS delivers a consistently high standard of care. You will work as a senior system leader, building strong partnerships across health and social care, and influencing the development of integrated urgent care pathways. Acting as an ambassador for the Trust, you will contribute to system-wide transformation and ensure the IRS plays a central role in delivering the wider mental health agenda.

Alongside this, you will inspire and develop a high-performing workforce, creating a culture where staff feel supported, empowered and accountable. You will ensure robust governance, financial oversight and performance management are in place, delivering a service that is not only efficient and sustainable, but also consistently safe, high-quality and person-centred.

About us Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming, you'll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We're an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.

Details Date posted
26 August 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

BandBand 8bSalary
66,582 to 77,368 a year

gross per annum

Contract Permanent Working  pattern

Full-time,

Flexible working

Reference number
246-CEN
8050357-BJob locations

Hellesdon Hospital Drayton HiNorwichNR6 5BE
United Kingdom Job description

Job responsibilities

The Initial Response Service (IRS) Manager is responsible for the strategic leadership, development and operational delivery of a high-profile, front-door urgent mental health service. The role ensures the service is innovative, responsive and sustainable, aligning with Trust priorities, national policy and wider system transformation. Key responsibilities include driving operational performance and delivery, ensuring the IRS meets national and local standards, improves access and flow, and delivers high-quality, person-centred care.

This involves leading demand and capacity planning, workforce optimisation, and continuous service improvement to enhance outcomes and efficiency. A central focus of the role is quality, safety and governance, embedding robust clinical governance arrangements, overseeing risk management, and using data, audit and feedback to drive…