MHST Head of Service - Operational and Strategic Lead

Go back Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 24 February 2026

Due to Surrey's and NE Hants we are looking to strengthen the strong and innovative leadership team by offering a permanent fulltime 8B Operational and Strategic Lead to support Surrey expansion and with specific responsibility for North Hampshire MHSTs.

This role will be working across Surrey and North East Hampshire (Leatherhead and Aldershot).

This role will provide strategic and operational leadership in relation to MHST service development, improvement and quality evaluation whilst building outstanding supportive and responsive relationships with colleagues within the alliance and externally across the Surrey system. Additionally, this role will lead on MHST work with school leaders and young people to support Surrey Mindworks strategic direction in accordance with the THRIVE framework working in partnership with alliance partners, education and social care.

This is a strategic role, working in close partnership with the School Based Need Lead, Clinical and Whole School Approach Leads to ensure the development of the service is not only clinically driven but that governance and finance arrangements are in line with national protocol.

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of mental health, learning disability, neurodevelopmental and drug and alcohol services in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We support people of all ages and are passionate about providing high quality care that is delivered at the right time as close to home as possible to help people recover and stay well.

We are one of the top 10 mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Trust to work for nationwide. Our Trust is an inclusive and supportive employer that offers a wide range of staff networks, flexible working, free parking and excellent health and wellbeing support. We also provide a wide range of opportunities to help staff develop and progress.

Surrey is a beautiful county lying just 30 minutes away from Central London and from the South Coast. Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach. For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.

Please note that we reserve the right to close posts as soon as sufficient applications are received.

Regrettably, due to UK Home Office requirements we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the role.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Please see the attached job description for more details.

Please note:

Subject to reasonable adjustments in respect of any disability, the post holder must possess a valid driving license and be able to drive and have the unrestricted use of a car or motorcycle for work at all times including community based work.

• Registered Nurse or other registered health or social care professional.
• Possess a relevant additional professional qualification e.g., masters level, or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in a specialist area.

• Experience of working in a mental health/social care environment with at least 3 years at a senior management level.
• Detailed operational knowledge of MHSTs and School Based Needs services, including risk assessment, management and quality assurance.
• Extensive knowledge of specialist areas acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience.
• Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development.
• Evidence of leading complex projects of work and setting up new services/care pathways
• Budgetary oversight and experience.
• Appreciation and understanding of current healthcare policy and appreciation of the implications of this on all levels of provision.
• Awareness and understanding of the relationships between the Department of Health, Health Education England, Higher Education Institutions, individual provider and commissioning organisations.
• Experience of identifying and interpreting National policy to a local context.
• Extensive experience of working on own initiative and confident in making informed decisions and resolving complex issues.

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.

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust