Head of Social Care Integration and Social Inclusion

Head of Social Care Integration and Social Inclusion

We are currently recruiting for a pivotal leadership role which will be key to shaping the future of community mental health care in City and Hackney. As Head of Social Care Integration and Social Inclusion within the City and Hackney Community Mental Health Service, you will drive a truly collaborative, bio‑psycho‑social approach that places individuals, their strengths, and their communities at the heart of care. This role offers the opportunity to lead integrated pathways across health, social care, and voluntary sectors - including overseeing the Section 75 agreement with the London Borough of Hackney - to influence strategic direction at a senior level, and champion co‑production with service users and partners. We are seeking an experienced and visionary leader with strong professional credibility in social care, a deep understanding of integrated working and the social determinants of mental health, and a proven ability to build partnerships, lead multidisciplinary teams, and deliver high‑quality, person‑centred services. If you are proactive, adaptable, and passionate about reducing inequalities and improving outcomes for people with complex mental health needs, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Main duties of the job

The Head of Service for Social Care Integration and Social Inclusion will be responsible for ensuring that there is effective professional leadership and support provided for the ELFT employed Social Workers within the Integrated Mental Health Community Teams.

As a member of the Directorate Management Team, they will contribute to the leadership, operational management and setting the strategic direction of the City & Hackney Adult Mental Health Service.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Job responsibilities

• Provide operational oversight for the LBH social care structure within the integrated service and lead the operationalisation of the associated Section 75 arrangements;
• Ensure that there is effective professional leadership and support provided for ELFT employed Social Workers within the directorate;
• Work in collaboration with the key directorate leads, including the Associate Clinical Director and the Deputy Borough Director, to ensure the co‑development and delivery of community mental health services which are high quality, cost‑effective, equitable and generally responsive to the needs of eligible, local service users;
• Lead the co‑development and implementation in the service of social inclusion strategies, plans and functions which are designed to meet the diverse needs of local service users who are at risk of poorer access, outcomes and experiences;
• Provide operational management oversight for key Adult Community Health Services in the City & Hackney Directorate including Mental Health Care for Older People in the Community and also the AMHP Service, ensuring compliance with legal frameworks, and providing leadership and expertise in the AMHP role;
• Play a leading role in developing and maintaining close and effective partnership working arrangements, particularly relating to the directorate's response to the neighbourhoods agenda and in supporting the development of cohesive local mental health systems with statutory sector and voluntary and community sector organisations;
• Make a key contribution to setting and delivering the strategic direction for the City & Hackney Adult Mental Health Service;
• Lead the service strategy, plans and arrangements to collect and respond to feedback from service users and carers;
• Oversee arrangements for transitions from CAMHS to Adult services;
• Contribute to the development and implementation of plans that support the financial viability of services;
• Stimulate and drive service innovation, improvement and transformation;
• Play a leading role in the development and implementation of strategies and plans that support the achievement of an engaged, skilled and well‑led workforce;
• Deputise for the Borough Director or Deputy Borough when required and represent the Directorate at relevant external meetings.

Person Specification

• Degree or equivalent;
• Relevant substantial senior level experience of management and leadership within health, social care or third sector;
• Advanced experience of staff management, supervision and management of complex HR issues;
• Qualified AMHP;
• Experience of working under a Section 75 agreement.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

£88,250 to £100,355 a year per annum pro rata Inc HCA