Service Development & Integration Lead
London, England, United Kingdom Contract Posted 1 week ago
Job Overview
1 Year Fixed Term: Service Development & Integration Lead for CNWL Westminster Talking Therapies – Band 8A
An exciting opportunity has arisen to apply for the1 year fixed term role of Service Development & Integration Lead for Talking Therapies Westminster. Candidates must have significant experience leading service development, transformation or improvement in NHS services. They must have the required qualifications and evidence CPD to take on a clinical and operational leadership role at the head of one of CNWL's dynamic, successful and well-regarded Talking Therapy services based in the borough of Westminster.
Main duties of the job
The Service Development and Integration Lead provides senior leadership to support the development, integration and continuous improvement of Westminster Talking Therapies service. The role focuses on strengthening pathways, improving access and outcomes, and embedding integrated ways of working with partner services that interface directly with Talking Therapies. Working closely with clinical and operational leaders, the post‑holder translates strategic priorities into deliverable service developments, operating with a high degree of autonomy and influence.
This is a service‑level transformation role, with performance oversight.
They will join the CNWL Westminster Senior Management Team in the delivery of excellent mental health and social care across the borough. The successful candidate will be supported by the Borough Director and SMT colleagues, IAPT Strategic Clinical and Operational Leads and will work with a strong management team within the service.
Working for our organisation
This is an exciting opportunity for an appropriately qualified and experienced leader to design the development of service changes within the Westminster Talking Therapies service in response to demand, performance, inequalities and population need. The candidate will support the implementation of new service models, pathways or ways of working within the service.
Applicants must have substantial experience of working in an Talking Therapies service, managing complex client presentations and qualified staff and trainees. Experience of working with patients with long-term health conditions is highly desirable.
Applicants must have good knowledge about the Talking Therapies programme and have demonstrated high standards of communication skills, problem solving and have developed good professional working relationships with staff, patients, partners and the general public.
We are looking for applicants who have enthusiasm for working within Talking Therapies services and who are interested in contributing to further development of the Talking Therapies service model, in service expansion in line with the NHS 10 Year Plan. We would welcome applications from those with a second language and representatives with diverse backgrounds.
Post Requirements
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post-holder will lead integration activity at key Talking Therapies interfaces, improve referral pathways, transitions and shared working arrangements that directly affect Westminster Talking Therapies access and flow with a focus on performance improvement.
The post-holder will support the service to use performance, activity and outcome data to identify priorities for improvement as well as work with digital and performance colleagues to improve data quality and reporting that supports service development.
The post-holder will lead and coordinate complex change activity within the Westminster Talking Therapies service. They will support clinical and operational teams through change, recognising capacity pressures and workforce impact and influence stakeholders across the service and partner interfaces without direct line management authority. Postholders must ensure service changes are embedded into business‑as‑usual practice.
The post holder will translate Trust, place‑based and ICB priorities into practical Talking Therapies service developments, provide structured updates and assurance to senior service leadership on progress, risks and delivery & contribute to service plans, business cases and transformation proposals for Westminster Talking Therapies.
The post holder will ensure uptake of and engagement in digital initiatives are aligned with Talking Therapies pathways, operational processes and performance requirements. They will apply a structured change management approach to service development activity within Talking Therapies, ensuring the impact on clinical pathways, workforce capacity, performance and patient experience is clearly understood and managed as well as support services to transition from access‑focused metrics to increased emphasis on completed treatment, outcomes and flow, embedding new ways of working into business‑as‑usual practice.
The Service
Westminster Talking Therapies is a long-established service with a reputation for excellence and great staff retention. We provide Low intensity and High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapies alongside a Counselling service provided by our partners, Mind. Based in the very heart of London, the service has offices in Paddington and Victoria with GP partner sites across an exciting and vibrant Borough.
The Service is currently offering a combination of face-to-face and remote working (delivered either via home working or from our office base).
The team consistently meets its Key Performance targets and we actively embrace innovative, creative ideas and projects to meet the everchanging demands and dynamics of a hugely diverse local population. We are constantly seeking to improve and make our service a first-class resource for Westminster and a great place to work, with a mixture of clear operational structures, open access, and a highly skilled and fulfilled team.
The service is well subscribed to and has good systems in place to manage incoming referrals and waiting lists. National and CCG targets on waiting times, patients entering treatment and recovery have been met regularly and consistently. Staff have regular clinical supervision. Training and development are emphasised, and staff wellbeing and team working are given high priority.
Person specification
Education And Qualifications
Essential criteria
Essential criteria
Essential criteria
Essential criteria
1 Year Fixed Term: Service Development & Integration Lead for CNWL Westminster Talking Therapies – Band 8A
An exciting opportunity has arisen to apply for the1 year fixed term role of Service Development & Integration Lead for Talking Therapies Westminster. Candidates must have significant experience leading service development, transformation or improvement in NHS services. They must have the required qualifications and evidence CPD to take on a clinical and operational leadership role at the head of one of CNWL's dynamic, successful and well-regarded Talking Therapy services based in the borough of Westminster.
Main duties of the job
The Service Development and Integration Lead provides senior leadership to support the development, integration and continuous improvement of Westminster Talking Therapies service. The role focuses on strengthening pathways, improving access and outcomes, and embedding integrated ways of working with partner services that interface directly with Talking Therapies. Working closely with clinical and operational leaders, the post‑holder translates strategic priorities into deliverable service developments, operating with a high degree of autonomy and influence.
This is a service‑level transformation role, with performance oversight.
They will join the CNWL Westminster Senior Management Team in the delivery of excellent mental health and social care across the borough. The successful candidate will be supported by the Borough Director and SMT colleagues, IAPT Strategic Clinical and Operational Leads and will work with a strong management team within the service.
Working for our organisation
This is an exciting opportunity for an appropriately qualified and experienced leader to design the development of service changes within the Westminster Talking Therapies service in response to demand, performance, inequalities and population need. The candidate will support the implementation of new service models, pathways or ways of working within the service.
Applicants must have substantial experience of working in an Talking Therapies service, managing complex client presentations and qualified staff and trainees. Experience of working with patients with long-term health conditions is highly desirable.
Applicants must have good knowledge about the Talking Therapies programme and have demonstrated high standards of communication skills, problem solving and have developed good professional working relationships with staff, patients, partners and the general public.
We are looking for applicants who have enthusiasm for working within Talking Therapies services and who are interested in contributing to further development of the Talking Therapies service model, in service expansion in line with the NHS 10 Year Plan. We would welcome applications from those with a second language and representatives with diverse backgrounds.
Post Requirements
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post-holder will lead integration activity at key Talking Therapies interfaces, improve referral pathways, transitions and shared working arrangements that directly affect Westminster Talking Therapies access and flow with a focus on performance improvement.
The post-holder will support the service to use performance, activity and outcome data to identify priorities for improvement as well as work with digital and performance colleagues to improve data quality and reporting that supports service development.
The post-holder will lead and coordinate complex change activity within the Westminster Talking Therapies service. They will support clinical and operational teams through change, recognising capacity pressures and workforce impact and influence stakeholders across the service and partner interfaces without direct line management authority. Postholders must ensure service changes are embedded into business‑as‑usual practice.
The post holder will translate Trust, place‑based and ICB priorities into practical Talking Therapies service developments, provide structured updates and assurance to senior service leadership on progress, risks and delivery & contribute to service plans, business cases and transformation proposals for Westminster Talking Therapies.
The post holder will ensure uptake of and engagement in digital initiatives are aligned with Talking Therapies pathways, operational processes and performance requirements. They will apply a structured change management approach to service development activity within Talking Therapies, ensuring the impact on clinical pathways, workforce capacity, performance and patient experience is clearly understood and managed as well as support services to transition from access‑focused metrics to increased emphasis on completed treatment, outcomes and flow, embedding new ways of working into business‑as‑usual practice.
The Service
Westminster Talking Therapies is a long-established service with a reputation for excellence and great staff retention. We provide Low intensity and High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapies alongside a Counselling service provided by our partners, Mind. Based in the very heart of London, the service has offices in Paddington and Victoria with GP partner sites across an exciting and vibrant Borough.
The Service is currently offering a combination of face-to-face and remote working (delivered either via home working or from our office base).
The team consistently meets its Key Performance targets and we actively embrace innovative, creative ideas and projects to meet the everchanging demands and dynamics of a hugely diverse local population. We are constantly seeking to improve and make our service a first-class resource for Westminster and a great place to work, with a mixture of clear operational structures, open access, and a highly skilled and fulfilled team.
The service is well subscribed to and has good systems in place to manage incoming referrals and waiting lists. National and CCG targets on waiting times, patients entering treatment and recovery have been met regularly and consistently. Staff have regular clinical supervision. Training and development are emphasised, and staff wellbeing and team working are given high priority.
Person specification
Education And Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience, with evidence of advanced knowledge relevant to service development, integration and transformation.
- Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to service improvement, transformation or integration
- Post‑graduate qualification or training in service improvement, transformation, change leadership or project/programme management
- Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. health services management, service improvement, leadership, organisational development).
Essential criteria
- Significant experience leading service development, transformation or improvement within NHS or public sector services
- Experience of working within or alongside NHS Talking Therapies / mental health services
- Experience of leading complex change within a pressured operational environment
- Experience of working across organisational boundaries to improve pathways or interfaces
- Experience of contributing to business cases or service change proposals
- Experience of service development/ redesign within NHS Talking Therapies or another stepped‑care mental health service
- Experience supporting or leading inequalities‑focused improvement work within mental health services
- Experience of working with Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to improve referral pathways, access or integration
- Experience of contributing to system or place‑based transformation programmes, even where accountability remained service‑level
- Experience of working with VCSE or community partners to improve access, engagement or equity.
Essential criteria
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, including the ability to interpret performance and outcome data
- In‑depth understanding of NHS service delivery and transformation context
- Ability to plan and deliver complex programmes involving multiple workstreams.
- Knowledge of Talking Therapies pathways, performance standards and outcomes
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain complex issues clearly to varied audiences
- Strong stakeholder management and partnership working skills
- Knowledge of population health, inequalities frameworks (e.g. Core20PLUS5)
- Experience of co‑design approaches involving people with lived experience
- Understanding of digital access routes (e.g. digital front doors, self‑referral systems, online interventions).
- Awareness of workforce development considerations within Talking Therapies (e.g. skill mix, role development, wellbeing).
- Knowledge of Talking Therapies national policy priorities, performance standards and reporting requirements
- Familiarity with Core20PLUS5, population health or inclusion frameworks.
Essential criteria
- Politically astute and able to work constructively with competing priorities
- Commitment to continuous improvement and learning
- Collaborative leadership style with the ability to build trust across disciplines
- Ability to work autonomously within broad strategic objectives
- Resilient and effective in managing uncertainty, ambiguity and pressure
