Head Of Service - Forensics (Nhs)

Head of Service - Forensic Services

Location: Flexible / Hybrid working benefits

Salary: £72,428 to £83,149 a year per annum (Band 8c)

Job Overview

Are you a dynamic leader passionate about shaping the future of mental health and learning disability forensic services? We are working exclusively on behalf of Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) who are seeking an exceptional individual to join us as the Head of Service for Forensic Services. This pivotal role offers a unique opportunity to operationally deliver and steer strategic initiatives within learning disabilities and mental health forensic services across the region.

The role has responsibility for all forensic services within the trust, including learning disability medium secure and low secure unit, low secure mental health unit and a range of community services. The community services includes the winner of the Royal College of Psychiatry’s Learning Disability Team of the Year 2023. The successful candidate will be joining at an exciting point as we look to transform our services to better meet the needs of individuals with learning disabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

As the Head of Service for Forensic Services, your core responsibilities will include:

• Strategic Leadership: Developing and implementing strategic plans and business initiatives, ensuring alignment with the Trust's overarching goals.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Building and nurturing key relationships with stakeholders, commissioners, and partners across NHS organizations, local authorities, and voluntary sectors.
• Service Excellence: Ensuring patient safety and service quality, monitoring performance against KPIs, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Financial Oversight: Managing budgets effectively, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and maximizing income streams to support sustainable service delivery.
• Leadership & Development: Providing visionary leadership, fostering a high-performance culture, and nurturing talent within the division.
• Compliance & Innovation: Ensuring compliance with legislation, Trust policies, and statutory requirements while driving innovation and service enhancement.

Working For Our Organisation

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an exceptional organisation with big ambitions, our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country. Rated "Outstanding" by the CQC we are on our "Good to Great" journey as we continue to innovate, improve, transform and ultimately deliver the very highest standards of care to the service users and communities that we serve.

With a workforce of around 3,500 people and an annual income of some £330million this year, the Trust provides integrated health and social care services through a network of community and inpatient settings, serving diverse communities across Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Norfolk. As a university NHS foundation trust, HPFT continues to develop strong links with the University of Hertfordshire, providing excellent learning and development opportunities, as well as strengthening our clinical research capability.

Whilst it is a challenging period for the NHS, there has never been a more exciting time to join HPFT following our CQC rating of Outstanding awarded to us in April 2019. We are on our "Good to Great" journey as we continue to innovate, improve, transform and ultimately deliver the very highest standards of care to the service users and communities that we serve.

Requirements:

We are seeking an individual who shares our values and embodies a service user-centered approach. Key qualifications and experience include:

• Substantial leadership experience within mental health, learning disabilities, or related healthcare settings.
• Proven track record in strategic planning, operational delivery, financial management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong understanding of the local and wider health economy.
• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and sectors.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and delivering excellence in service provision.