SWL Lead

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
SWL Lead
The closing date is 17 August 2026

Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to lead a new service within the Complex Care Programme- a programme within the South London Partnership- a partnership between South London and Maudsley South West London and St George's and Oxleas Mental Health Trusts.

From 1st October 2026, SWL ICB will delegate firstly its placement budget for people with Learning Disability, autism and older people (c 300 people), and secondly some commissioning functions that no longer fit into their new remit in line with national directives.

The post holder, with the Programme Director, will be accountable for the successful delivery of the service in its first year.

The successful candidate will have strong leadership and operational management skills, be a self-starter, working with colleagues and leading a team to set up new processes. They must have experience of working with the client group, and an awareness of relevant NHS guidance.

The post holder must also have experience of health/social care commissioning which will include experience of leading panels, negotiating funding, with a strong emphasis on maximisation of recovery and ensuring value for money.

The post holder must hold a health or social care professional registration as they will be seen as an expert in their field giving tailored advice as required.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who wants to work strategically, leading a transformation programme to improve the lives of people with LD, autism and older people.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will support the Complex Care Programme Director to consolidate the strategic vision of this new phase.

They will develop and implement a transformation plan, develop a risk and mitigation log, monitor service delivery with a coproduced performance management framework.

Operationally, the post holder will lead a small team to set up processes to agree 100% health only funded placements, and work with Local Authorities in the SWL ICB footprint (Merton, Wandsworth, Richmond, Kingston, Croydon and Sutton) to agree how joint funded placements or personal packages of care will be agreed and ensure that placements are monitored in a timely way. The key aim is to support people in the least restrictive setting and close to home. All service users will require personalized support plans focusing on supporting independence. Previous delegated commissioning functions that are to be delegated to the Programme from SWL ICB will include:

• Reviewing and managing urgent admission to a mental health hospital out of area
• Ensuring 8-week commissioner visits for adults with LD/ASD in an inpatient setting take place
• Co-ordinating, chairing and attending (Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews (CETR)
• Reviewing and acting on requests for LAEP (Local Area Emergency Protocol)
• Leading on the Dynamic Support Register

About us
You will be working in a dynamic team which has a proven track record of supporting people in less restrictive settings, releasing savings for reinvestment. The Programme has already been delegated the 100% health only funded budget for people with complex mental health needs (at the time of delegation totalling 380 people), and the health care component of the shared care placement budget with Local Authorities in the SWL ICB footprint (745 people).

The post holder will be part of a wider senior leadership team - where they will be able to influence decisions across the entire programme.

The team are supportive, and the post holder will be able to use their skills to support the transformation of this phase. A dedicated SLP Commissioning and Contracts Team, and SLP Head of Quality will also support the post holder in their role.

The role is largely remotely based, but there will be occasions when the post holder will need to attend the CCP base in Lewisham, and other sites across South West London and St Georges, and South London and The Maudsley (Croydon).

Details
Date posted: 03 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8c
Salary: £88,250 to £100,355 a year
Contract: Secondment
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 334-NCL-8117914-MU
Job locations: Lewisham Town Hall, London, SE6 4RU, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
The key responsibilities are:
Strategic Development of P3a

• To support the Programme Director to develop and lead delivery of the strategic direction and approach for Phase 3a of the Complex Care Programme (CCP)
• To represent the CCP in local and regional commissioning discussions
• Represent CCP at appropriate governance meetings, providing timely and quality data as requested, which is suitable for the participants.
• To support the alignment and delivery of strategic and commissioning plans to that of partners.
• To lead on senior conversations about service delivery, configuration and rationalisation of cross organisational services with the need to recommend new models of care or delivery or new ways of working, including new roles. These will be high impact decisions for a large and complex group of stakeholders from health and local authority sectors, patients and ICBs.
• Capture and share learning across the SLP to contribute to the successful development of the programme strategy, in future phases, ensuring future implementation programmes support the delivery of stakeholder ambitions and deliver service best practice.

Programme Design & Delivery

• To develop and implement a programme management framework with associated programme management tools for Phase 3a, (such as an overarching transformation plan, risk and mitigation log, highlight reports, evaluation, business cases) as directed by the Programme Director. To ensure key stakeholder support throughout
• Lead and manage and lead projects as directed by the Programme Director, which fall under the Phase 3a portfolio, ensuring key stakeholder support throughout and developing phased implementation plans.
• Develop sustainable operational models, supported by robust data analysis and evaluation. This will involve development of contracting schedules (with the commissioning and contracting team), such as service specifications, key performance targets and outcome data. Develop and maintain implementation, monitoring and review of service provision, ensuring ongoing continuous improvement of projects and programmes
• Ensure alignment with other relevant local and national programmes of work and policy initiatives, working through ambiguity and uncertainty.
• Ensure all processes in the programme management cycle support a strength-based model of care, are recovery focused and offer value for money

Operational Leadership of P3a.

• To provide health/social care expertise to operationally lead Phase 3a.
• Operationally leading the placement function
• To establish a referral process and carry out assessments to determine eligibility of access to 100% health only funded placements eligibility which are consistent with NICE Guidance
• To attend at funding panels in the local ICB area and act on the delegated nature of the budget. This will involve decision making on packages of care working with the commissioning and contracts team in contract negotiations.
• To lead the negotiation of funding split allocations with LA and other colleagues
• To review funding requests, manage and provide oversight
• To work with internal partners to procure new services including bespoke packages of care, ensuring best value, increased quality, and price convergence
• To lead on strategic initiatives relating to Phase 3a
• Identify, build and proactively develop effective stakeholder relationships between the SLP trusts, ICBsGs and LAs by diplomatically managing the competing priorities that may occur in some environments.
• Leading the additional delegated commissioning functions related to Phase 3a which include (although are not exhaustive)
• To review and manage urgent admission to a mental health hospital out of area (acting on behalf of the ICB where Low Value Activity applies)
• To review statutory provision requests in relation to MH needs for young people aged 18-25 under Section G of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP).
• To support the ICB in the application for Court of protection or Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS)
• To provide oversight/review for discharge planning
• To ensure 8-week commissioner visits for adults with LD/ASD in an inpatient setting take place
• Co-ordinate, chair and attend (Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews (CETR)
• To review and receive requests for LAEP (Local Area Emergency Protocol), keeping a tracker and chairing meetings as required
• Lead on the Dynamic Support Register

Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead engagement with partners to encourage contribution and sustained commitment to the strategic complex care agenda of Phase 3a, including key initiatives, strategic partnerships, and other decision making and direction setting activities.
• Work collaboratively with key stakeholders to identify service user flow, in and out, facilitating timely resolution of bottlenecks and identifying current and future demand
• To act as a champion for the interests of patients and local people, and involve them in programme development and decision-making.
• Work with internal partners to procure new services including bespoke packages of care, ensuring best value, increased quality, and price convergence

Partnership Working

• Lead consensus building strategies across partner organisations, and actively manage potential blockages and competing opinions to deliver constructive and patient focused change.
• Able to clearly articulate a compelling case for change to support improvements in the support required for people with mental health complex care needs, reflecting the cultural transition required to improve peoples care and experience
• Develop partnership models with neighbouring SLPs initiatives/ provider collaboratives to support patient flows, develop pathways and share learning
• Promote positive relationships and open communication between all relevant stakeholders based on a culture of accessibility, mutual support and effective challenge.

Special Requirements

• Demonstrate high standards of integrity when dealing with shared data or information and ensure individual and organisational confidentiality is maintained at all times
• On occasion, required to work irregular hours in accordance with the needs of the role
• Meetings will be confirmed as far in advance as feasible to avoid disruption to post holders other commitments/clinical rotas
• Routinely expected to travel across South London

This secondment will be hosted by South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and the post holder must therefore comply with SLaM policies and procedures.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Masters level qualification or equivalent knowledge or experience in health/Local Authority management/business systems/financial management
• A relevant health or social care registration.
• A relevant qualification in project management or experience of working in a programme role of a similar level.

Experience
Essential

• Experience of operational leadership in working with service users with LD/autism and or older adults.
• Significant experience of health/social care commissioning which will include experience of leading and attending funding panels, negotiating funding allocation for packages of care.
• Significant experience of being part of a large-scale cross-organisational change programmes with multiple project streams and in complex and politically sensitive environment.
• Demonstratable success in managing change and performance and working on major change projects, leading teams and individuals and establishing clear work priorities with them. This will involve discussion with providers re: their contractual activity.

Desirable

• Considerable senior management experience in a complex environment and with people with complex mental healthcare needs

Knowledge/Skills
Essential

• Knowledge of legislation and policy in relation to people with autism, LD and older adults.
• Sophisticated interpersonal and diplomacy skills, able to network and easily form effective relationships with a diverse range of political, executive, managerial and professional colleagues across the system.
• Ability to prepare high quality written reports and presentations for senior internal and external audiences.
• Ability to challenge stakeholders about delivery and to hold to account where project targets have not been met, including ability to manage difficult dynamics within teams e.g., resistance to change or hostility

Desirable

• Understanding of economic, financial and organisational complexities of the NHS, primary care and Local Authorities.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Lewisham Town Hall, London, SE6 4RU, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Programme Director, SLP Complex Care, Sue Field, View email address on meeveem.com