Assistant Director, Community Specialist Children’s Health Services

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and inspirational leader to join EPUT as Assistant Director, Community Specialist Children’s Services across South East Essex.

You will lead well-established, high-performing services that deliver personalised, flexible care for children, young people, and families. Reporting to the Associate Director for Integration, you will provide strategic and operational leadership, ensuring excellence in clinical quality, governance, workforce, and performance.

Services include:

• Children’s Neurodiversity and Neurodisability
• Community Children’s Nursing
• Children’s Therapies
• Specialist community services

As well as leading EPUT's Children Services you will play a key role in shaping children’s services across the Mid and South Essex system, working collaboratively with the ICB, Local Authorities, Primary Care Networks, voluntary sector, and acute trusts to develop integrated pathways and drive transformation.

The post holder will play a critical role in developing high-quality, integrated care pathways and leading Children service transformation to improve outcomes for children and families with complex and additional needs.

They will also support the integration of children’s services within the development of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams, ensuring services are accessible, coordinated, and responsive to local population needs.

The role requires active participation in the wider Mid and South Essex (MSE) system approach, supporting ongoing transformation and service development. The post holder will drive excellence in performance, ensuring services meet commissioner expectations and contribute to system-wide objectives.

Working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, the post holder will provide strategic leadership across organisational boundaries. Key partners will include:

• Local Authorities
• Essex ICB
• Primary Care Networks
• Voluntary and community sector organisations
• Acute Trusts

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.

Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.

If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

1. Strategic Leadership and Service Delivery

The post holder is responsible for the strategic leadership, development, and performance of Community and Children’s Services , ensuring they are responsive to population needs, service demand, and national and local priorities. This includes shaping services to align with evolving health needs, commissioning strategies, and integrated care agendas.

A core aspect of the role is leading service transformation , including the design and implementation of new care pathways, models of care, and service innovations that prioritise prevention, early intervention, and care closer to home. The role requires alignment with national frameworks, clinical guidance, and local strategies , ensuring that services remain compliant, forward-looking, and patient-centred.

The post holder also contributes to long-term strategic planning , working with system leaders to deliver the Children’s Services framework and supporting the shift toward integrated, community-based care. There is a strong emphasis on co-production with partners, service users, and the public , ensuring services are equitable, accessible, and responsive.

2. Operational Management and Service Effectiveness

The role involves day-to-day operational leadership to ensure services are efficient, effective, and high quality. This includes:

• Implementing national policies and local modernisation agendas
• Leading service reviews and value-for-money exercises
• Ensuring appropriate workforce deployment and skill mix
• Managing risk and undertaking service-level risk assessments

The post holder ensures that services are delivered through robust governance frameworks , including monitoring performance against targets, addressing incidents and complaints, and driving continuous improvement.

They are accountable for embedding clinical and corporate governance systems , ensuring patient safety, regulatory compliance (e.g. CQC, NICE), and adherence to statutory responsibilities such as safeguarding.

Operational responsibilities also include supporting service-level agreements (SLAs) , business planning, and ensuring services meet agreed quality and performance standards.

3. Financial Stewardship and Resource Management

The post holder has full responsibility for financial management within their area , ensuring services operate within budget and contribute to the Trust’s overall financial sustainability.

Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering balanced budgets and financial plans
• Implementing cost-efficiency and cash-releasing savings programmes
• Ensuring effective use of resources and minimising waste
• Supporting financial planning, forecasting, and reporting

They must adhere to standing financial instructions and NHS governance requirements , demonstrating strong financial stewardship and accountability.

The role also involves supporting service redesign and value-for-money initiatives , ensuring resources are used efficiently while maintaining high standards of care.

4. Workforce Leadership and Development

The post holder is responsible for leading, managing, and developing a multidisciplinary workforce , ensuring staff are supported to deliver high-quality care.

Key aspects include:

• Recruitment and retention in line with Trust policies
• Embedding best HR practices, including appraisal, supervision, and performance management
• Supporting staff development through training, career progression, and leadership opportunities
• Creating a culture of learning, innovation, and continuous improvement

The role requires effective communication and engagement with staff , promoting open dialogue, collaboration, and shared ownership of service development.

The post holder must also manage complex workforce issues , including disciplinary matters, workforce planning, and organisational change, using professional judgement and leadership expertise.

5. Integration and Partnership Working

A significant responsibility is to lead and strengthen partnerships across the health and care system , including collaboration with:

• Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)
• Primary Care Networks (PCNs)
• Local authorities
• External providers and voluntary sector organisations

The post holder works to integrate specialist services across the Trust and wider system , improving patient pathways and ensuring coordinated, seamless care.

They play a key role in stakeholder engagement , building relationships, influencing partners, and aligning services to shared strategic goals. This includes presenting complex information, negotiating service changes, and supporting system-wide transformation.

The role also involves understanding partner needs and perceptions , ensuring services are responsive and aligned with system requirements.

6. Performance Management and Quality Improvement

The post holder is accountable for delivering and improving performance across all service areas , ensuring compliance with local and national targets.

Key responsibilities include:

• Monitoring service performance using data, audit, and reporting
• Delivering against agreed metrics set by commissioners
• Identifying and addressing performance gaps
• Implementing improvement plans and escalating risks when necessary

There is a strong focus on continuous quality improvement , ensuring services are regularly reviewed and enhanced to meet changing needs.

The role requires the ability to analyse complex data and trends , using insights to inform decision-making, service development, and resource allocation.

7. Governance, Compliance, and Risk Management

The post holder ensures that all services operate within a robust governance framework , meeting statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements.

This includes:

• Compliance with NHS standards and external bodies (e.g. CQC, NICE)
• Implementation of safeguarding processes
• Management of incidents, complaints, and risks
• Ensuring transparency, accountability, and learning from feedback

They are responsible for ensuring that complaints are handled appropriately , lessons are learned, and improvements are implemented.

The role also involves ensuring evidence of compliance is maintained and reported, supporting inspections and audits.

8. Patient-Centred Care and Inclusion

A central focus of the role is ensuring that patient care is safe, high quality, and person-centred .

This includes:

• Developing care pathways that meet diverse needs
• Promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Ensuring culturally sensitive care
• Upholding dignity and respect for patients and carers

The post holder ensures services provide choice and accessibility , supporting patient engagement in service design and delivery.

They also ensure systems are in place to help patients achieve recovery goals , aligning with best practice and NICE guidance.

9. Communication and Influencing

The role requires advanced communication and interpersonal skills , including the ability to:

• Convey complex and sensitive information clearly
• Influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders
• Motivate staff and teams
• Present information to diverse audiences

The post holder must be able to adapt communication styles to meet the needs of different groups, including patients, families, staff, and partners.

They are responsible for promoting the organisation positively , contributing to business development and strategic positioning.

10. Service Development and Innovation

The post holder leads on service innovation and development , ensuring services remain relevant, effective, and responsive.

Key elements include:

• Identifying opportunities for service improvement
• Developing new roles and ways of working
• Supporting early intervention and preventative care models
• Aligning services with emerging best practice and policy

The role emphasises evidence-based decision-making , using data, research, and benchmarking to inform service design.

11. Strategic Partnerships and System Leadership

The post holder plays a critical role in system leadership , working across organisational boundaries to deliver integrated care.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing shared strategic vision with partners
• Supporting system-wide service transformation
• Engaging stakeholders to align priorities
• Leading communication strategies across organisations

They must be able to interpret national policy and apply it locally , shaping long-term strategies and influencing system direction.

12. Accountability and Professional Autonomy

The post holder operates as a senior autonomous leader , with authority to make decisions within their remit while seeking advice where necessary.

They are accountable for:

• Service performance and outcomes
• Financial management
• Workforce leadership
• Compliance and governance

The role requires high levels of professional judgement , particularly in managing complex clinical, operational, and organisational challenges.

13. Additional Responsibilities

The post holder is expected to:

• Participate in senior on-call rotas
• Complete mandatory training
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of policies and best practice
• Provide supervision and support to staff
• Work flexibly, including supporting 24/7 service delivery where required