Senior Manager - Mental Health

Job Introduction We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all. The starting salary for this role is £70,975 per annum, working 36 hours per week. We are seeking a highly skilled and forward-thinking Senior Manager to lead our Mental Health social care services within Surrey County Council’s Adults, Wellbeing and Health Partnerships directorate. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and ambitious leader who is passionate about delivering high quality mental health social care, strengthening partnerships, and improving outcomes for residents across Surrey. This role will provide strategic and operational leadership across our Mental Health teams in the East of the county and our countywide AMHP service, ensuring excellent practice, strong safeguarding oversight, and a compassionate, strengths-based approach for individuals and families. Our Offer to You 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave A generous local government salary related pension Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year Paternity, adoption and dependents leave An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents About the Service Our Mental Health Service supports Surrey residents who meet Care Act eligibility, offering personalised, recovery-focused social care that empowers people to make informed choices and live well in their communities. We provide timely, strengths-based support from the point of first contact, working collaboratively with partners to ensure individuals receive the right help at the right time. This role also involves the management of our countywide Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) service. The service is built on strong multidisciplinary practice and close collaboration with NHS partners, voluntary and community organisations. As we embed Surrey’s new operating model, Mental Health teams are working increasingly closely with Connect2community and Area teams to streamline access, improve pathways, and ensure residents experience seamless transitions between triage, assessment, and ongoing support. About the Role As Senior Manager for Mental Health, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across mental health social care teams, with responsibility for the day-to-day delivery of high-quality practice. You will ensure robust safeguarding, effective risk management and timely decision-making, while holding overall accountability for performance, quality assurance and delegated budget management. A key part of the role is leading, supporting and developing team managers, fostering a positive and high‑performing culture that prioritises continuous improvement, service transformation and innovation. You will work closely with NHS partners, voluntary and community sector organisations and internal Surrey County Council services to strengthen integrated working and deliver better outcomes for people. You will promote a preventative, strengths‑based and personalised approach to practice, championing emotional wellbeing, lived‑experience involvement and compassionate leadership throughout the service. Ensuring compliance with statutory responsibilities and adult social care legislation will be central to the role. We are looking for an energetic, collaborative leader who models professionalism, innovation and a clear commitment to excellent practice. Shortlisting Criteria In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours : A professional qualification in social work, occupational therapy, or another relevant health field Recent experience managing frontline adult social care or mental health services Strong knowledge of adult social care and mental health legislation, including the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act A track record of leading teams, improving practice, and driving service development Commitment to strengths based, recovery focused, personalised practice Experience in safeguarding, complex risk management, and high pressure decision-making Surrey includes both urban and rural communities. Applicants should have a valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicle or be able to demonstrate how they can meet travel requirements. Reasonable adjustments will be provided for applicants with disabilities or long-term health conditions. When applying, you will be asked to upload your CV and answer the following 3 application questions: Describe your experience leading and managing frontline adult social care or mental health services. How have you ensured high quality practice, strong performance, and effective safeguarding and risk oversight in complex environments? This role provides senior leadership for Mental Health services. What experience or transferable skills do you bring to this area, and what impact have you made in previous leadership roles? Provide an example of collaborative working. Explain how you have worked with partners (e.g., NHS, voluntary sector, community organisations) to drive improvement or deliver positive outcomes, and how your approach reflected SCC’s values and strengths-based practice. Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey. An enhanced DBS ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children’s and Adults’ Barred List checks will be required for this role. This role is politically restricted under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Contact Us For an informal discussion, please contact Sebastian Barnes via MS Teams or email. The job advert closes at 23:59 on 29/04/2026. Interviews will follow and may include an assessment exercise. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities. Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council Our Commitment We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.