Our Initial Response Service (IRS) is a centralised, triage‑led function designed to provide a single point of access for urgent mental health referrals, bringing together the elements of 111 Mental Health Option, Crisis and Home Treatment pathways. It is responsible for receiving, screening and clinically triaging referrals, ensuring service users are directed to the most appropriate service in a timely and safe manner. The model supports rapid decision making, prioritisation of risk, and coordination of responses, including escalation to face‑to‑face crisis assessment where indicated. The service aims to reduce duplication across services and deliver consistent performance against response standard.
As the Initial Response Service (IRS) Manager, you will lead both the operational delivery and strategic development of a high‑impact, front‑door mental health service, ensuring safe, responsive and effective care for those in urgent need. You will be accountable for delivering consistent performance against national standards while maintaining a relentless focus on quality, safety and patient experience across all aspects of the service.
A core element of the role is providing visible leadership on quality and safety, embedding a culture of continuous improvement, learning and openness. You will ensure robust clinical governance, oversee risk management, and drive improvements in safety outcomes, using data, audit and service user feedback to reduce variation and enhance care delivery.
Operationally, you will lead demand and capacity planning, workforce optimisation and pathway redesign, ensuring the service is agile and able to respond to system pressures. You will use performance and activity data to drive improvements in access, flow and outcomes, ensuring the IRS delivers a consistently high standard of care.
You will work as a senior system leader, building strong partnerships across health and social care, and influencing the development of integrated urgent care pathways. Acting as an ambassador for the Trust, you will contribute to system‑wide transformation and ensure the IRS plays a central role in delivering the wider mental health agenda.
Alongside this, you will inspire and develop a high‑performing workforce, creating a culture where staff feel supported, empowered and accountable. You will ensure robust governance, financial oversight and performance management are in place, delivering a service that is not only efficient and sustainable, but also consistently safe, high‑quality and person‑centred.