Hospital Director – Independent Mental Health Service (CAMHS & Transitional Care)
Role Overview
The Hospital Director will provide strategic and operational leadership for an independent mental health service specialising in children and young people, including transitional care into adulthood. The role is accountable for delivering high-quality, safe, and effective care aligned with regulatory standards, while ensuring sustainable service performance.
This position requires a strong background in CAMHS and experience managing complex clinical environments.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Service Management
Provide overall leadership and direction for the hospital, ensuring high standards of care and service delivery
Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams, promoting a positive, inclusive, and high-performance culture
Ensure services are responsive to the needs of children, adolescents, and young adults in transitional care
Clinical Governance & Quality
Take overall responsibility for clinical governance, patient safety, and quality assurance
Ensure compliance with CQC (or relevant regulatory bodies) standards and frameworks
Lead on safeguarding, risk management, and incident review processes
Promote evidence-based practice and continuous improvement
Operational Performance
Oversee day-to-day operations of the hospital, ensuring effective bed management and service capacity
Deliver against agreed KPIs including occupancy, outcomes, and quality metrics
Manage resources effectively, including staffing, budgets, and infrastructure
CAMHS & Transitional Care Expertise
Ensure services are aligned with CAMHS frameworks and best practice standards
Support pathways that enable smooth transition from adolescent to adult services
Work closely with commissioners, NHS partners, and local authorities
Stakeholder Engagement
Build strong relationships with families, carers, commissioners, and external agencies
Act as the key representative of the service in external forums and inspections
Support business development and service growth initiatives
Compliance & Regulation
Ensure full compliance with all regulatory, legal, and safeguarding requirements
Prepare for and lead inspections (e.g., CQC), ensuring positive outcomes
Maintain robust policies, procedures, and audit systems
Key Requirements
Significant leadership experience within mental health services
Strong background in CAMHS (essential)
Experience managing inpatient or residential mental health services
Proven track record of working with regulatory bodies (e.g., CQC)
Understanding of safeguarding frameworks for children and young people
Financial and operational management experience
Relevant professional qualification (clinical or management background preferred)
Key Competencies
Strong leadership and decision-making capability
High emotional intelligence and resilience
Ability to manage complex clinical and operational challenges
Excellent stakeholder and relationship management skills
Commitment to delivering outstanding care for young people