SPA Service Manager

Band 8b SPA Service Manager – NHS Mental Health Leadership Role | UK Sponsorship Available

Certificate of Sponsorship Available

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside other applications.

Suitable applicants: Registered Mental Health Nurses (RMN/RMHN) with substantial crisis mental health and operational management experience who meet the essential professional registration, leadership and clinical requirements.

Band 8b SPA Service Manager

Employer: West London NHS Trust
Job Title: SPA Service Manager
Band: 8b
Salary: £72,719 – £83,505 per annum pro rata, inclusive of 15% HCAS
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full-time
Location: Ealing Hospital, Southall, London
Reference: 222-LS-Man-187
Date Posted: 12 August 2026
Closing Date: 25 August 2026

Job Overview

West London NHS Trust is recruiting a Band 8b SPA Service Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership for its busy Single Point of Access (SPA) service.

The SPA is a critical access point for urgent mental health support, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and handling approximately 50,000 calls every year.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced mental health professional who can lead a high-demand crisis access service, improve patient pathways, manage operational pressures and contribute to wider system transformation.

Why This Role Matters

The SPA operates at the frontline of urgent mental healthcare, where rapid decision-making, clinical safety, compassion and effective leadership are essential.

As SPA Service Manager, you will lead a service that:

• Integrates NHS 111 “Press 2 for Mental Health”
• Provides rapid access to urgent mental health support
• Supports people experiencing mental health crises
• Carries out triage and risk assessment
• Uses digital systems including MiDOS and NHS Pathways
• Works closely with emergency and community partners
• Supports the delivery of a 2-hour Urgent Crisis Response
• Helps reduce avoidable A&E attendances
• Oversees important safeguarding processes
• Responds to increasing demand and operational pressures
• Supports continuous service improvement and transformation

Key Responsibilities

The successful applicant will provide strong strategic and operational leadership across a fast-paced crisis access service.

Service Leadership

• Lead the 24/7 Single Point of Access service.
• Provide effective operational and strategic leadership.
• Ensure safe, responsive and high-quality urgent mental health access.
• Manage service performance and operational pressures.
• Support continuous improvement across the service.

Crisis Mental Health Services

• Provide leadership within an urgent and crisis mental health environment.
• Ensure appropriate triage, risk assessment and intervention.
• Support staff working with people experiencing acute mental health needs.
• Promote safe and effective clinical decision-making.
• Maintain a strong focus on patient outcomes and service-user experience.

Service Transformation

• Lead and support major service development initiatives.
• Translate organisational strategy into effective operational delivery.
• Identify opportunities to improve pathways and patient flow.
• Respond to changing demand and system pressures.
• Support innovative approaches to urgent mental health care.

Partnership Working

The role involves close collaboration with:

• NHS 111
• London Ambulance Service
• Police services
• Local authorities
• Other NHS organisations
• Community and urgent care partners

Safeguarding and Risk

The postholder will oversee important safeguarding processes, including Merlin reports, helping ensure vulnerable individuals receive appropriate and timely follow-up.

Essential Qualifications

Applicants must have:

• A relevant nursing professional qualification, including RMHN.
• Evidence of relevant post-qualification professional development.
• A management qualification or demonstrable management experience.
• Current UK professional registration.

Desirable qualifications:

• Master’s degree or evidence of working at Master’s level.
• Clear and progressive academic achievements.

Essential Experience

Applicants should have significant experience in:

• Crisis mental health services.
• Contact centre or crisis line environments.
• Operational management.
• Service development.
• Change management.
• Translating strategy into operational delivery.
• Managing large-scale change.
• Budget management.
• Managing complex operational pressures.
• Contemporary mental health strategy and policy.
• Staff management.
• Industrial relations.
• Workforce management.

Desirable experience:

• Formal project management.
• Preparing and presenting reports at Board or Committee level.
• Managing caseloads and waiting lists.

Essential Skills

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong strategic leadership.
• Strong operational management skills.
• Proven change-management capability.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong influencing and negotiation abilities.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Sound professional judgement.
• Ability to manage competing priorities.
• Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills.
• Strong self-awareness.
• Ability to supervise and support staff working with people with acute mental health needs.
• Strong risk assessment and risk management skills.
• Complex problem-solving ability.
• Ability to produce high-quality reports, audits and evaluations.
• Ability to use data effectively.
• Broad and effective IT skills.

Essential Knowledge

Applicants should have:

• Advanced clinical knowledge of mental health care.
• Advanced knowledge of nursing practice within the NHS.
• Extensive knowledge of clinical governance.
• Strong knowledge of quality and risk management.
• Knowledge of clinical supervision.
• Knowledge of staff support frameworks.
• Knowledge of research processes.
• Understanding of evidence-based practice.
• Comprehensive knowledge of relevant policy and legislation.

Personal Requirements

The successful applicant should be:

• Highly motivated.
• Self-directed.
• Resilient.
• Able to work flexibly.
• Able to participate in a 24/7 service and on-call rota.
• Committed to equality and fair access.
• Committed to service-user empowerment.
• Able to remain calm under pressure.
• Able to support people experiencing emotional distress and anxiety.
• Fit to undertake patient-facing duties when required.
• Able to meet the Trust’s attendance requirements.

Desirable: Full UK driving licence.

About West London NHS Trust

West London NHS Trust is a major healthcare provider delivering mental health, physical healthcare and community services.

The Trust provides services across several London boroughs and operates Broadmoor Hospital, one of the UK’s three high secure hospitals.

Its services include high, medium and low secure mental health care, as well as mental and physical healthcare across:

• Ealing
• Hounslow
• Hammersmith & Fulham

The Trust employs more than 5,000 staff and is an established partner within the North West London Integrated Care System.

The Trust is rated Good overall by the Care Quality Commission, while its forensic services are rated Outstanding.

Job Details at a Glance

Skilled Worker Sponsorship

West London NHS Trust explicitly states that applications from candidates who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Applicants who require sponsorship should ensure they meet the relevant immigration, professional registration and role requirements before applying.

For official immigration information, see UK Visas and Immigration.

UK Professional Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

International healthcare professionals should review the relevant registration and NHS employment requirements before submitting an application.

More information is available through NHS Careers.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This position is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.

A Disclosure and Barring Service check will therefore be required as part of the recruitment process.

Who Should Apply?

This vacancy is particularly suited to experienced mental health professionals who have:

• Current UK professional registration.
• Relevant RMHN/RMN professional qualifications.
• Significant crisis mental health experience.
• Experience working within crisis lines or contact-centre environments.
• Strong operational management experience.
• Experience leading teams and managing workforce issues.
• Experience delivering service transformation.
• Strong clinical governance and risk-management knowledge.
• The ability to lead a demanding 24/7 service.
• The resilience and judgement required for high-pressure mental health environments.

Candidates requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome to apply, subject to meeting the role and sponsorship requirements.

Application Deadline

Closing date: 25 August 2026

Candidates interested in this opportunity should submit their application before the closing date.

How to Apply

The vacancy is advertised through NHS Jobs.

Full details + Apply:
View the full vacancy and apply on NHS Jobs

Employer: West London NHS Trust
Reference: 222-LS-Man-187

Important Applicant Note

Meeting the basic requirements does not guarantee appointment. Applications will be assessed against the full job description and person specification, and candidates should provide clear evidence of their qualifications, professional registration, leadership experience and relevant crisis mental health experience.