NHS Band 8a | £57,528–£64,750 per year | Permanent | Full-time | Worthing, West Sussex | Skilled Worker sponsorship available
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Service Manager to provide operational leadership across the Worthing and Adur Neighbourhood Mental Health Teams (NMHTs).
This permanent, full-time role is an opportunity for an experienced manager to lead the safe, effective and efficient delivery of community mental health services for adults across the Worthing and Adur areas.
Skilled Worker sponsorship: The Trust welcomes applications from candidates who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK.
Job Details
- Job title: Service Manager – Worthing and Adur NMHTs
- Employer: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Location: Chanctonbury Building, Swandean, Worthing, BN13 3EP
- Salary: £57,528–£64,750 per year
- NHS pay band: Band 8a
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time
- Reference: 354-AC-21325-1
- Date posted: 17 September 2026
- Closing date: 1 October 2026
About the Role
The Worthing and Adur NMHTs provide community mental health care for adults across the Adur and Worthing localities.
The transformation of community mental health services has brought together primary care mental health provision, including the Emotional Wellbeing Service and Pathfinder, with specialist secondary care services previously delivered through Assessment and Treatment Teams.
This integrated multidisciplinary model aims to improve access, patient outcomes and joined-up support within local communities.
As Service Manager, you will play a key role in developing the NMHT model, supporting innovation, service improvement and the delivery of preventative, responsive and person-centred mental health services.
Key Responsibilities
You will provide operational leadership across the Worthing and Adur NMHTs, with responsibilities including:
- Overseeing the delivery of safe and high-quality services.
- Ensuring services meet relevant performance objectives.
- Maintaining financial balance and effective use of resources.
- Leading service improvement and transformation projects.
- Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
- Working collaboratively with primary and secondary care colleagues.
- Managing day-to-day operational challenges.
- Prioritising and planning workload effectively.
- Handling confidential, complex and sensitive information appropriately.
- Providing leadership and line management to Team Leaders and Clinical Leads.
- Supporting senior staff to develop their skills, expertise and confidence.
- Building effective stakeholder relationships during service redesign.
- Supporting change management and continuous improvement.
Requirements / Person Specification
Essential requirements include:
- Degree/diploma-level education with a relevant qualification or equivalent experience.
- A clinical or postgraduate management qualification, or equivalent leadership experience.
- At least 3 years’ experience managing or leading health/social care services.
- Demonstrable experience managing resources.
- Experience of change management, efficiency savings and financial recovery plans.
- Experience modernising services without additional resources.
- Experience developing effective stakeholder partnerships.
- Experience of project management and innovative planning.
- Experience managing or leading a diverse practitioner team.
The successful candidate should be self-motivated, solution-focused and able to work independently.
Strong written, verbal and organisational skills are required, together with the ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and maintain high professional and ethical standards.
About Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and learning disability services for children, young people and adults across Sussex.
The Trust highlights flexible working, professional development and opportunities for staff to contribute to service improvement.
Sussex offers access to coastal and countryside locations, as well as Brighton and London. The area also has railway connections and access to Gatwick and Heathrow airports.
The Trust is rated Good overall by the CQC and Outstanding for caring.
Salary and Benefits
The role offers:
- £57,528–£64,750 per year
- NHS Agenda for Change Band 8a
- Permanent employment
- Full-time working
- Flexible working opportunities
- Learning and professional development
- A multidisciplinary working environment
- Opportunities to contribute to service transformation
Working Pattern and Location
This is a permanent, full-time position based at:
Chanctonbury Building, Swandean
Worthing
BN13 3EP
United Kingdom
The role involves operational leadership across the Worthing and Adur NMHTs and requires the successful candidate to manage their workload effectively around service priorities.
Visa and Right-to-Work
The vacancy states that candidates requiring current Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome to apply and will be considered alongside other applicants.
The role is also subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Applicants entering the UK under the Skilled Worker route may need to provide criminal record certificates for countries where they have lived for the required period, in line with UK immigration requirements.
Application Process
Applicants should apply through the official NHS recruitment process and demonstrate how their experience meets the requirements outlined in the person specification.
Particular emphasis should be placed on health or social care leadership, resource management, service improvement, change management, project management and partnership working.
Application Deadline
1 October 2026
Contact Information
For questions about the vacancy:
Fran Martinez
General Manager
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Email: francisco.martinez@nhs.net
Telephone: 07471 217 518
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary?
The salary is £57,528 to £64,750 per year.
What NHS band is the role?
The position is Band 8a under Agenda for Change.
Where is the job based?
Chanctonbury Building, Swandean, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 3EP.
Is the position permanent?
Yes. It is a permanent, full-time position.
Can international applicants apply?
Yes. The advert states that applicants requiring current Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome to apply.
What experience is required?
Applicants need at least 3 years’ experience managing or leading health/social care services, alongside relevant leadership and management experience.
What does the Service Manager role involve?
The role involves operational leadership of the Worthing and Adur NMHTs, service performance and resource management, transformation and improvement work, and leadership of Team Leaders and Clinical Leads.
Is a DBS check required?
Yes. The post is subject to a DBS check.
When does the vacancy close?
The closing date is 1 October 2026.
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