Head of Clinical Quality and Performance - Mental Health Services

The Head of Clinical Quality and Performance will provide strategic and operational leadership to ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality mental health services, with a particular emphasis on neurodevelopmental services (ADHD and Autism).

This pivotal role will drive continuous improvement in clinical standards, patient safety, and service performance across community-based and specialist teams, ensuring compliance with national guidelines, regulatory frameworks, and commissioning expectations.

The postholder will work closely with clinical leads, operational managers, and commissioners to deliver innovative and inclusive services that improve outcomes and experiences for children, young people, and adults with ADHD, autism, and co-occurring mental health conditions.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead on the development and implementation of the clinical quality and performance strategy for all mental health services, with a strong focus on ADHD and autism pathways.
• Embed an evidence-based approach to clinical governance, quality improvement (QI), and outcome measurement across all services.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to shape and deliver services that are person-centred, culturally competent, and accessible.
• Provide expert advice to the Board and Executive Team on emerging trends, risks, and innovations in neurodevelopmental and wider mental health care.

Quality and Clinical Governance

• Oversee the delivery of robust clinical governance frameworks, ensuring compliance with CQC, NICE, NHS England, and safeguarding standards.
• Monitor and drive improvements in clinical outcomes, patient safety, and service user experience, particularly within ADHD and autism pathways.
• Lead on incident investigation, root cause analysis, and learning reviews to ensure accountability and shared learning across teams.
• Implement and monitor clinical audit programmes to drive service improvement.

Performance Management

• Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) for all mental health services, with tailored metrics for neurodevelopmental services.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting to commissioners, regulators, and the Board.
• Drive improvements in waiting times, assessment processes, and follow-up care for ADHD and autism patients.
• Champion digital innovation, data quality, and use of analytics to improve performance and patient outcomes.

Service Development & Innovation

• Lead service redesign initiatives to expand ADHD and autism services, ensuring alignment with local needs and national policy priorities.
• Build strong partnerships with voluntary, education, and social care sectors to support integrated care pathways.
• Promote co-production with service users, carers, and families to shape and evaluate services.
• Identify opportunities for research, innovation, and external funding to enhance service delivery.

Workforce Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership to multidisciplinary teams, fostering a culture of clinical excellence, inclusivity, and continuous improvement.
• Lead on workforce planning, including recruitment, retention, and development of specialist ADHD and autism expertise within teams.
• Ensure robust clinical supervision, appraisal, and professional development frameworks are in place.
• Support staff wellbeing and resilience to maintain a sustainable and high-performing workforce.

Key Relationships

• Executive Leadership Team and Board members
• Clinical and Operational Leads for ADHD, Autism, CAMHS, and Adult Mental Health
• Commissioners and Integrated Care Board (ICB) leads
• Primary Care, Social Care, and Education partners
• Voluntary and community sector organisations
• Service user and carer representatives
• Regulators (e.g., CQC, NHS England)

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered health or social care professional (e.g., RMN, Clinical Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, or equivalent)
• Master's level qualification in a relevant field (or equivalent experience)
• Evidence of continued professional development in quality improvement, leadership, and clinical governance

Knowledge and Experience

• Substantial senior leadership experience within mental health services, preferably across both CAMHS and adult pathways
• Proven track record of improving clinical quality and performance in neurodevelopmental services (ADHD and Autism)
• In-depth understanding of relevant legislation, policies, and frameworks, including NICE guidelines, SEND Code of Practice, and the Autism Strategy
• Demonstrated experience of leading clinical governance, service redesign, and QI initiatives
• Experience of working collaboratively with commissioners, regulators, and system partners to deliver integrated care
• Sound understanding of safeguarding frameworks for children and adults

Skills and Competencies

• Strong strategic and operational leadership skills with the ability to inspire multidisciplinary teams
• Exceptional skills in performance analysis, service evaluation, and data-driven decision-making
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to manage complexity and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in service delivery and workforce culture
• Resilient, flexible, and innovative approach to problem-solving

Values and Behaviours

• A passion for improving the lives of individuals with ADHD, autism, and mental health needs
• A commitment to co-production, ensuring the voice of service users and carers shapes service design and delivery
• A culture of openness, transparency, and learning
• Dedication to embedding evidence-based practice and innovation