Director of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities

We are looking for an exceptional leader with significant senior experience in mental health, learning disability or a closely related health and care setting. You will bring a strong track record of leading complex services, delivering improvement, working across organisational boundaries, and building trusted relationships with partners, communities, people who use services, and staff.

You will be able to operate effectively at Board and system level, balancing strategic leadership with grip on delivery, quality, safety and performance. You will demonstrate a deep commitment to compassionate leadership, reducing inequalities, co-production, partnership working and improving outcomes for people with mental health needs and learning disabilities.

Please note all applications for this role must be made through the Hunter Healthcare portal:https://hhmicrosites.com/sbuhb-welcome/sbuhb-director-of-mental-health-and-learning-disabilities, The Director of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities provides strategic leadership for all Mental Health and Learning Disability (MH&LD) services across Swansea Bay University Health Board. The role enables the delivery of high-quality, safe, compassionate and sustainable services aligned with the NHS Wales Duty of Quality and Duty of Candour, while leading implementation of the Welsh Governments Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 20252035 and the Learning Disability Strategic Action Plan 20222026.

As a member of the Health Boards senior leadership team, the postholder leads the delivery, transformation and continuous improvement of MH&LD services across community, inpatient and specialist pathways, ensuring alignment with the Health Boards Transforming for the Future Clinical Services Plan, ten-year organisational strategy, A Healthier Swansea Bay and the Integrated Medium Term Plan (IMTP). The Director will lead the redesign of services to strengthen prevention, early intervention and integrated community-based alternatives to hospital admission while ensuring safe, therapeutic and effective inpatient care.

Further information regarding the role can be obtained by contacting Hunter Healthcare directly via the contact details provided or by visiting:https://hhmicrosites.com/sbuhb-welcome/sbuhb-director-of-mental-health-and-learning-disabilities

Swansea Bay UHB has a budget of £1.7bn and employs around 14,700 people, making us one of the largest employers in Wales.

We provide NHS care for a population of around 390,000 across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. We also offer a wide range of tertiary services to patients further afield, including burns and plastics, renal, cardiac surgery and specialist neonatal care.

We have three major acute hospitals Morriston, Singleton and Neath Port Talbot, and also provide community and mental health care, along with commissioning primary care services.

We have also set up the South West Wales Regional Joint Committee (RJC) with Hywel Dda UHB to provide joint leadership for planning, commissioning, and delivering services across the wider south west Wales region.

Our strategic vision is clear: a healthier Swansea Bay where individuals enjoy longer, happier, and more independent lives, with access to the care they need when they need it most.

We are committed not only to treating illness, but to supporting wellbeing throughout peoples lives. By working with our communities and partners, we seek to tackle health inequalities, empower people to make informed choices, and foster environments where everyone can thrive physically, mentally, and socially.

This role will be central to driving clinical excellence, service transformation and organisational recovery.