Director of Services

DIRECTOR OF
March 2026

SERVICES

Director of

Services

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for applying for the post of
Kingston. Below you will find further details about the post, including a job
description and person specification, and also how to apply.

Director of

Services  with Mind in

About Mind in Kingston

We are Mind in Kingston. We fight for mental health.
For support. For respect. For you.

Mind in Kingston is a Local Mind Association and an independent, community
mental health charity. We fight to make sure that everyone with a mental health
or emotional issue locally has somewhere to turn for advice, respect, kindness
and support.

Founded in 1972, we are well respected as a user
quality wellbeing and recovery
issues to influence change. Lived experience is at the heart of everything we do,
and we work al ongside our local community to reduce mental health stigma and
discrimination.

-led organisation that delivers
-focused services, and campaigns on mental health

As a leading charity for mental health in the Borough of Kingston upon Thames,
we work with in partnership with many stakeholders to meet the needs of people
with mental health issues, their families, carers, and wider support networks in
the borough and b eyond. Mind in Kingston is an independently funded charity
affiliated to national Mind; a partner of Southwest London Minds; and a member
of Mind in London.

We provide a diverse range of community support offers
prevention services, therapeutic interventions, advocacy, peer support, groups
activities, outreach events, mental health training and campaigns to influence
change.  We work closely
quality and impactful services to people in the local area.

 with other organisations to ensure we deliver high

- including crisis -

Our team is passionate about improving mental health and wellbeing, often due
to their own experiences, whether personal or professional. We offer our team a
safe and non -judgemental space to work, encourage their participation in the
development of our ch
arity, and have a strong ethos of openness, diversity,
dignity, respect and inclusion for all

-

2

Our Vision :
We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both
support and respect.

Our Mission :

•  Our mission is to advance the views, needs and ambitions of people with
mental health problems and to challenge discrimination and promote
inclusion.

•  We will influence policy and promote equal rights through campaigning

and education.

•  We strive to develop innovative quality services which reflect expressed

need and diversity.
In all our work we promote our vision and core values.

•

Our Aims :
Our overall aim is to improve the mental health of people in and around the
Borough of Kingston upon Thames by providing a range of services that offer
support, advice, information and signposting. We also promote better
understanding and raise awareness o
stigma.

f mental health issues, as well as reduce

We do this by:

: Involve people to have their say, be involved

: Enable people to cope with, manage and improve their own mental

Empowering : Enable people to make informed choices about their lives
Improving services and support
or lead initiatives that improve the quality of lives of those experiencing,
recovering or at risk of mental health problems
Acceptance
health and allow them to be themselves
Enabling Social Participation
roles in their community
Trusted Networks
vulnerable
Removing Inequality of Opportunity
of mental health needs in the borough

: Provide safe and trusted services when people are most

: Provide access to fulfilling activities and valued

: Improve awareness and understanding

Values :
Open  -  We reach out to anyone who needs us
Together
Responsive
Independent
Unstoppable

-  We speak out fearlessly
-  We never give up

-  We're stronger in partnerships

-  We listen, we act

We strongly believe in involving our beneficiaries in our services and adhere to
these principles in all our work. Beneficiaries:

3

•  Are involved in the development, management and improvement of our

services

•  Are treated with respect and dignity
•  Have their strengths, as well as needs, acknowledged
•  Receive support in determining their choice of services
•  Are treated fairly and without discrimination

In addition, the following principles underpin all our work:

Autonomy : both for the charity which is independent and for those who use our
services that we respect ‘self
-governance’
Equality : Embracing diversity and ensuring equality of opportunity for all
Knowledge : for service users to make informed choices and the charity to offer
sound and up to date information as well as informing decision makers on many
areas relating to mental health and what service users want and experience
Active participation
lived experience of mental health needs
Respect
approach to deliver services

: recognising, supporting and using the skills of people with

: working with an empathetic, non

-judgemental and a person

-centred

For further information about the charity, please visit
www.mindinkingston.org.uk

.

To apply:

The deadline for applications is midnight,
 To apply, please send us:

Tuesday March 31 2026

.

•  an up -to -date CV, giving details of relevant experience in recent

employment and an overview of your qualifications, education and other
relevant details

•  a cover letter  of no more than 2 sides of A4

with your full contact

 skills, abilities and experience. We highly

details  explaining why you believe you are suitable for this role, and
providing  evidence of relevant
recommend you refer to the Job Description & Person Specification in the
Application Pack below
Interviews will be held
will involve  an opportunity to meet the operational management team and
an interview with the Chief Executive and a member of the board of
trustees.  Interview questions will be provided in advance.

 in person  in the week commencing the 13 April and

•

Please  direct  your application and any enquiries

about the role

to

4

Harry Wilkinson

, Chief Executive (harry@mindinkingston.org.uk)

About the  Director of

Services  Post :

Job Description:

Job Title :

Director of Services

Salary:

£47,000 FTE

, 3%  pension contributions.

Hours of work:

Location :

35 hours  FT  (some flexible working to include evenings
and weekends as required)

Hybrid, with regular attendance at central Kingston
office and local service delivery sites across the
borough and beyond as required

Responsible to

:

           Chief Executive Officer

Responsible for

:              Service Managers and Leads

Length of Contract:

Permanent,  please note all roles are subject to

 funding.

1.  Job Purpose

As Director of Services, you will be joining the organisation at an exciting time of
development and have responsibility for strategic and operational delivery of our
services, ensuring a high standard of quality and performance.

In close partnership with the CEO and leadership team, you will be working with
partners and commissioners across the borough and more widely, to ensure Mind
in Kingston continues to be recognised as providing quality mental health
services which have co
You will manage the strategic delivery of our contracts, projects and grants,
working across our core mental health provision services.

-production and community collaboration at their core.

We are looking for a highly capable, motivated and organised individual with
senior management  experience of  overseeing frontline
operations in a  health -based or  charity setting

 services and/ or

 with  excellent people and line

5

management skills
and safety at work, employment law and HR

. You will have  knowledge and

leadership  experience of health

best practice and process

.

You will be an experienced, inspiring, transformational leader and a key member
of the Senior Leadership Team, focussed on impact and delivering positive
change for our  communities including our

Service Users, Staff and Volunteers.

You will be passionate about supporting the mental wellbeing of your local
community and providing safe
with respect, dignity and

 and inclusive services,

compassion.

 that treat our beneficiaries

2.  Main Duties and Responsibilities

Service Leadership:

•  Service Delivery and Compliance: Support Mind in Kingston's team to

deliver services in line with funding agreements, contracts, and strategic
aims. Ensure services deliver agreed outcomes, producing regular reports
for the CEO, Board, and funders/commissi

oners.

•  Engagement and Co

-Production: Foster principles of engagement and co

-

production with current and potential service users during the design and
development of new services. Ensure beneficiaries can influence and
participate in the design, development, and d

elivery of our services.

•  Sustainable Service Portfolio:

Responding to borough and ICS wide data

on mental health needs (e.g. ICS strategy, Place
Kingston Mental Health Needs Assessment), ensuring our services are
relevant and developed to meet new and growing needs of the broader
community.  Collaborate with the Director of Development, Service
Managers and Leads to ensure the sustainability of our service portfolio,
maximising opportunities, managing risks, leveraging technology, and
effectively reporting on im pact.

-Based commissioning,

•  Financial Management: Ensure services and projects operate within agreed

budgets. Work closely with the Finance & IT Officer to create regular
progress reports on the financial status of operations, services, and
projects, reporting to the Finance Sub

-Comm ittee (FSC).

People Leadership:

•  Role -Model of Values: Lead efforts to create a cohesive, positive, and agile
working environment for staff and volunteers. Demonstrate behaviors that
reflect our values, including promoting inclusive and positive mental health
practices at work, disability

 positive and anti

-racist practices.

6

•  Supportive Learning, Development and Issue Management: Champion a

culture of support through regular supervision and performance
management, team meetings and proactive continuous professional
development (CPD) for staff and volunteers you oversee. Provide
collaborative leadership to ensure teams have the resources and skills
needed to deliver high
-quality services and ensure proactive issue
management.

•  Recruitment and Induction: Lead collaboratively on recruitment processes
for staff and volunteers, ensuring campaigns are inclusive, fair, and adhere
to equal opportunity principles and compliance. Ensure all new recruits to
your teams are appropriately in

ducted and trained.

Organisational Leadership:

•  Strategic Plan Development and Delivery: Lead the development and
execution of service areas within the strategic plan, contributing to
organisation -wide initiatives across EDI, sustainability, digital
advancements, finance, HR, policies, and procedures.

•  Quality and Governance Support: Collaborate with the senior leadership,
CEO and Board to ensure good and transparent governance across the
organisation. Support the CEO and the Board with auditing and
implementing recommendations to achieve the Mind Qualit
the quality framework set by national Mind across governance, finance,
service delivery and service user lived experience.

y Mark (MQM),

•  Compliance: Provide strategic and operational leadership for Health &

Safety across the organisation, including our office and community sites.
As  the  Designated Safeguarding Lead
safeguarding and compliance practices are in place, aligning with best
practice standards. Work with the senior leadership team to ensure
compliance across all policy and procedural areas including data
protection, employment law and good HR practi

 for the organisation

ce.

, ensure  robust

External Leadership:

•  Community Partnerships: Build and contribute to partnerships that

enhance Mind in Kingston’s work and expand our reach and impact within
the community.

•  Strategic Influence: Ensure Mind in Kingston’s voice is influential within

relevant strategic groups across the Borough.

•  Quality Partnership

-Working: Encourage and support high

-quality

partnership -working at all service levels.

7

•  Visibility and Influence: Create opportunities for Mind in Kingston to be

visible and influential within the wider community. Attend meetings with
commissioners, funders, and other stakeholders on behalf of Mind in
Kingston and represent both the charity's and beneficiaries' interests.

Additional

:

•  Support and stand

-in for other members of the management team as

required . Deputise to the CEO during periods of leave or absence.
•  Attend regular supervision with the CEO and attend training as required.
•  Carry out any other reasonable duties in relation to the
•  To work occasional weekends or evenings as required by the role
•  Be able and willing to work from the office, home or other places and able

 post.

to travel for meetings as required.

Person Specification

Attributes

Experience  & Knowledge

A minimum of 3 years of experience in a senior leadership role
preferably  within the mental health sector, preferably within a charity
or nonprofit organisation.

Demonstrated experience in service development, implementation,
and evaluation, with a track record of achieving positive outcomes.

Strong understanding of safeguarding, with track record of
responding in a professional capacity to safeguarding issues and
mental health crisis scenarios.

Experience and understanding of HR, employment law and best
practice

Practical experience of managing Health & Safety procedures,
including fire safety and risk assessments

Recruitment and line management
observing Equality, Diversity & Inclusion principles in all HR practices

experience  of  a diverse  workforce,

How

Evidenced

A/I

8

Knowledge/ awareness of local voluntary and statutory sector,
particularly in relation to mental health services

Qualifications

and skills

•  An appropriate qualification, relevant to the role
•  An excellent standard of written English and high level of

numeracy, particularly in relation to finance

Specialist Skills/ Ability/ Knowledge

Strong understanding of mental health issues and the needs of
individuals living with mental health conditions.

Excellent leadership and management skills, with the ability to
inspire and motivate a diverse team.

Proven ability to think strategically, solve problems, and make sound
decisions to support others in a fast

-paced environment.

A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a passion for
advancing social justice and mental health equity.

IT proficient particularly within Microsoft 365 environment

Communication

A/E

A/I

Effective communication and interpersonal skills
digital)

 (written, oral,

A/I

Ability to communicate appropriately with a wide range of people
build relationships and engage with stakeholders at all levels.

 and

Personal Qualities

Compassionate attitude to mental health and wellbeing

A/I

Highly organised  with good time management skills

Self -motivated and self
initiative as well as part of the team

-managin g with a bility to work on own

Able to take and accept responsibility

Flexible and adaptable

Enthusiastic and dedicated

9

Prior to Appointment

All posts:

•  Enhanced  DBS Check
•  Employment References
•  Right to Work in the UK

Key

A =  Application Form
I  = Interview
R  = References
E  = Evidence/

 Certificates

R/E

10