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Lead outstanding specialist mental health and learning disability services
We are looking for an experienced and values-driven Hospital Manager / Hospital Director to lead Cygnet Hospital Colchester. This is an exciting senior healthcare leadership opportunity for an accomplished hospital leader who is passionate about delivering safe, compassionate and person-centered care. You will have overall accountability for the operational and clinical performance of the hospital, providing clear direction to multidisciplinary, clinical and support teams.
This role has a competitive Salary: Up to £100,000 DOE
Quality at the heart of our service
The hospital is rated Good overall by the Care Quality Commission, with Caring rated Outstanding. Its acute, rehabilitation and learning disability or autism services are rated Good. Cygnet Hospital Colchester is a 59-bed specialist service supporting men with mental health needs, learning disabilities and autism. Its five services provide acute care, high-support inpatient rehabilitation, highly specialised autism support and intensive support for individuals with learning disabilities or autism.
Highwoods Ward – Acute Service for Men
Ramsey Unit – High Support Inpatient Rehabilitation, Level 2 Service for Men
Chestnut Court – Highly Specialised Autism Spectrum Disorder Service for Men
Oak Court – Acute Admission and Intensive Support Service for Men with a Learning Disability
Larch Court – Acute Admission and Intensive Support Service for Men with Autism
Our recovery-focused approach supports individuals to progress towards the least restrictive environment appropriate to their needs, including rehabilitation, step-down services and, wherever possible, a return to the community. The hospital is supported by an established multidisciplinary team that includes psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychiatry, nursing and support workers.
The opportunity…
Reporting to the Operations Director, you will be responsible for the overall day-to-day management and strategic direction of the hospital. You will provide visible, effective and compassionate leadership, ensuring that clinical quality, regulatory compliance, workforce performance, financial management and service development remain at the heart of everything we do. This is a broad and influential leadership position with accountability across:
- Clinical quality and patient safety
- Hospital operations and service performance
- CQC compliance and clinical governance
- Risk assessment and risk management
- Safeguarding and Mental Health Act compliance
- Workforce planning, recruitment and retention
- Staff supervision, appraisal and development
- Budgetary control and financial performance
- Health and safety, estates and environmental standards
- Commissioner relationships, contracts and KPIs
- Service development, occupancy and external reputation
About you…
You will be a credible and experienced healthcare leader with the confidence to manage a complex specialist hospital and inspire high-performing multidisciplinary teams.
You will have:
- At least two years’ significant management or leadership experience within a similar healthcare setting.
- Strong knowledge of hospital operations, clinical governance, quality assurance and regulatory compliance.
- A good understanding of the Mental Health Act and relevant national care standards.
- Experience of leading services for people with mental health needs, learning disabilities, autism or behaviours that may challenge.
- Proven experience of managing budgets, staffing levels, resources and financial performance.
- The ability to translate policies and procedures into safe, consistent practice.
- Experience of auditing services, identifying improvement opportunities and leading sustainable change.
- Strong people-management skills, including objective setting, coaching, performance management and team development.
- The ability to build positive relationships with service users, families, commissioners, regulators and external agencies.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce professional reports.
- The ability to delegate effectively, prioritise competing demands and remain composed under pressure.
- The flexibility to participate in an on-call rota where required.
- A full UK driving licence or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role.
- A relevant degree, formal management qualification or current professional nursing registration would be advantageous but is not essential.
Why Cygnet?
This is an opportunity to lead a diverse group of specialist services and make a meaningful difference to the lives of the people in our care, their families and the teams who support them. You will join an established organisation where quality, safety, recovery and positive outcomes are central to service delivery. You will have the scope to shape the hospital’s strategic direction, strengthen its culture and lead continuous improvement across clinical and operational performance.
We'll offer you:
- Competitive Salary: Up to £100,000 DOE
- Strong career progression opportunities
- Monthly reflective practice, & support with CPD opportunities
- Expert clinical supervision & peer support
- Employee referral scheme
- Pension scheme
- Cycle to work scheme & employee discount saving.
If you are an experienced Hospital Manager, Hospital Director, Registered Manager, Senior Healthcare Manager or Mental Health Service Director looking for your next senior leadership role in Colchester or Essex, we would be pleased to hear from you.
What next?
If you care about making a difference – we want to talk to you.
Click the button to apply
