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Co-production Manager Context

Community Mental Health Transformation forms part of the NHS Long Term Plan and is driving a fundamental shift in the way mental health services are designed, delivered and experienced. Across Greater Manchester, the Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism (MHLDA) Quality Transformation Programme is focused on improving outcomes, reducing inequalities, and ensuring that people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. A key element of this transformation is the commitment to meaningful co-production, ensuring that people with lived and living experience are active partners in shaping services, pathways, policies and system change.

Gaddum has been commissioned to lead and facilitate the involvement of working-age adults with lived and living experience across Greater Manchester as part of this transformation programme. Through collaborative engagement, relationship building and influence, Gaddum ensures that the voices, insights and experiences of people who access mental health services directly inform decision-making at both strategic and operational levels. The Co-production Manager plays a pivotal role in enabling this approach and ensuring that co-production remains at the heart of system transformation.

Job Summary

The Co-production Manager provides strategic operational leadership for Gaddum's co-production, involvement and engagement activities across Greater Manchester. The postholder will lead the delivery and continuous development of high-quality co-production opportunities, ensuring that people with lived and living experience are empowered, supported and enabled to influence the design, delivery, evaluation and transformation of mental health services.

Working collaboratively with individuals, communities, colleagues and system partners, the Co-production Manager will build strong relationships across the health, social care and voluntary sector landscape. They will champion inclusive and accessible engagement approaches, ensuring that diverse voices are represented and that participation results in meaningful change.

The postholder will be responsible for service performance, quality assurance, stakeholder management and the effective use of resources, whilst identifying new opportunities for involvement and service development. They will ensure that co-production activity delivers measurable impact, contributes to system priorities, and achieves the best possible outcomes for people and communities across Greater Manchester.

Service Management

· Lead the operational delivery and continuous improvement of Gaddum's co-production and lived experience activities, working in partnership with the Head of Therapy to support the strategic development, direction and sustainability of the service

• Ensure all activity is aligned to Gaddum's strategic objectives, contractual requirements and wider priorities across Greater Manchester's Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism Transformation Programme.
• Champion the principles and practice of co-production across Gaddum and partner organisations, ensuring people with lived and living experience are meaningfully involved in planning, designing, delivering and evaluating services and system transformation.
• Work collaboratively with Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board, NHS providers, local authorities, VCSE organisations and other system partners to influence and support improvements in mental health services.
• Identify opportunities to expand and strengthen lived experience leadership, engagement and involvement activity across Greater Manchester.
• Ensure all service activity operates in accordance with Gaddum's policies, procedures and Service Operating Procedures (SOPs), supporting audits, reviews and organisational learning.
• Oversee service performance and contract monitoring requirements, ensuring accurate data collection, impact measurement and timely reporting to commissioners and stakeholders.
• Embed approaches that promote equity, diversity, inclusion and cultural responsiveness, ensuring underrepresented communities have opportunities to influence service development.
• Develop and maintain systems for capturing, evidencing and communicating the impact of co-production activity and lived experience involvement.

Operational Management

• Provide effective leadership, supervision and support to staff and peer facilitators, fostering a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture.
• Report regularly to the Head of on service performance, quality, risk, workforce matters and emerging opportunities.
• Lead, manage and develop the team through regular supervision, appraisals, objective setting, wellbeing conversations and professional development activities.
• Ensure appropriate safeguarding, risk management, health and safety and information governance arrangements are maintained across all service activities.
• Develop and maintain strong operational relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring effective communication and partnership working across organisations and sectors.
• Work with the Marketing and Communications Lead to promote opportunities for involvement and engagement, ensuring communications are accessible, inclusive and reflective of lived experience voices.
• Work collaboratively with other Gaddum service managers to share learning, contribute to organisational objectives and maintain consistently high standards across all services.
• Act as an ambassador for Gaddum, promoting the organisation's values and demonstrating a commitment to co-production, inclusion and person-centred practice in all aspects of the role.

Contract Monitoring & Compliance:

• Ensure internal audit and monitoring systems meet commissioner requirements.
• Maintain strong relationships with commissioners, referrers, service providers, and statutory / voluntary sector partners.
• Interpret national and regional policies into actionable best practices for Gaddum.

Service Development:

• Identify new opportunities to develop services in partnership with the Senior Leadership Team.
• Contribute to tender submissions, funding applications, and grant reporting for engagement services.
• Continuously monitor and evaluate service provision, implementing changes to improve outcomes and efficiency.
• Participate in end-of-project reporting, grant interviews, and funding-related events.

Finance, HR, and Health & Safety:

• Monitor budgets, expenditures, and funding awards, ensuring the effective use of resources.
• Manage staff appraisals, personal development plans (PDPs), and recruitment processes in collaboration with the Head of Therapy
• Ensure compliance with health and safety legislation, carrying out regular risk assessments for the services.

Organisational Responsibilities:

• Actively engage in personal and professional development, using supervision and appraisal processes to enhance skills.
• Promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of work, ensuring services are accessible and integrated.
• Provide cover and support across other Gaddum services as needed.
• Represent Gaddum at external events, meetings, and working groups, championing the full range of Gaddum’s services.
• Maintain a flexible approach to working hours to accommodate the needs of the role and organisational priorities.

All staff are expected to work within all Gaddum policies and procedures. This role is subject to Basic DBS Check.

Please note that we screen applications for the use of AI. Any applications in which we believe (in our sole discretion) AI has been used will not be considered for interview.