Transformation Partner
Job summary
The Transformation Partner is a strategic leadership post operating at the intersection of digital innovation, clinical excellence, and service design, enabling Oakdale to become a Brand that Leads. This role drives the end-to-end lifecycle of transformation projects, from horizon scanning and proof-of-concept to full deployment and scaling.
The primary focus will be leading the operational transformation of Oakdale's assessment and therapy services. You will ensure accessible, efficient, and person-centred pathways aligned with NHS and Local Authority plans, introducing cutting-edge technologies (including AI tools), managing clinical systems deployment, and expanding initiatives that support public- and private-funded healthcare.
Main duties of the job
As an experienced and forward-thinking professional you will join Oakdale ready to lead the transformation of our services across people, process and technology domains, ensuring we deliver accessible, efficient, and person-centred care.
Youll be inspired by leading our work in horizon scanning, scoping, testing, and operationalising new and emerging technologies and methodologies that have the potential to transform patient care, operational delivery, and staff experience.
Youll be ready to act as a catalyst for evidence-informed innovation by bridging front-line insight, clinical priorities, and external innovation. This is a pivotal role at the intersection of clinical delivery, digital strategy, and service improvement. The successful candidate will lead on the design, implementation, and optimisation of digital tools, platforms, and process workflows that enhance clinical outcomes t
About us
At Oakdale, a leading private mental health service provider, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Were more than a team were a community of passionate, talented professionals committed to delivering excellence in mental health care, case management and service development.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
Digital strategy and transformation pipeline
Lead the identification, due diligence, and structured assessment of emerging technologies across digital health, AI, and healthcare innovation.
Establish and maintain an organisational innovation pipeline, creating transparent prioritisation frameworks to move projects from ideation to board-level business cases.
Support the design and execution of a roadmap for our services, keeping it closely aligned with NHS England priorities (e.g., interoperability, digital-first care, data-driven planning).
Identify opportunities to introduce specific digital tools to optimise triage, screening, waiting list management, assessment and follow-up care models.
Act as the end-to-end project manager for the deployment of digital platforms, online assessment tools, clinical systems, and booking software.
Coordinate day-to-day implementation workstreams, tracking milestones, mitigating deployment risks, and ensuring financial and scoping targets are met.
Manage multi-stakeholder delivery networks, bridging frontline clinical needs with operational and digital teams, external vendors, and academic or commercial partners.
Support and expand Right to Choose development, ensuring systems, processes, and digital access are optimised to manage referrals and track long-term outcomes.
Engage clinicians, administrators, service users, and families to co-design digital pathways that are fundamentally inclusive and highly accessible.
Act as an organisational catalyst for change, driving training and change management frameworks for staff adopting new digital platforms or workflows.
Foster continuous innovation capabilities within the staff ecosystem through direct mentoring and engagement initiatives.
Supported by the Governance Team, advise and support staff at all levels on Information Governance best practice across transformation initiatives, ensuring all pilots, data structures, and integrations strictly adhere to GDPR, cyber security, and DCB clinical risk frameworks.
Ensure all technical and operational deployments comply fully with NHS cyber security, Care Quality Commission (CQC) and information management standards.
Person Specification
Experience
- Leadership skills: Values-led leadership to coordinate and deliver the transformation portfolio with stakeholders across clinical and non-clinical teams, translating complex technical/digital information into clear language for non-specialist stakeholders, and an interest to contribute to senior leadership and strategy development.
- Education and experience: Degree-level qualification (or equivalent experience) in Digital Health, Health Informatics, IT, Project/Programme Management, or Business Administration.
- Project and change management: Proven track record of leading digital innovation or complex service transformation projects within a healthcare, NHS, or client-facing environments.
- Methodologies: Strong experience utilising user-centred design, rapid iteration, or co-production approaches under uncertain environments, designing and developing teams to meet service requirements, and the ability to influence clinicians and teams to achieve these outputs.
- Governance Knowledge: Working knowledge of clinical systems, digital accessibility, data protection legislation, and NHS digital strategies.
- Organisational skills: A genuine passion for helping people improve their lives with strong organisational skills to manage competing priorities
- Senior-level experience to build relationships with commissioners and key stakeholders both internally and externally. Recognised project management certification (e.g. Agile, PRINCE2).
- Direct experience in mental health or neurodevelopmental service structures (Autism, ADHD and psychological therapies).
- Familiarity with clinical safety standards (DCB 0129/DCB 0160) and the NICE evidence standards framework.
- Experience in defining operational processes, writing procedures, business cases and proposals with excellent written and verbal presentation skills; working collaboratively to support the delivery of a high-quality clinical service.
Qualifications
- Degree-level qualification (or equivalent experience) in Digital Health, Health Informatics, IT, Project/Programme Management, or Business Administration.
Employer details
Employer name
Oakdale Centre CIC
Address
11 Cardale Court
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG3 1RY
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.oakdalecentre.org/