Conducting an Executive Search for strategic and operational leadership of mental health services, driving a values based culture, continuous improvement, and growth mindset for the delivery of patient centred care.
The Brief
In 2024, Future Leadership was engaged to support the appointment of a Executive Director Mental Health to provide leadership and direction for the delivery of the organisation’s core clinical mental health services. With a remit to drive significant culture and practice change across the workforce, the EDMH would play a critical role in continuing to transform the organisations mental health service to meet the needs of the region.
It was identified the ideal candidate would be a contemporary, empowering and values-based leader, with the drive and energy to lead the workforce to deliver outstanding service and care within mental health. Described as a leader who is approachable with a growth mindset, the incumbent was to have the ability to engage across the complex stakeholder environment, be approachable and kind and have a natural propensity towards mentoring and developing others. Contributing to solution building, including the design of innovative workforce models, the EDMH was to bring a strong understanding of the current mental health landscape and demonstrate the necessary skills to manage complex organisational and cultural change. It was highlighted as essential that the incumbent demonstrate a commitment to the principles of recovery and the involvement of lived experience experts at all levels of governance.
Candidate net Promote Score
Future Leadership combines truly personalised relationships with innovative technology solutions to ensure an approachable and efficient process for all our Net Promoter Score across clients, successful candidates and unsuccessful candidates is well above industry standard.
Candidates supported every year
We maintain genuine relationships with past candidates and continue to support them with leadership solutions long term, after they land their role.
Senior Women Appointed since 2002
Over half of the executive search assignments undertaken by our team have resulted in the appointment of outstanding female or LGBTQI+ leaders to high profile roles.
Candidate Retention Rate for 12 months since 2002
Our thorough briefing process and ability to engage passive candidates mean that we go to great lengths to find the right person for the role – long term!
The Process
The Future Leadership team, led by Sandra Kerr, held a detailed briefing process which provided the framework for the Future Leadership search strategy. The selection committee identified that the appointee would need to demonstrate specific and relevant experience gained specifically within the speciality of Mental Health services.
The selection panel was kept up to date on progress throughout the search with regular updates from the lead Consultant. The Future Leadership team provided a shortlist of candidates, followed by panel interviews which were supported by Future Leadership, including management of all logistics and provision of interview questions. The lead consultant completed 360 degree reference checking for the preferred candidate, and supported the negotiation phase to confirm the appointment.
Key steps included:
- Targeted Search and Talent Pooling: Future Leadership™ conducted a comprehensive search process targeting potential candidates within the sector.
- Comprehensive Shortlisting: The client was presented with a short list of highly qualified candidates with exceptional experience.
- Panel Interviews and Strategic Presentation: The Future Leadership™ team worked closely with the client to complete panel interviews, plus full referencing and required probity checking to confirm an appointment.
Emerging Capabilities
Cultural Engagement
Fosters a positive culture, creating a sense of belonging and inclusiveness. Creates an environment that encourages diverse perspectives and facilitates a psychologically safe environment.
Communication and Influence
Articulates messages with clarity and impact to build understanding, inspire action, persuade others and enable information exchange. Considers the audience and draws on different styles to create impact.
Stakeholder Relations
Establishes rapport with stakeholders, builds and sustains trusted and collaborative relationships. Identifies and draws on relevant and diverse perspectives and integrates them to support productive interactions.
Personal Growth
Adopts a growth mindset, building self-awareness. Motivated to continuously develop personally and professionally - one's own knowledge, skills, and personal attributes and self-insight. Reflects regularly on ways to improve self, regularly evolving self, focusing on the whole person.
Critical Thinking
Gathers and examines different data points, testing for assumptions and gaps in logic; reframes problems and presents well-reasoned insights considering diverse perspectives. Analyses, interprets and objectively evaluates information enabling judgements.
Strategy and Purpose
Develops and leads strategy for the function /organisation, taking a broad and long-term perspective. Understands and considers context. Communicates and gains buy-in to the function/organisation goals, direction and vision, promoting change initiatives.
The Outcome
The successful appointee was confirmed and commenced in December 2024. With almost 30 years of Mental Health and Social Health Care background both in the UK and Australia, the appointed candidate presented as a seasoned executive leader with a proven track record of driving organisational excellence, and a passion for fostering innovation and research. The newly appointed Executive Director Mental Health, demonstrated ability in relation to deliver contemporary mental health services through evidence-based models of care, innovation and consumer engagement.
