High Intensity User Strategic Lead

Posting date:	11 February 2026
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	Competitive
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	13 March 2026
Location:	Rochdale, OL16 1XU
Company:	inploi
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	75785536

Summary

Strategic Lead High Intensity User (HIU) Programme

Rochdale Borough Council / Health & Care Integration Integrated Commissioning

SM3 | Fixed-Term 2 years | Fulltime (37 hours)

Are you passionate about reducing inequalities, improving outcomes for people with complex needs, and driving system wide transformation across urgent and emergency care? Do you bring the vision, influence and leadership needed to redesign services, inspire partners and deliver measurable impact across a whole system? If so, we want to hear from you.

Rochdale Borough Council is entering an ambitious and exciting phase of change within our commissioning and transformation functions. With strengthening neighbourhood models, increasing alignment across health and care, and significant investment in prevention and demand management, there has never been a better time to join us. Our Commissioning Strategy, system transformation programmes and refreshed Market Position Statements provide a strong foundation for innovation and this role will play a pivotal part in delivering that ambition.

About the Role

We are seeking an exceptional Strategic Lead for High Intensity Users (HIU) to drive the development, delivery and ongoing improvement of our High Intensity User programme. This role will provide system wide leadership to reduce avoidable demand, improve population health outcomes and support individuals with complex needs who frequently access urgent and emergency care.

You will lead the strategic and operational integration of HIU pathways across neighbourhoods and Primary Care Networks (PCNs), working across health, social care, mental health, housing, community and voluntary sectors. Using a trauma informed, person centred and strengths based approach, you will bring partners together around shared vision, shared outcomes and coordinated models of delivery.

This is a role for a connector, collaborator and innovator, someone who can influence, problemsolve, analyse, translate insight into action, and galvanise a whole system response to high intensity service use.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Expertise and Insight
• Deep understanding and passion for improving outcomes for vulnerable people with complex needs.
• Knowledge of urgent and emergency care pathways, trauma informed practice and population health approaches.
• Experience working with individuals or families with high intensity service use.

Leadership and Influence

• Proven experience leading multi agency teams, programmes or models of care.
• Ability to influence, persuade and engage a diverse range of stakeholders, including clinicians, partners, and people with lived experience.
• Political awareness and confidence navigating complex system environments.

Analytical and Improvement Skills

• Strong analytical, riskassessment and problemsolving skills.
• Ability to interpret complex data, population insights and case intelligence to drive improvement.
• Experience embedding quality improvement approaches, innovation and evaluation.

Collaboration and Culture

• Commitment to coproduction, strengths based practice and empowering people through personalised support.
• A collaborative, inclusive style that values creativity, innovation and partnership working.
• Ability to inspire, energise and nurture positive culture across neighbourhood teams.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to shape a pioneering whole system approach for people with high-intensity needs at a time of genuine innovation and transformation. In this role, you will:

• Lead strategic commissioning and programme delivery across a high-profile, highimpact portfolio.
• Influence urgent care, neighbourhood and population health models across the borough.
• Champion traumainformed, person centred and intelligence led practice.
• Drive measurable outcomes, improving lives, reducing inequalities and delivering systemwide benefits.
• Join a growing, ambitious commissioning and transformation function with strong leadership support.
• Contribute to our long-term vision to build stronger, healthier and more equitable communities.

To apply:

To apply please upload your CV together with a supporting statement that provides evidence of how you meet the essential requirements of the person specification.

Please include reference to your qualifications that are specified on the person specification within your CV/supporting statement.

Please ensure you anonymise your CV and supporting statement.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

If you would like an informal chat about this role please contact Hayley Ashall, Assistance Director of Commissioning ASC and Prevention on Hayley.Ashall@Rochdale.Gov.UK

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Supporting Documents

↗ Job Description
↗ Person Specification

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