Hillside Clubhouse is looking for an Executive Director to champion its vision for inclusive, co-produced mental health and employment support.
Who we are
Hillside Clubhouse is a co-produced mental health charity supporting people with severe mental illness and more common mental health conditions across Islington. With over half of the staff team bringing lived experience, members play an integral role in shaping the organisation. Hillside provides a wide range of recovery, well-being and employment services, including its Clubhouse activities, commercial kitchen and social enterprises, alongside IPS, Employment Advisors in Talking Therapies and IAG support. They are committed to tackling stigma, promoting equity and creating a community where people’s skills, strengths and aspirations are always recognised and valued.
About the role
The Executive Director will be a values-driven leader, able to guide Hillside Clubhouse through its next phase of development and ensure that co-production, equity and lived experience remain fully embedded in their work. The new Executive Director will refresh Hillside’s strategy, identifying new opportunities for development whilst ensuring that member voices are at the heart of all major decisions. This role requires a balance of visionary leadership and an agile, diplomatic mindset that remains responsive to the evolving needs of members.
A central priority for the incoming Executive Director will be business development. They will have the ability to secure and diversify income streams, strengthening existing partnerships and identifying new opportunities. Hillside is looking for an innovative leader who can find areas for growth that align with their value-driven approach. A key focus area for the incoming Executive Director will be developing a fundraising strategy that ensures the long-term viability of the organisation.
The Executive Director will be responsible for amplifying Hillside’s presence externally, developing strong relationships in Islington and across London. As an outward-facing leader, the post-holder will have a deep understanding of the health and social care landscape, with the ability to develop Hillside’s relationships with key commissioners, funders and partners. Remaining receptive to
the experiences of members and frontline staff, the Executive Director will channel the voice of Hillside’s community, allowing them to shape the services that are delivered within Hillside and beyond.
Hillside is looking for a visible, approachable Executive Director with a strong presence in the Clubhouse environment, a relational leader who can forge connections with members and the wider team. The Director will also have a robust understanding of charity governance and the ability to build a strong relationship with the Board.
Who we are looking for
This role requires an experienced senior leader with a strong track record of driving organisational change and delivering meaningful social impact. Candidates will need at least five years’ senior management experience, demonstrating the ability to develop strategy, manage staff and deliver multi-faceted programmes effectively. A background in business development, income generation and fundraising is desirable, alongside confidence working directly with commissioners and funders to secure and sustain high-quality services. A deep understanding of the commissioning landscape, NHS structures and local authority systems is essential to leading Hillside through its next stage of development.
The ideal candidate will bring significant strength in strategic planning and be able to lead Hillside’s strategy refresh whilst adapting to a changing external landscape. They will be adept at financial management, able to identify new income streams and promote growth without diluting Hillside’s core values and purpose. They will be skilled in communicating with different audiences; they must be approachable to members and responsive to the wider team, but also able to champion Hillside externally and build strong networks across statutory, community and voluntary sectors. A deep understanding of mental health policy is vital, particularly in relation to employment, social inclusion and community-based support. The Executive Director will need to be responsive to this broader landscape, with the ability to anticipate and respond to changes at regional and national levels.
A commitment to co-production, empowerment, equity and lived-experience leadership is vital in this role. Candidates must be passionate about improving outcomes for people with mental health conditions and be able to champion inclusive, person-centred approaches across all Hillside’s services.
Experience of working with a Board, or prior non-executive experience, is highly desirable. But above all, the position requires a values-driven leader who is collaborative, strategic, and motivated to make a difference in the community by empowering Hillside’s members.
Benefits of working for Hillside Clubhouse
- 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 after 2 years of employment, plus 3 days off between Christmas and New Year
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Occupational Health
- 24/7 GP phoneline
- Cycle to work and travel card loan scheme
- Free eye tests
- Flexible working options
- Proactive CPD approach
- Team building and annual away days
- Enhanced maternity pay
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the job pack. For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Ella Garfinkel | ella@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07432 859534
Hillside offers a range of services across Islington. Members have a dedicated support worker who can help them to gain or retain employment, develop skills, and support their wider wellbeing. Support is tailored to individual needs.
The Clubhouse & Catering
The Clubhouse is Hillside’s physical site where all the Recovery Support takes place. Members and staff run a range of activities that support wellbeing and contribute towards the running of the charity, e.g. social media, creative sessions, admin and marketing.
Hillside has a commercial kitchen on site at the Clubhouse where members and staff work together to prepare and distribute food for private events and to the wider community. The team also provides catering for Hillside Trading CIC, a social enterprise that runs a community café.
Employment Support
Hillside offers three different employment support programmes:
- Individual Personalised Support (IPS) in Islington
IPS is a national, evidence-based programme of mental health employment support for people with a severe mental illness (SMI). Staff are embedded in community mental health teams across the borough and work with people to find them paid employment that supports their longer-term work goals.
- Employment Advisors in Talking Therapies in Islington
EA in Talking Therapies is a national programme of support for people accessing Talking Therapies. Staff are embedded in primary care mental health teams and work with people for approximately 6 weeks to provide support with gaining and retaining employment.
- Information, Advice and Guidance
Based in the Clubhouse, the IAG team works with anyone with a mental health diagnosis who isn’t under a mental health team and would like support with volunteering, training or employment.
Learn more about Hillside Clubhouse
We understand that different members of the community have different access needs and have made some modifications to the way we do business to accommodate people from diverse communities and abilities. We offer the following amenities:
- Step free access to the building, all key meeting rooms and bathrooms, and an accessible workstation
- Accessibility dogs are welcome
- Papers and materials can be presented in different formats
- A sign language interpreter can be accessed for interview
- Working patterns and locations can be adjusted
Hillside has made reasonable adjustments for several of their staff, including:
- Ergonomic chairs
- Adjustable-height desks (sit-stand desks)
- Alternative keyboards and mice
- Flexible working
- Sending interview questions in advance.
- At the recruitment point, Hillside always asks the candidates if they have any reasonable adjustments to take into consideration for the interview.
Staff at Hillside have access to OH assessments.
Hillside is a Disability Confident Employer.
For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Ella Garfinkel | ella@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07432 859534
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Job Description and Person Specification.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “Application: Hillside Clubhouse—Executive Director” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.
For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Ella Garfinkel | ella@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07432 859534
As a sector-leading executive search consultancy, we know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive, and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.
If you require any job information in an alternative format (e.g. large print), please get in touch with the advising consultant. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.
Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.
Timetable
Closing date: 9 a.m. Wednesday 7th January 2026
Candidates informed of outcome: Thursday 15th January 2026
First Stage Interviews (virtual): Wednesday 21st January 2026
Second Stage Interviews (in person): Tuesday 27th January 2026
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and Hillside Clubhouse are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.
The information provided does not form part of the decision-making process and will not affect your application. Learn more about why we collect this data here.
Data Processing, Protection and Privacy Policy
By completing the form to view, or if you have access to this page from an email invitation, Peridot Partners will have processed your personal information. For more information about Peridot Partners’ data processing activities and your rights, please read our Privacy Policy.
