Developing as a leader within a mental health recovery community

I joined CHT in October 2024 as a Team Leader at Mount Lodge in Eastbourne, stepping into my first dedicated management role within a therapeutic community. Although I have held leadership responsibilities previously in my career, this was different because it brought together management, therapeutic practice and community living in a way that felt both challenging and rewarding.

What’s driven me in my career is an interest in people, in particular how they develop, how relationships shape wellbeing and what helps people to overcome difficulties. Working in community mental health services strengthened my belief that lasting change is built through ‘doing with’ rather than ‘doing to’, through building trust, collaboration and most importantly, meaningful relationships.

These values run through the core of CHT, which is what led me here. Here at Mount Lodge, rather than focusing solely on problems or symptoms, our approach places emphasis on seeing the person as a whole. This holistic approach struck a strong chord with me and continues to shape my practice. 

But leadership within a residential mental health community requires a balance of practical responsibilities with an awareness of the emotional life of the community. Alongside supporting the Service Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations and supporting the therapeutic practitioner team, there is a continual need to consider group dynamics, relationships, and the impact the work has on both residents and staff. This role requires as much reflection as it does action.

At CHT, investing in staff development is a core part of creating our Psychologically Informed Environments (PIEs), supporting learning, reflection and professional growth is key to maintaining therapeutic relationships and delivering high-quality care.

Paul Heseltine with his ILM diploma certificate

So, I was grateful to have the opportunity to complete the Institute of Leadership Management (ILM) Level 4 Diploma in Leadership and Management, and CHT’s Level 7 Diploma in Relational Practice in Mental Health. Together, these two programmes provided a valuable, complementary combination of learning. The ILM strengthened my understanding of leadership, communication, decision-making and staff development, while CHT’s Diploma improved my understanding of therapeutic communities and psychodynamic thinking.

One of the greatest benefits of the leadership training was the opportunity to step back from the everyday demands of management and to think more intentionally about leadership. It gave me space to recognise the importance of adapting my approach to different situations, to provide clear direction when necessary, but also creating space for opportunities for others to contribute and develop.

Perhaps the biggest lesson has been recognising that effective leadership begins with creating the conditions where others can think. In previous jobs I would have tried to solve every problem myself, but now I see my role as providing the boundaries, containment and support that enables my staff team and our residents to develop their own capacity.

"The biggest shift in my thinking has been realising that leadership isn't about providing answers. It's about creating the conditions where other people feel safe enough to think, take ownership and grow."

Whether that's supporting a staff member through a difficult supervision, facilitating a challenging community meeting or helping the team think differently about conflict, I've learned that slowing down to understand what is happening emotionally is often more valuable than rushing towards a solution.

I am grateful to CHT for investing in my personal development. Having the opportunity to learn alongside my practice, although it has been a challenge, has strengthened my confidence and skills as a leader, which in turn has strengthened my ability to support Mount Lodge’s staff team and the wider community.

"My increased confidence in leadership means I bring more of myself to the role, which models what we ask from our staff too."

As I reflect on completing my training this year, it feels less like I have crossed the finish line and more like moving on to another stage in an ongoing journey. Of course, there will be new challenges, learning and opportunities to develop, but I am looking forward to continuing that journey with an organisation that places relationships, reflection and the growth of its people at the centre of everything it does.