Head of Planned Care Projects in Kettering

This is a key period in the delivery of change for Planned Care, ensuring that services are resilient, sustainable and fit for the future. The postholder will be accountable for planning and delivering key operational change projects and service improvements in planned care which will drive improvements in performance, reduce inequalities, and delivers value for money, across the two sites. The role will ensure that operational change is evidence‑based, financially robust, co‑produced and aligned to national and local policy whilst delivering measurable improvements in access, experience, productivity and outcomes.

Main duties of the job

The role will provide leadership and oversight to key operational change projects, working closely with the Divisions, Heads of Operations and Clinical Leadership to deliver against key objectives. The projects will include creating strong procedural and operational foundations for delivery, ensuring that booking, appointment management and communication processes support effective delivery of care. This role will lead on the operational aspects of the rollout of an automated booking solution across the two Trusts. UHN are developing a business case for an Elective Hub. This role will lead on the operational aspects of the development of the business case, working closely with the Surgery Division and the Hub multi‑disciplinary team to plan for and maximise the productivity opportunities in moving to a hub model for Trauma and Orthopaedics. Support the oversight and assurance of performance, working with Divisions to track progress, activity and performance against plan. Support services in the development of cross‑site working and approaches, streamlining processes to support services to work more closely together Emerging Digital operational productivity projects, sharpening pilot approaches and leading on operational input to prioritisation.

Day‑to‑day Leadership

Provide operational leadership to key projects, ensuring that they support measurable improvements in access, experience, productivity and outcomes. Champion a population health and inequalities focus, tackling unwarranted variation and ensuring equity of access, experience and outcomes. Act as a visible and credible leader within the system, modelling collaborative, inclusive and values‑driven leadership.

Corporate Responsibilities

Deputise for the Deputy Chief Operating Officer (Planned Care) across the full range of their duties. To help set a supportive and high performing culture across UHN. Contribute to the successful overall performance of the Trust. At all times work to ensure optimum patient safety. Work with sensitivity and an understanding of the issues facing those working to deliver care to the local population. Comply with corporate and clinical governance structures in line with the principles and standards set out by the Trust. Manage Trust resources in the most efficient and effective manner.

Operational Delivery

Maintain an overview of service delivery across University Hospitals Northamptonshire in association with the wider health and social care community. Develop effective working relationships to ensure effective communication and escalation mechanisms are in place at all times both within UHN, across the ICB and beyond. Participate in senior manager on‑call rotas.

Performance Management

Develop a supportive culture of performance management, improvement and appraisal as a foundation for excellent organisational performance. Support managers and colleagues to ensure the delivery of all key national and local operational performance targets. Lead on the development and implementation of new projects specifically in the first instance the Elective Hub and the changes to the appointment booking process.

Service Development

Support the Deputy Chief Operating Officer in ensuring service improvement projects are managed, contributing to Trust‑wide service improvement projects within agreed timeframes and financial targets. Work with the senior team to identify and implement suitable benchmarking opportunities for improved productivity, efficiency and clinical quality. Act as a change agent, facilitating, promoting and assisting with the implementation of patient‑centred redesign projects. Ensure that service improvement work is underpinned by evidence and a robust process of evaluation. Focus on the needs of patients/users, be alert to changes in clinical practice and patient expectations and take account of the potential impacts in planning and delivering services. Work with system partners to introduce new and innovative pathways and approaches to care models to maximise benefits for patients and colleagues.

Leadership

Create a supportive organisational culture across the Trust in which people feel empowered and committed to high standards of care within the context of Trusts management culture. Take full line management responsibilities for the individual team members including managing sickness and absence, grievances disciplinary issues and talent conversations.

Digital, Data and Technology

Support the continuous improvement of data and information quality across the Trust. Support and enable the digital and data agendas as critical enablers to improved efficiency and quality. Support the adoption of technology to enable operational improvement.

Communication

Communicate with internal colleagues and external agencies to ensure compliance with performance targets and strategic objectives. Involve negotiation and diplomacy; undertake presentations to various groups and convey highly contentious information in an atmosphere where barriers, perceived and actual, need to be bridged. Help establish and maintain effective two‑way channels of communication within the service area. Support a communication structure within Operations and Divisions to ensure all colleagues are and remain engaged in the Trusts vision for delivering excellence. Ensure that good practice is rapidly shared within the Divisions and the wider organisation where appropriate.

Resource Management

Support the development and implementation of Trust‑wide cost savings schemes, through service and productivity improvement. Ensure financial and budget requirements for areas of responsibility are met, including the delivery of any cost efficiency targets. Ensure all budgets (pay and non-pay) are managed within the Trusts Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions and relevant statutory provisions and national directives, and in line with the annual financial plan. Develop and implement systems to monitor and control expenditure and investigate any areas of overspend and take prompt corrective action. Full budget holder, including budget setting discussions, budgetary management and sign off large financial spend, at Board level.

Risk and Clinical Governance

Support the Deputy Chief Operating Officer with the implementation of systems, control processes and risk management arrangements to support monitoring of compliance with clinical governance standards, other Trust‑wide policies and processes and best practice requirements. Ensure the implementation of the Trusts Clinical Governance, Health and Safety and Risk Management policies and plans within areas of influence. Ensure the implementation of relevant national best practice controls assurance NHSLA and Standards for Better Health to improve service delivery and patient safety. Help to ensure that the Trust continues to meet all Care Quality Commission standards. Ensure the implementation of all Trust policies, procedures and guidelines. Participate in, and where appropriate lead, serious incident reviews. Contribute to corporate policymaking and promote and support policy decisions both internally and externally.

This job description is not to be taken as an exhaustive list of duties and it may be reviewed in the light of changed service needs and development. Any changes will be fully discussed with the post holder. The post holder will be required to carry out the duties appropriate to the grade and scope of the post.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Ability to analyse complex problems and to develop practical and workable solutions to address them.
• Ability to think and plan strategically, tactically and creatively, and to prioritise work programmes in the face of competing demands.
• Ability to manage and deliver to deadlines and within resources.
• Ability to collaborate constructively with internal and external partners to create the conditions for successful partnership working.
• Knowledge and understanding of key NHS issues including national and local policy drivers.
• Sound political judgement and astuteness in understanding and working with complex policy and diverse interest groups.
• Commitment to improving patient services through an ability to sustain a clear performance focus on achieving demanding goals.
• Demonstrable success in delivering change and performance with and through your management and clinical teams.
• Understanding and experience of Elective Hubs, the programme aims and key measures.
• Knowledge and experience of outpatient, theatre and diagnostic booking approaches.
• Knowledge and experience of digital change programmes and supporting the operational delivery of change.
• Extensive project or programme management experience.
• Master's level qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Demonstrable capability and capacity for clinical service management at a senior level in a large, complex healthcare environment, including a track record of staff management, financial management, performance management and change management.
• Excellent communication skills, demonstrable at a senior level.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiating skills, with the ability to engage, build and sustain relationships, both within the Trust and within external organisations.
• Able to communicate ideas, motivate and generate action through others.
• Numerate and IT literate.
• Able to use NHS information systems and interpret NHS data.
• Highly developed analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Able to understand and work within complexity and translate it into understandable knowledge.
• High level of work organisation, self‑motivation, drive for performance and improvement, and flexibility in approach and attitude.
• Able to prioritise and work within imposed deadlines, both individually and within the team.
• Strong sense of commitment to openness, honesty and integrity in undertaking the role.

Equality & Diversity

• Demonstrate an absolute commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
• Demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours.
• Willingness to take on challenges and comfortable with constructive challenge.
• Seek out and take opportunities for improving the service offered.
• Respect, value and care for others.
• Support learning and development of self and others.
• Supports and promotes equality and diversity.