Chief People Officer

Make a Difference at the Heart of Community Healthcare Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT) is the largest provider of community health services across Sussex, delivering excellent care at the heart of the community and supporting adults, children and families through diverse clinical and therapeutic teams. As our organisation moves into an important new phase shaped by national workforce ambitions and the growing role of community-based, preventative care, we are seeking an exceptional Chief People Officer to help shape our future and strengthen the experience of the nearly 6,000 colleagues who bring our purpose to life every day.

This is a pivotal executive leadership role within a stable, values-driven Board. As our Chief People Officer, you will provide strategic leadership across our People, Organisational Development, Workforce, Equality & Inclusion, and Communications & Engagement portfolios. You will bring clarity, compassion and vision to the way SCFT attracts, develops and supports a skilled, flexible and motivated workforce, ensuring we are ready to deliver new models of care, expanded community services and the transformation underway across the Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care System.

Your leadership will be central to modernising our People function, strengthening wellbeing, improving inclusion and belonging, and building organisational capability for the decade ahead.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking a credible, influential and experienced senior People leader who has operated at, or directly below, Board level in a large and complex organisation. You will offer deep expertise in strategic HR, organisational development and workforce transformation, combined with the emotional intelligence, resilience and integrity to lead with both courage and compassion. You will be committed to improving colleague experience, addressing inequality, strengthening psychological safety and fostering a culture in which people feel valued, supported and able to thrive.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the culture and workforce of a major community health provider during a period of significant system change, growth and development. If you are motivated by purpose, partnership and the chance to make a meaningful difference for our colleagues and communities, we would be delighted to hear from you.

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays. Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staff
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust

Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do. We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Job responsibilities

For further information and to apply please visit GatenbySanderson: https://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe131796

For discussion in confidence after viewing the candidate information please contact our retained consultants at GatenbySanderson.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to Master's level, equivalent professional qualification, or substantial senior leadership experience.
• Chartered Fellow of the CIPD or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Evidence of sustained personal, professional, and leadership development.
• Additional professional qualifications relevant to HR, organisational development, leadership or transformation.
• Programme or project management training or accreditation.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.