Head of Quality
Our Organisation
The NHS is building a culture that is positive, compassionate and inclusive – and we all have our part to play.
As employers we are committed to protecting and promoting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all our colleagues. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution and supports us to be an Employer of Choice, while helping our colleagues to deliver high quality services for our patients and communities.
As a flexible employer, we want to support you to work in a way that is best for the NHS, our patients and you. Talk to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time, hybrid working or another flexible pattern.In addition, although the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced manager to join the quality and patient experience team as 8C Head of Quality. Working as part of the South West Collaborative Commissioning Hub (CCH), the team provides clinical quality advice and expertise relating to the commissioning of primary care pharmacy, optometry and dental services, public health, health and justice, and specialised services.
As Head of Quality, you will support staff and managers to deliver safe and robust commissioning and contractual management of designated services. This will include supporting the commissioning process for new and existing services and supporting contract managers to monitor commissioned services, through patient outcomes and experience information and identification of early warning indicators.
A credible, effective and visible clinical and professional leader, the post holder will contribute at system level to support NHSE and the seven ICBs to achieve regional strategic aims and priorities. The role supports the business in driving transformation and improvements in patient outcomes, working closely with the ICBs and NHSE to support change, create opportunities for learning and sharing as well as creating opportunities for integrating quality and patient experience into the commissioning cycle.
Main duties of the job
Extensive knowledge of quality governance, patient safety and patient incident processes are essential for this role, which will require you to:
- Lead a team of staff and be responsible for the day-to-day range of staff management matters, which will include line management, appraisals, development of staff, recruitment, and where necessary processes such as grievance and disciplinary matters.
- Develop and implement plans and strategies to improve quality, safeguarding and safety in relation to commissioning responsibilities across the CCH and NHSE.
- Provide visible and effective professional and clinical leadership across the CCH.
- Support partners to achieve their legal duties in regard to safeguarding and mental capacity processes.
- Support ICBs in their work to improve access and outcomes for their populations.
- Create an inclusive working environment where diversity is valued, everyone can contribute and where everyday actions ensure we meet our duty to uphold and promote equality, in line with 13Q legal duties.
- Work in partnership with key stakeholders, developing and maintaining relationships to improve patient experience.
Working for our organisation
The NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by:
- Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
- Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
- Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
- Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
- Delivering value for money.
If you would like to know more or require further information, please visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
NHS England hold a Sponsor Licence; this means that we may be able to sponsor you providing the Home Office requirements are met. To be eligible for sponsorship through the Skilled Worker route you’ll usually need to be paid the ‘standard’ salary rate of at least £38,700 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher.You can find more information on the Government website.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the job description and person specification for a full outline of the main responsibilities.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Current NMC or HCPC registration
- Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria- Extensive knowledge of specialist areas acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master’s level equivalent
- Experience of working in multi-agency forums
- Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development
- Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this in relation to the quality and patient safety agenda
- Have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health and individual provider and commissioning organisations
- Experience of building effective cross functional working relationships to drive organisational agenda
- Experience of leading safeguarding or patient safety investigations
- Experience of budgetary responsibility, including budget setting with evidence of working knowledge of financial processes
Skills, Capabilities & Attributes
Essential criteria- Highly developed communication skills with the capability to analyse, review and make sense of highly complex, sensitive or contentious information across a diverse range of subjects relevant to post portfolio
- Demonstrable skills in presenting complex concepts and information which may include difficult and controversial issues, across a wide range of audiences
- Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions and to resolve problems in relation to project or service delivery
- Ability to understand a broad range of complex information quickly and make decisions where opinions differ or there is no obvious solution
- Evidence of planning and delivering programmes and projects and services on time
- Ability to work without supervision, providing specialist advice to the organisation, working to tight and often changing timescales
- Ability to interpret national, regional and local policy for implementation
- Demonstrable experience developing, managing and motivating teams / individuals to ensure success
- Experience of delivering against competing priorities and deadlines while also directing the work of teams / individuals
Values & Behaviours
Essential criteria- Commitment to and focused on quality, promotes high standards in all they do
- Able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to patients and the public
- Ability to operate in a value-driven style consistent with the values of the NHS
- Works across boundaries, looks for collective success, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others
- Values diversity and difference; operates with integrity and openness
- Works well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of other
- Consistently looks to improve what they do, using tried and tested ways of working, as well as seeking out innovation
- Actively develops themselves and supports others to do the same
- Needs to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
- Self-awareness in terms of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers with cultural sensitivity and awareness
- Embraces change, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and develop
- Demonstrates honesty and integrity and promotes organisational values
Other
Essential criteria- Able to travel across the South West region, with occasional travel out of region as required
Our commitments to you
We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better patient outcomes.We strive to ensure our people feel trusted, valued and empowered. We’re passionate about nurturing and developing people. When you join us, we want you to grow and excel, and we offer many opportunities for you to do that. We welcome your talent and enthusiasm irrespective of age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.
We have policies and procedures to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro-divergent.
We welcome applications from disabled candidates. If you meet all the essential criteria, you will be guaranteed an interview.
Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK under the Skilled Worker route are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
If applying for this role on a secondment basis, please make sure you have obtained prior agreement from your current line manager to apply for this position.
Please note that we currently do not accept applications via recruitment agencies.
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NHS England