Associate Group Manager, Women and Children's

UHCW; Coventry; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust is seeking an Associate Group Manager for the Women’s and Children’s Group, focusing on Perinatal and Paediatric Services. The role involves leading operational performance, improving safety and outcomes for women, babies and children, and delivering local and national priorities.

The post requires strong leadership, strategic thinking and collaborative working with midwifery, nursing, medical and operational teams.

Qualifications

• Professional health service operational delivery and business management knowledge to Masters level or equivalent management experience/training to post graduate masters level.
• Experience of operational management within the NHS.
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development (CPD).

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the specialty, ensuring delivery against financial and activity targets.
• Develop and deliver service strategy with governance and risk management.
• Manage staff, performance and escalation of issues to improve patient care.

Skills

People management

Financial management

Change management

Communication

IT systems knowledge

Education

Masters level management

Job description

Associate Group Manager, Women and Children's

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Main area Women and Children's - Perinatal and Paediatric Services Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a Contract Fixed term: 18 months (Up to 18 months (1st July 2027). Secondment will be considered for internal candidates – If you are successful after interview, you must obtain approval from your current line manager to accept the offer.) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 218-AC-B8A-8418750

Site University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Town Coventry Salary £57,528 - £64,750 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 22/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 04/12/2026

Job overview

We are looking for a talented and passionate Associate Group Manager to join our Women’s and Children’s Group, working primarily across Perinatal and Paediatric Services.

This is a brilliant opportunity to work alongside experienced midwifery, nursing, medical and operational teams, helping to shape and deliver high-quality services for women, babies, children and their families.

You will join us at an important time for our services, with the opportunity to contribute to major improvement priorities including the Maternity and Neonatal 10 Point Plan, maternity and neonatal transformation, paediatric elective recovery and the developing national patient-safety agenda for children and young people.

We are looking for someone who brings energy, curiosity and a real passion for improvement. If you enjoy working with people, tackling complex challenges and turning ideas into meaningful change for patients and staff, this is a fantastic opportunity to develop your leadership experience and make a real difference.

Interviews are expected to be held on Friday 4th December 2026.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

As Associate Group Manager, you will play a central role in the operational leadership of Perinatal and Paediatric Services, working in partnership with midwifery, nursing and medical leaders to deliver ambitious improvements for women, babies, children and families.

You will help lead a diverse and high-profile portfolio, including maternity and neonatal safety, workforce and capacity, neonatal flow, paediatric elective recovery and children’s urgent and emergency care. You will have real scope to shape services, improve performance, tackle operational challenges and ensure our people and resources are focused where they can make the greatest difference.

This is a role for someone who enjoys being close to services and close to teams. You will combine strong operational grip with curiosity and creativity, using data and insight to understand what is happening, asking the right questions and working with colleagues to turn improvement plans into sustained change.

We are looking for an energetic, credible and compassionate leader who can bring people together, influence across professional boundaries and remain focused when the environment is challenging. Above all, you will bring the drive and ambition to help our teams provide the very best care and experience for the women, babies, children and families we serve.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence® designated organisation – please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence ® - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Associate Group Manager is responsible to the Group Manager for the Medicine Group and provides a managerial focus with the Clinical Lead in the development and provision of a comprehensive, high quality, patient centred service within the resources available.
The post has key functions: operational management of the specialty, including the delivery of performance against financial and activity targets; supporting the development and delivery of service strategy; organisational development and the management of risk.

Operational Management

• Lead and manage the specialty, ensuring clear communication and robust implementation of policy, business objectives and agreed targets.
• Chair and lead meetings, working with the Group Manager, Modern Matron and Clinical Leaders to ensure sound operational management of all areas with robust, reviewable systems.
• Manage the operational performance of the specialty to achieve delivery of national and local targets, the development and delivery of improvement plans and reengineering of roles/models of care.
• In liaison with the Group Finance Manager agree and deliver against financial and activity profiles for the specialty/departments, identify risks and implement and review risk reduction strategies.
• Implement and review robust systems and processes so that speciality budgets are effectively managed and financial balance is achieved, within Trust budgetary rules, Standing Orders and standing Financial Instructions.
• Implement HR and governance strategies and policies within the specialty in order to achieve compliancy with Trust policies and procedures, best practice, relevant legislation and regulatory provisions.
• Lead the timely investigation and resolution of complaints, clinical adverse events and untoward incidents, involving staff and/or patients, within the specialty and implement strategies to reduce risk of reoccurrence and promote quality
• Manage staff within the specialty, including regularly reviewing establishments and skill mix in collaboration with Group Manager, Clinical Lead, Modern Matron and Clinical Leaders to ensure organisational efficiency and clinical excellence.
• Implement and review robust arrangements within the specialty to effectively deal with emergencies, in line with Trust policy, including elective and emergency admissions, major emergencies and mechanical failures.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Professional health service operational service delivery and business management knowledge to Masters level or equivalent management experience or training to post graduate masters level (A) Experience of operational management within the NHS (A) Evidence of Continuous Professional Development (A)

Experience

• Management experience within the health sector (A) Exposure to solving a range of operational problems involving HR and finance. (I) Undertaking service/business planning in a multidisciplinary setting taking into account finance, workforce, equipment and organisational factors. (I) Managing and delivering redesign and change management Programmes/initiatives. (A) (I) Influencing decisions at a senior level. (I) Proven track record of delivering against set objectives and achieving key targets, demonstrating continuous and quality improvements. (A) (I) Experience in an Acute hospital setting involving inpatient bed capacity. (A) Management of service budgets as budget holder (A)

Knowledge

• Understanding of IT systems and appreciation of their application and management in order to ensure effective service delivery. (A) Demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of good HR practice, including a working knowledge of contract / employment law. (I) Knowledge of external environment including national and regional strategies and priorities, and the national political agenda. (I) Knowledge of the clinical and corporate governance agendas. (I) Knowledge of governance issues arising from recent investigations into the provision of relevant health services. (I) Knowledge of the business planning process and its application in service delivery.(A) (I)
• Knowledge of the Consultant Contract (A) (I)

Skills

• Able to analyse and make judgements on a wide range of general management subjects, e.g Finance, HR, quality, environment. (A) Able to effectively work with members of different professions and across organisational boundaries.(A) Ability to communicate effectively demonstrating sensitivity / understanding to a wide range of different people / organisations.(A) (I) Ability to construct a reasoned and convincing case demonstrating thinking and application. (I) Ability to write and convincingly present reports to a range of audiences at all levels of the organisation.(A) (I) Ability to effectively negotiate, persuade and influence at all levels of the need to pursue a particular course of action. (I) Ability to manage and resolve conflict in an effective but non- aggressive manner. (I) Ability to motivate and inspire staff (I) Able to act as catalyst for change, encouraging innovation and creativity in service redesign. (A) (I) Ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel & PowerPoint Skilled in effective financial management. (A) (T) Able to manage staff and achieve optimum performance (A)

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

• Evidence of demonstrating the Trust Values (Compassion, Openness, Pride, Partnership, Improve, Learn and Respect) and the associated Values in Action behaviours in the workplace. For posts with managerial responsibility only Evidence of promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and ensuring fair and equitable practices throughout your work experience. Evidence of promoting a culture which helps individuals live behaviours aligned to our Trust Values (Compassion, Openness, Pride, Partnership, Improve, Learn and Respect)

To ensure that we provide world-class patient care, UHCW recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values and Behaviours in their everyday life. Therefore, if you are invited to interview, you will be undertaking a Values Based Interview/Assessment, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and Behaviours which can be accessed on the right side of this page under the job description.

The Supporting Information Section in your application should therefore reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated Behaviours. You will be expected to provide us with examples from work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviour.

The Trust is committed to Equal Opportunities within the workplace. All vacancies will be considered for Job Share unless otherwise stated. All applicants who have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be interviewed. Where a post has an overwhelming response, this Trust may use random selection in order to reduce numbers to interview, any disabled applicants will automatically be guaranteed an interview and will be exempt from this process.

In submitting an application form, you authorise University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust to confirm from your previous or current NHS employer and other prior employers; previous NHS service details and personal data held about you, including Occupational Health data (inoculations and screening tests). This data will be transferred using NHS Electronic Staff Record and third-party systems via an automated process and only used for the purposes of obtaining and maintaining accurate employment records, should you be appointed to the post.

UHCW NHS Trust, by virtue of its Green Plan, is committed to ensuring that the way we provide services minimises the impact on the environment and the future health of the public e.g. zero waste to landfill, reducing our carbon footprint and increasing our recycling and reuse percentages.

If you are successful at interview you will receive a conditional offer of employment and we’ll ask you for information so that we can carry out pre-employment checks. You must successfully complete all pre-employment checks to progress to a final unconditional offer.

We must confirm the identity of our staff and their right to work in the United Kingdom. We will ask you to submit proof of your identity and right to work documents via a secure digital platform approved by the Home Office, named TrustID. Alternatively, you may be asked to attend our office with original documents.

Depending on your level of exposure with patients you may be required to undertake a Standard or Enhanced DBS. The cost of this check will be charged to you and will be deducted from your salary over the first 3 months of employment at the current rate.

All correspondence will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk/SPAM folders

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

Employer contact info for informal discussion

Name Dhevender Shergill Job title Group Manager Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 02476 967353

For informal discussions, please contact:

• Dhevender Shergill (Group Manger, Appointing Manager), [e-mail]
• Laura Brough (Group Manager), [e-mail]
• Kyle Wood (Group Director of Operations), [e-mail]