Chief Operating Officer (Competitive - VSM) - Director - Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust; West Midlands Combined Authority; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to provide operational leadership and ensure the delivery of outstanding care across acute and community services. This position requires a motivated individual with proven leadership skills and a track record of service improvement, playing a key role in enhancing healthcare outcomes for the local community.

Benefits

Salary sacrifice scheme

Car leasing scheme

On-site staff accommodation

NHS pension retention or alternative scheme

Qualifications

• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Successful track record at Director/Senior Management Level.
• Understanding of key NHS Service Performance Standards.

Responsibilities

• Delivery of services within quality parameters with respect to NHS targets.
• Responsibility for Financial control of Hospital Services.
• Operational Management of Clinical Divisions.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration

Operational Management

Financial Control

Education

Masters Level qualification in relevant subject area

Job description

View or apply for Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust jobvacancies.

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Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust provides integrated acute and community Healthcare in the West Midlands serving a population of 260,000 residents. Walsall Manor Hospital houses the full range of district general hospital services. The £170 million development was completed in 2010 and we are continually upgrading. Construction of the new integrated critical care unit was completed in 2018, extension of a Neonatal Unit and an approved plan to build a brand new, state of the art Emergency Department which commenced in 2021

We provide high quality, friendly and effective community health services from multiple sites covering Walsall. Our multidisciplinary services include rapid response and homebased care, so that those with long term conditions and the frail elderly can remain in their own homes.

We are recommended by colleagues as a place to work which is supported by the trusts values to work as part of a team, being respectful, compassionate and professional. We are committed to investing in our workforce

Following our recent CQC visit the Trust was rated as outstanding for care and this has been recognised by NHS Improvement.

The work we do is highly rewarding, and in addition to an attractive salary, we offer a valuable range of benefits, including: salary sacrifice scheme; car leasing scheme; on-site staff accommodation (subject to availability); the ability to retain your NHS pension (where applicable) or the opportunity to join an alternative scheme; and the opportunity to develop and implement your expertise in an encouraging yet challenging environment

We would particularly welcome applications from people from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background and from people with a disability; these groups are currently under-represented at senior level, we value diversity within our Trust and are working to achieve equality in our recruitment.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment at this time, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. We will be checking the vaccination status of all new starters so that we can manage individual and environmental risks, and so that we can support those who may be undecided about vaccination. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at COVID-19 Vaccination | How to access your vaccine in the Black Country and West Birmingham (blackcountryandwestbirmccg.nhs.uk ) where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination. There is a current Government consultation underway which will determine whether some new starters may need to be vaccinated.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is proud to be part of the Armed Forces Covenant. The Trust currently holds the Bronze Award which underlines the Trust’s commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community. As an organisation, we are aiming to achieve the next level Silver award, with our sights firmly on Gold.

RESPECT - COMPASSION - TEAMWORK - PROFESSIONALISM

Job overview

This is a major opportunity for an inspirational and motivated operational leader to join Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (WHT) and support our commitment to the ongoing provision of outstanding care to all patients within both the Acute Trust and the Community setting.
If you are an experienced operational leader, with proven leadership skills, now looking to develop your executive career, this exciting and demanding opportunity will be just what you are looking for!

Our new Chief Operating Officer will play a pivotal role at the forefront of ensuring the delivery of operational excellence and leading the continuous improvement of our services. As our Chief Operating Officer you will work closely with other WHT Board colleagues, as well as with the wider Group Executive team.

You will also work with our system partners, helping to improve the health outcomes for local people and making the Black Country a healthier place with healthier people and healthier futures.

We are looking for a values based candidate, with proven leadership skills, a track record of service improvement.

Please contact Gayle Nightingale, at [e-mail] and on 07905903075 for more information about the role.

Advert Close: Sunday, 13 July 2025

Shortlisting: 22nd July 2025

Stakeholders: Monday 4th August

Interviews: Thursday 7th August

Main duties of the job

The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for the delivery of the services of the Trust within the quality parameters agreed with the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer, to meet the Trust’s and the NHS performance targets, within budget. The postholder is the principal advisor to the CEO and the Board on all operational matters.

Professional leadership of Hospital Management

Operational Management of Clinical Divisions

Capacity Management of Emergency, Elective, Cancer, Diagnostic and Outpatient Services

Performance Management and delivery across the Trust

Modernisation of clinical processes, practices and services

Responsibility for Financial control of Hospital Services through Divisional Managers and Divisional Directors.

Urgent & Emergency Care Lead

Trustee of the Endowment Funds

Accountable Emergency Officer (AEO) for EPRR

Working for our organisation

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated provider of acute and community services for Walsall’s diverse population of around 284,000 people. Our main site, Manor Hospital, resides in the heart of the town and as a District General Hospital, we primarily serve the immediate population of Walsall, with some patients requiring more specialised treatment at neighbouring Trusts. This includes The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, with whom we have been working closely with under a shared leadership team.

In the autumn of 2022, the Trust launched its new, five-year strategy. This is a joint strategy with The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust which recognises the closer working relationship between the two organisations. The development of the new strategy encompassed a new set of strategic objectives as well as a new vision.

Our vision, chosen by our colleagues, is to ‘To deliver exceptional care
together to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities’.
Our values remain unchanged: Compassion, Respect, Professionalism, Teamwork. These values were chosen by our staff who work to embed them into the organisation.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Work with the Chief Executive Officer and the Board, particularly in bringing an operational perspective to the development of the Trust’s strategic direction in relation to the provision of healthcare, teaching and research.

Work with the Chief Finance Officer to ensure a robust process for agreeing, monitoring and delivering robust financial targets.

Corporate and Clinical Governance

Strengthen the Trust’s governance culture and foster a spirit of learning and innovation in all that the Trust does.

Emergency Planning, Resilience and Response

Has executive authority and responsibility for ensuring the Trust complies with legal and policy requirements.

Act as Lead Chief Operating Officer on behalf of the Black Country ICS and/or Black Country Provider Collaborative for defined programmes of work as agreed (such as Urgent & Emergency Care or Elective care or Cancer care etc)

Person specification

Qualifications

• Masters Level qualification in relevant subject area, or equivalent experience
• Demonstrable record of continuous professional development
• Well developed communication and influencing skills
• Able to lead and work in multi disciplinary teams

Knowledge and Experience

• Successful track record at Director/Senior Management Level, including exposure to Board Level in a large complex organisation.
• An understanding of key NHS Service Performance Standards
• The skills and Knowledge Driving high-quality and sustainable outcomes
• The skills needed for setting strategy and delivering long-term transformation
• Ability to review plans topPromoting equality and inclusion, and reducing health and workforce inequalities
• Skills and behaviours needed to create a compassionate, just and positive culture
• Ability to collaborate and building a trusted relationship with partners and communities
• Significant evidence of providing robust governance and assurance in decision making and ensuring patient safety

Please note your application will be transferred from the NHS Jobs system to internal Walsall Healthcare Trac System. All correspondence will be sent via Trac

Following our recent CQC visit the Trust was rated as outstanding for care and this has been recognised by NHS Improvement.

** Please Note that this post may be identified as suitable and a preference given for Internal at Risk Employees**

We would particularly welcome applications from people from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background and from people with a disability; these groups are currently under-represented at senior level, we value diversity within our Trust and are working to achieve equality in our recruitment.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON COMPLETION OF REFERENCE SECTION OF APPLICATION FORM

References from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. When completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover this period. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

Please review the attached Job description and person specification carefully before applying to ensure that you meet the essential job requirements.

Candidates should be aware that, regardless of country of origin, their ability to communicate in written and spoken English to the standard required to carry out the post, will be assessed during the selection process.


Referee email addresses should be provided on your application form.

Following the closing date, if you have not heard from us within 6 weeks you may assume your application has been unsuccessful.

We reserve the right to close this job early. Interested applicants are therefore advised to apply as early as possible.

If a large number of applicants meet the essential criteria then random selection will be applied.

We are committed to operating flexible working practices wherever possible and committed to equal opportunities.

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.

Name Gayle Nightingale Job title Business Manager to the Group Chief Executive Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07905 903075 Additional information

Please submit your Personal Statement and CV as part of this application process