Chief People Officer

Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS organization in Maidstone is seeking a Chief People Officer to lead workforce transformation and champion inclusion. This pivotal role involves planning strategies, enhancing staff wellbeing, and ensuring every colleague feels valued. The ideal candidate will have experience in healthcare leadership and a commitment to improving mental health care. Join us to make a difference in our community, as we support thousands in their mental health journey. This role is integral at a time of growth and change within the NHS.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading workforce transformation in a healthcare setting.
• Demonstrated ability to enhance staff wellbeing and engagement.
• Understanding of employment law and NHS policies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the workforce strategy and planning for the organization.
• Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Drive improvement through data and partnership.

Skills

Leadership

Championing equality, diversity and inclusion

Staff wellbeing and engagement

Workforce strategy planning

Data-driven improvement

Job description

Chief People Officer

Thank you for your interest in joining Kent and Medway Mental Health Trust. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. As Chief Executive, I am proud of the incredible commitment and compassion shown by our teams across Kent and Medway. This is an exciting time for us, as we continue to evolve our culture to meet the opportunities presented by the NHS 10‑year plan and continue our journey in becoming a leading mental health trust in the country.

The Chief People Officer will play a vital role in shaping the future of our organisation, leading our people strategy, championing inclusion, and ensuring every colleague feels they belong.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute to the best possible care for our communities. Your leadership will help us make that ambition real.

Sheila Stenson, Chief Executive

This is a pivotal time to join Kent and Medway Mental Health Trust. We are growing and changing, taking on children’s and young people’s services, embedding our new identity and values, and strengthening our culture of care and inclusion. The Chief People Officer will lead our workforce transformation at a time when the NHS is evolving. You’ll shape the future of how we attract, develop, and support our people, ensuring every colleague feels valued and every leader is empowered to make a difference.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading our workforce strategy and planning for the future.
• Championing equality, diversity and inclusion at every level.
• Strengthening leadership capability and talent pipelines.
• Enhancing staff wellbeing, engagement and belonging.
• Driving improvement through data, insight and partnership.
• Ensuring compliance with employment law, NHS policy, and CQC workforce standards.
• Supporting system‑wide collaboration through the Kent and Medway Integrated Care System.

Please refer to the full recruitment pack and job description attached.

We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated ‘Good’ by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.

Our vision is simple: We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It’s why we’re passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. And everything we do is guided by our values caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us – if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's doing well together.

Application Requirements

• A CV that includes your address and contact details, highlighting and explaining any gaps in your employment history.
• A supporting statement that highlights your motivation for applying and your understanding of the NHS and the role. You should outline your personal responsibility and achievement within previous roles and how your experience matches the person specification.
• The names, positions, organisations and contact details for three referees. Your referees should be individuals in a line‑management capacity, and cover your most recent employer, any regulated health or social care activity or where roles involved children or vulnerable adults. Your references may be taken prior to the interview and may be shared with the selection panel.

Please email this information, along with your application to [e-mail].

Online applications will not be accepted; all applicants must follow the guidelines above.

Interview Process

Virtual Focus Group 12 February 2026

• Executive Management Team
• People Leadership Team

In‑person interview 13 February 2026 held at Farm Villa, Maidstone.

This advert closes on Friday 23 Jan 2026.