Days Matter Performance Improvement Lead - 8A

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust; Wollaton; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust seeks a Days Matter Performance Improvement Lead (12-month fixed-term/secondment) to lead a programme improving cancer pathways and compliance with national waiting time standards, including FDS, 31-day and 62-day targets.

You will analyse performance with senior colleagues, design service improvements, and establish governance to deliver measurable patient outcomes within a county-wide trust framework.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated CPD and ongoing professional development.
• Formal training in service improvement/quality transformation methodologies.
• Lean, Six Sigma or Quality Improvement qualification.
• Management or leadership qualification.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Days Matter Improvement Programme for cancer pathway performance and standards.
• Analyse pathways to identify bottlenecks and design improvement plans.
• Collaborate with clinicians and senior leaders to redesign services.
• Establish governance, risk registers and performance reporting.
• Provide expert advice and enable sustainable improvements beyond the programme.

Skills

Programme management

Stakeholder engagement

Quality improvement

Data analysis

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Continuous professional development (CPD)

Service improvement methodologies training

Lean/Six Sigma or QI qualification

Leadership/management qualification

Job description

Days Matter Performance Improvement Lead - 8A

The Days Matter Improvement Lead is a 12-month fixed-term/secondment opportunity responsible for leading and delivering a targeted programme of cancer pathway improvement at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Working as part of the Cancer Centre team, the post holder will provide senior leadership and programme management expertise to identify, design, implement and evaluate improvement initiatives aimed at reducing delays across cancer pathways and improving compliance with national Cancer Waiting Time standards, including the Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS), 31-Day and 62-Day standards.

The post holder will work collaboratively with clinical, operational and executive teams to analyse performance, identify pathway bottlenecks and lead service redesign using recognised improvement methodologies. Through effective stakeholder engagement, performance management and transformation approaches, the role will support sustainable improvements in patient experience, clinical outcomes and operational performance.

The role requires the ability to work autonomously, influence senior leaders and manage complex programmes across organisational boundaries. The post holder will establish effective governance arrangements, monitor delivery against agreed objectives and provide assurance through high-quality reporting and evaluation. This role will drive measurable improvements in cancer pathways and support delivery of national, regional and local cancer priorities.

Main duties of the job

Lead delivery of the Days Matter Improvement Programme, supporting cancer pathway performance and compliance with national Cancer Waiting Time standards, including the Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS), 31-Day and 62-Day standards. Analyse cancer pathways to identify bottlenecks, variation, capacity constraints and opportunities for improvement. Develop, implement and monitor improvement plans to deliver measurable outcomes and benefits.

Work with clinicians, operational teams and senior leaders to design and implement pathway redesign and service improvement initiatives. Apply recognised improvement methodologies, including Lean, Model for Improvement, process mapping and demand and capacity analysis, to improve patient flow and reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Establish and maintain programme governance arrangements, including plans, risk registers, action trackers and performance reporting. Analyse performance data, prepare reports and present findings to Trust, system and regional stakeholders. Facilitate workshops and meetings to support delivery of agreed objectives.

Provide expert advice and support to clinical and operational teams, promoting best practice and evidence-based approaches. Monitor progress against milestones, ensure risks and issues are identified and escalated appropriately, and contribute to programme evaluation and sustainability planning to embed improvements beyond the life of the programme.

About us

Lincoln Hospital is a thriving university city and with the opening of the medical school, it provides all major specialties and a 24-hour major accident and emergency service.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has been granted teaching hospital status, after demonstrating evidence to significant teaching commitment. From now on it will be known as United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Pilgrim Hospital is situated in beautiful countryside and serves the communities in the South Lincolnshire area. It provides all major specialties and a 24-hour major accident and emergency service.

Grantham and District Hospital serves the communities of Grantham and the local area. It provides ambulatory paediatric and accident and emergency services.

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) have come together in a Group arrangement, with the goal of improving the care provided to patients across the county.

This will not constitute a formal merger of the two organisations, but will bring the Trusts together under a single Board and Executive Leadership Team, with the goal of improving the care that is provided to patients both in the community and in hospitals across Lincolnshire. Both Trusts will retain their separate statutory names and legal obligations.

The Group will be known as Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG).

Job responsibilities

The Days Matter Improvement Lead will provide senior leadership and programme management expertise to support the delivery of cancer pathway improvement and sustainable performance against national Cancer Waiting Time standards. The post holder will lead the identification, design, implementation and evaluation of improvement initiatives aimed at reducing delays across cancer pathways and improving compliance with the Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS), 31-Day and 62-Day standards.

Working closely with clinical, operational and executive colleagues, the post holder will undertake detailed pathway analysis to identify bottlenecks, unwarranted variation and opportunities for service improvement. They will lead the development and delivery of improvement plans, applying recognised quality improvement and service redesign methodologies to support measurable and sustainable change.

The post holder will establish and maintain effective programme governance arrangements, including programme plans, risk registers, action plans and performance reporting processes. They will analyse complex performance information, monitor progress against agreed objectives and provide assurance through high-quality reports and presentations to Trust and system-wide governance groups.

The role requires significant stakeholder engagement and the ability to influence senior leaders across organisational boundaries. The post holder will facilitate multidisciplinary workshops, support implementation of best practice, and promote collaboration to drive improvement in patient outcomes and experience.

The post holder will also support evaluation of programme outcomes, benefits realisation and sustainability planning, ensuring that improvements are embedded within operational services and maintained beyond the life of the 12-month programme.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in a relevant field
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Training in service improvement, quality improvement or transformational change methodologies
• Lean, Six Sigma or Quality Improvement qualification
• Management or leadership qualification

Experience

• Experience of cancer services, cancer pathways or cancer performance management
• Experience of influencing senior clinical and operational stakeholders
• Experience of analysing and interpreting complex performance data
• Experience of presenting complex information to senior leadership teams and governance groups
• Significant experience of leading complex service improvement or transformation programmes within the NHS.
• Experience of working across organisational and professional boundaries to deliver improvement.
• Experience of delivering complex improvement or transformation programmes within defined timescales and achieving measurable performance outcomes.
• Experience of regional or system-wide transformation programmes
• Experience of business case development and programme budget management.
• Experience of leading quality improvement initiatives within cancer services.

Knowledge

• Detailed knowledge of NHS performance frameworks.
• Knowledge of Cancer Waiting Time standards and cancer pathways
• Knowledge of programme governance and risk management
• Knowledge of service improvement and transformation methodologies
• Understanding of NHS operational and performance management processes.
• Knowledge of Cancer Alliance arrangements and regional cancer performance
• Knowledge of diagnostic and treatment pathway design.
• Excellent programme and project management skills.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interpret, analyse and present complex performance information.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Ability to lead complex change programmes across organisational boundaries.
• Facilitation and workshop leadership skills.
• Advanced data visualisation and reporting skills.

Specific Requirements

• Ability to travel across organisational sites.
• Ability to work independently and prioritise competing demands.
• Professional credibility and confidence to challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
• Membership of a relevant professional body.
• Experience of working with NHS England, Cancer Alliances or Integrated Care Boards.

Personal Qualities

• Ability to work in line with and role model Group values.
• Highly motivated and self-directed.
• Resilient and adaptable.
• Collaborative and supportive approach to leadership.
• Commitment to improving patient outcomes and service quality.

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.