Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Integrated Care System; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 109,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading integrated care system in Plymouth seeks a Deputy Chief Operating Officer to lead improvement initiatives in urgent and emergency care. The role involves managing complex operational situations, ensuring successful patient flow, and driving strategic change across the organization. Candidates should possess significant leadership experience and the ability to deliver performance improvements within the NHS framework.

Qualifications

• Significant senior operational experience in acute, integrated, or complex care settings.
• Graduate level education and post-graduate qualification.
• Demonstrable track record of delivering performance improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Trust's Urgent and Emergency Care Improvement Plan.
• Manage operational patient flow and drive change.
• Oversee delivery of key performance indicators.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic Planning

Change Management

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Graduate level education

Post-graduate qualification to Masters Degree/MBA

Job description

Are you looking for your next role but need to gain some more experience?

Are you aspiring to be a Chief Operating Officer within the next 2 years?

If yes, and you have significant experience working in an acute/integrated/complex operating environment within health and care, then we can help you on your journey. This is a rare opportunity to develop your portfolio in one of the most complex and rewarding health and care environments in the South West.

This is critical operational leadership role at a pivotal time in our improvement journey. You will lead the on Trust wide improvement initiatives including Winter, working with executive colleagues, Care Groups and system partners to drive sustainable change, enhance patient flow, and deliver national standards.

We're seeking an inclusive, credible, and experienced NHS leader with:

• Significant senior operational experience in acute, integrated, or complex care settings.
• A demonstrable track record of delivering performance improvement and operational transformation.
• Exceptional interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to command respect across clinical and managerial teams.
• A strong values base, emotional intelligence, and a leadership style that is collaborative, courageous and compassionate

We are particularly keen to support candidates looking to gain the final experience and exposure required to step into a substantive COO role.

Main duties of the job

Accountable to the Chief Operating Officer, the Deputy Chief Operating Officer will lead on the Trust's Urgent and Emergency Care Improvement Plan and will:

o contribute to delivery of the Trust's strategic plan, by working in partnership with the Care Group teams and external organisations and commissioners, to achieve the Trust's corporate objectives and to make a positive contribution to the provision of health services across the local health economy.

o deputise with delegated authority for the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and work closelywith the Care Group teams to ensure the safe and effective day to day operations of theorganisation are maintained.

o Lead and oversee the delivery of the Urgent & Emergency Care improvement program as a key priority.

This job description is intended as an outline of the areas of activity and can be amended in the light of the changing needs of the service and will be reviewed as necessary in conjunction with the post-holder.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Job responsibilities

The Deputy Chief Operating Officer will: play a key leadership role within the organisation with a key priority and focus on system flow, including supporting large scale transformation. This will include the management offlow throughout the hospital and senior leadership of the hospitals site team. be responsible for ensuring the Escalation Policy and supporting processes are reviewedand updated regularly, communicating to all key stakeholders and ensuring accountability. lead operational patient flow; playing a key role in aligning delivery plans across CareGroups, acting as a mediator and where necessary, decision-maker between CareGroups on trust wide and cross-Care Group issues supporting decisions that maximiseimpact when there are competing priorities for both emergency and elective care. lead bed and operational capacity modelling work with the Performance Information teamand work with Care Group Managers on allocations. be expected to act independently, taking timely and at times, significant decisions toensure the operational delivery for the organisation, driving change and improvement bysupporting and influencing both the clinical service lines and corporate teams. be responsible for the troubleshooting and leading the planning for delivery of keyperformance indicators including the Accident and Emergency waiting time standards,referral to treatment times and cancer waiting times. They will lead major strategic projectsfor the COO across the organisation and the wider health economy. lead service developments and policy reviews in areas impacted by key performanceissues. manage the COO budget and delivery against cost saving plans in each of the COOareas.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

• Extensive leadership and operational management demonstrable experience in a medium/large acute healthcare provider setting.
• Significant senior management demonstrable experience within a complex service provider organisation.
• Substantial management demonstrable experience and achievement at operational level and evidence of significant achievement in strategic level projects or work streams.
• Demonstrable experience of and ability to manage complex operational situations that involve staff from all levels within the organisation and across a range of professional and organisational boundaries.
• Demonstrable experience of leading and managing substantial service change and redesign in a complex environment.
• Detailed proven knowledge of current acute Trust issues and the regulatory Framework.
• Understanding of current NHS National Policies and their impact on provision of health care.
• Demonstrable experience of working with multi-agency committees and establishing relationships with external organisations.
• Demonstrable track record of achievement of performance management improvement and delivery at a senior management level.
• Significant demonstrable experience of budget and staff management.
• Demonstrable understanding of quality and risk management issues and standards.
• Demonstrable experience of managing major change projects and of delivering clinical and clinical support services during periods of change.
• Substantial demonstrable experience of preparing and presenting written briefings at a senior management level.
• Extensive proven knowledge of risk management systems and processes to address and mitigate clinical and operational risks.
• Expertise in management of acute flow.
• Demonstrable experience of working in an integrated organisation or within a community health and social care setting.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and building research capacity and capability.
• Demonstrable experience of working at National / Regional system level.

Qualifications

• Graduate level education and/or other clinical professional qualification
• Post-graduate qualification to Masters Degree/MBA or equivalent demonstrable experience
• Proven evidence of extensive and recent commitment to continuing professional development
• Ability to develop and deliver effective business and operational plans which are financially sound.
• Demonstrable experience of establishing productive relationships, communicating with and effectively engaging clinical and non-clinical staff.
• Skills in, and demonstrable experience of, influencing and enabling others to perform, and of effective performance management.
• Ability to operate effectively within difficult financial and performance challenges.
• Proven ability to plan/implement effective projects and work-streams.
• Professional, inclusive and credible leadership style.
• Demonstrable ability to use resources effectively and efficiently, and to maximise the skill set and experience of others.
• Skills in deploying a creative, evidence-based approach to provide and set direction.
• Demonstrable ability to communicate effectively with individuals and groups at a senior level across organisational boundaries and to act as a positive role model.
• Ability to drive for and achieve results across a broad range of key outcomes, maintaining patient focus and a high level of personal integrity at all times
• Ability to resolve conflict with teams and with users/stakeholders, both internally and externally.
• Proven evidence of problem solving, strategic leadership and decision making skills.
• Demonstrable ability to achieve demanding objectives against deadlines.
• Ability to write and present Board papers which are meaningful and concise.
• Proven evidence of highly developed influencing, communication and negotiating skills.
• Ability to plan ahead and manage the translation of strategic intent into operational reality.
• Demonstrable understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion principles.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills at all levels and with all staff groups.
• Ability to prioritise work and manage deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate initiative.
• Team worker with ability to relate to all grades of staff.
• Methodical with good attention to detail.
• IT skills to include Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Whilst confident, able to share vulnerabilities to build psychologically safe relationships.
• Self-aware and emotionally intelligent - understands and is reflective of impact on others.
• Is tenacious and resilient in the face of difficulty, combined with a willingness to listen and understand others viewpoints.
• Has personal integrity, works hard to build the trust of others.
• Calm whilst working within a busy environment, self-motivated and reliable.
• Understands how to work within a team and is knowledgeable about individual preferences and able to adapt and flex their approach to get the best from each.
• Understands what it means to lead with compassion. Adopts a coaching approach, with a belief that each individual approaches work with good intent.
• Proactive, takes own initiative.
• Analytical.
• Strategic planner.
• Results orientated.
• Discretion and tact.

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.

£109,179 to £125,637 a yearPer Annum (Salary will be dependent on experience)