Deputy Head of Operations

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board; Cwmbran; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in healthcare is seeking an experienced Deputy Head of Operations to lead strategic planning and enhance patient experience across acute hospital sites. This role involves daily cross-system leadership, ensuring effective bed management, and collaborating with diverse teams to improve care pathways. The organization values flexibility and offers extensive training and development opportunities, making it a trusted workplace for over 16,000 staff members. If you are a dynamic leader with a passion for improving healthcare delivery, this is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact.

Benefits

Flexible Working

Paid Mandatory Training

In-house Programs

Wellbeing Centre of Excellence

Qualifications

• Proven budget management experience in the NHS.
• Current operational experience in a healthcare setting.

Responsibilities

• Assess hospital capacity and implement operational plans.
• Manage patient transfers and ensure safety for admissions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to improve care pathways.

Skills

Budget Management

Operational Leadership

Communication Skills

Project Management

Education

Relevant Healthcare Qualification

Job description

We encourage applications from all with protected characteristics and from those in the Armed Forces Community. Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh; any application submitted through the medium of Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications made in English.

If you are successful at interview for this post, you will receive your conditional offer of appointment and information pack via email.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time. Therefore, we encourage early applications to ensure consideration for this post. If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted via your email account used to apply, so please check your email regularly.

Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment-related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board supports flexible working.

Please be advised that there is a temporary top-up for Bands 2 and 3, reflecting the incorporation of the top-up to the living wage of £12.60 per hour (£24,638 per annum). This top-up will be in place until the 2025/26 pay uplift is confirmed.

Please note that this vacancy may be withdrawn at any time if filled via internal redeployment.

Job Overview

There is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to join the operations team at ABUHB. The Deputy Head of Operations will be a visible, authoritative, and professional clinical leader responsible for patient experience and strategic operational planning on the acute hospital sites, liaising with multidisciplinary colleagues across the Health Board. The role requires providing cross-system leadership daily.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable; applications are welcome from both English and Welsh speakers.

Main duties of the job

1. Assess the hospital's capacity to handle emergency and elective demand, devising and implementing daily operational plans and forward planning in collaboration with divisions and the Head of Operations.
2. Maintain an accurate, current bed state across the system, monitor occupancy, and analyze bed management data for Sit Reps, audits, and external requirements.
3. Manage and coordinate patient transfers within the inpatient system to ensure capacity and safety for emergency and elective admissions across all acute sites.
4. Utilize excellent communication skills to convey complex and sensitive information to diverse audiences, managing barriers and emotional reactions effectively.
5. Arbitrate on bed use, admissions, and cancellations in line with Health Board requirements to meet KPIs and ensure patient safety.
6. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop standardized protocols and improve care pathways.
7. Support Service Managers and Senior Nurses in deploying nursing staff and deputize for the Head of Operations when needed.

Working for our organization

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is a multi-award-winning NHS organization committed to caring. We offer a trusted, valued workplace with opportunities for all career stages, providing integrated acute, primary, and community care for 650,000 people, employing over 16,000 staff.

We offer extensive benefits, training, and development, including paid mandatory training, in-house programs, recognized qualifications, and management pathways. We promote flexible working, support work-life balance, and have plans for a Wellbeing Centre of Excellence.

Our Clinical Futures strategy aims to deliver high-quality hospital care and care closer to home, pioneering new ways of working to provide world-class healthcare.

Finance

Essential criteria

• Evidence of recent budget management experience in the NHS.

Desirable criteria

• Supporting evidence of recent project management experience.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Supporting evidence of current operational experience.

Desirable criteria

• Experience in an urgent care setting within the last 18 months.