Head of School - Ophthalmology (West)

NHS; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization in healthcare is looking for a Head of School to support NHS England's mission in education. The role focuses on improving learner supervision and engagement, ensuring high standards in training and educational outcomes, while navigating the evolving healthcare landscape. Ideal candidates will possess significant leadership experience and a clinical healthcare background, contributing to the educational development of multi-professional teams.

Qualifications

• Experience in educational leadership and innovation.
• Trained and experienced in NHS appraisal processes.
• Knowledge of healthcare/multi-professional workforce matters.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the School structure and quality of education.
• Lead the delivery of curricular in an evolving service landscape.
• Support educational quality and manage budget objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Primary clinical healthcare qualification

Membership of a College or Faculty

Job description

Job summary

The role of Head of School is to work with and support the NHS England Postgraduate Dean in leading the delivery of a wide range of functions, aligned to the NHS England mandate.

The Head of School is professionally and managerially accountable to the Postgraduate Dean. The Head of School will focus upon improvement of learner supervision, assessment and experience, engagement of faculty and ensuring effective educational outcomes, both now and in the future. The role is evolving and will also focus on whole workforce transformation and developing multi-professional links mas well as innovative ways of curriculum delivery and workforce well-being strategies.

Main duties of the job

To support the Postgraduate Dean, Heads of Schools work across the spectrum of health and where relevant, social care, within the context of a team, so that the provision of education reflects changing service models. This will deliver an integrated workforce comprising individuals from a spectrum of professional and other backgrounds.

The Head of School will be expected to meet the challenges of leading the School and Education Providers to deliver the changing curricular in an evolving service landscape.

Although the main role is to lead and develop the Postgraduate School of Surgery all senior clinicians within NHSE may have wider roles and projects as agreed with the Postgraduate Dean.

About us

The NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by:

• Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
• Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
• Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
• Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
• Delivering value for money.

If you would like to know more or require further information, please visithttps://www.england.nhs.uk/.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.

If you are successful at interview, we will run an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) in the Electronic Staff Record system (ESR). This transfer gathers valuable information from a previous or current NHS employer to support the onboarding process, including; statutory and mandatory competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You will have the opportunity throughout the recruitment process to inform us if you do not consent.

Details Date posted

18 June 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Consultant

Salary

Depending on experience In line with HoS sessional payments

Contract

Secondment

Duration

14 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

990-MID-15346-E

Job locations

23 Stephenson Street

Birmingham

B2 4BJ

Job description Job responsibilities

• To oversee the School structure and relevant School meetings within the structure.
• Ensuring high standards of education and training as defined by the General Medical Council and other national bodies with respect to training posts and other educational programmes in NHSE NW
• Commitment to national vision, policies and processes for effective educational quality management
• Ensuring that objectives are met within budget and proportionate contribution to budget savings when required
• Ensuring that Code of Practice Guidelines are met
• Giving accurate guidance to trainees on OOP / IDTs / LTFT / Acting up applications

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Secondments

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

Job description Job responsibilities

• To oversee the School structure and relevant School meetings within the structure.
• Ensuring high standards of education and training as defined by the General Medical Council and other national bodies with respect to training posts and other educational programmes in NHSE NW
• Commitment to national vision, policies and processes for effective educational quality management
• Ensuring that objectives are met within budget and proportionate contribution to budget savings when required
• Ensuring that Code of Practice Guidelines are met
• Giving accurate guidance to trainees on OOP / IDTs / LTFT / Acting up applications

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Secondments

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Primary clinical healthcare qualification
• Membership/Fellowship of a College, Faculty, professional association and/or regulatory body
• Currently working in the North West of England

Desirable

• Attendance at courses aimed to support educational development (example: educator courses, Train the trainer, etc)

Skills Essential

• Demonstrable Leadership skills and an ability to motivate others
• A strong sense of vision and an ability to innovate
• Politically astute with an ability to sensitively manage complexity and uncertainty
• Ability to problem solve and maintain objectivity
• Strong interpersonal, communication, written and presentation skills
• Ability to quickly establish personal and professional credibility with colleagues and other key stakeholders
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Committed to own personal development and an ability to support others to develop and progress

Experience Essential

• Considerable experience of working with doctors in an educational context
• Experience of clinical and educational leadership and innovation, including managing a multi-professional team
• Demonstrable track record of delivery in service and education
• Understanding of developments involving the relevant Colleges/Faculties, professional bodies, related NHS organisations and regulatory bodies
• Trained and experienced in recruitment, selection and Equality and Diversity in the last 3 years
• Active involvement in, and up to date with, NHS appraisal processes
• Applicants who are doctors require a Licence to Practise

Desirable

• Knowledge of the NHS, its structures and processes, including an understanding of healthcare/multi-professional workforce matters

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Primary clinical healthcare qualification
• Membership/Fellowship of a College, Faculty, professional association and/or regulatory body
• Currently working in the North West of England

Desirable

• Attendance at courses aimed to support educational development (example: educator courses, Train the trainer, etc)

Skills Essential

• Demonstrable Leadership skills and an ability to motivate others
• A strong sense of vision and an ability to innovate
• Politically astute with an ability to sensitively manage complexity and uncertainty
• Ability to problem solve and maintain objectivity
• Strong interpersonal, communication, written and presentation skills
• Ability to quickly establish personal and professional credibility with colleagues and other key stakeholders
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Committed to own personal development and an ability to support others to develop and progress

Experience Essential

• Considerable experience of working with doctors in an educational context
• Experience of clinical and educational leadership and innovation, including managing a multi-professional team
• Demonstrable track record of delivery in service and education
• Understanding of developments involving the relevant Colleges/Faculties, professional bodies, related NHS organisations and regulatory bodies
• Trained and experienced in recruitment, selection and Equality and Diversity in the last 3 years
• Active involvement in, and up to date with, NHS appraisal processes
• Applicants who are doctors require a Licence to Practise

Desirable

• Knowledge of the NHS, its structures and processes, including an understanding of healthcare/multi-professional workforce matters

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

NHS England

Address

23 Stephenson Street

Birmingham

B2 4BJ

Employer's website

https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

NHS England

Address

23 Stephenson Street

Birmingham

B2 4BJ

Employer's website

https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)