Senior Work & Health Manager

NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board; Leicester; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board is recruiting a Senior Work & Health Manager (Band 8b) to lead strategic development for Work & Health across Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland. The role requires strong system leadership, governance, and partnership working to deliver the ICS strategy and work well with primary care and local authorities.

The post involves coordinating bids, business plans and workforce initiatives, with 40% on patch work across multiple sites, including

Qualifications

• Educated to master’s level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience.
• Evidence of significant management experience across health and care sector.
• Evidence of post qualifying continuing professional development.
• Must understand current healthcare policy and its implications for engagement.
• Experience of working with primary care engagement and commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of the NHS Strategic Commissioning Framework and LNR Operating Model.
• Develop ICS Work and Health strategy and bids/business plans across the LNR Cluster ICB and systems.
• Co-design and deliver Work & Health integration plans with local authorities and partners.
• Lead on workforce planning, population data analysis and targeted interventions.
• Influence primary care networks and GP practices regarding WorkWell and workforce priorities.
• Ensure alignment with national policy and translate it into local priorities and delivery plans.
• Monitor progress against deliverables and benefits realisation.

Skills

Management experience

CPD

Healthcare policy understanding

Primary care engagement

Stakeholder influence

Education

Master's degree in relevant subject

Job description

Employer NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board Employer type NHS Site County Hall or Haylock House Town Leicester Salary £66,582 - £77,368 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 11/10/2026 23:59

Senior Work & Health Manager

NHS AfC: Band 8b

Our vision for the future of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland’s health and care services is for a positive lifetime of health, wellbeing and care in our community.

Our mission in working together, the reason we do what we do, is to empower positive futures. Wherever we work and whatever our role we all want people in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland to be able to choose well, stay well, live well.

Each day our values will help to guide our decisions and what is most important to us:

• Our patients and our local population come first
• We work together in an open and accountable way
• We trust, challenge and support each other
• We do what we say we will do.

Job overview

The Senior Work & Health Manager will:

• Support the Head of Work & Health to lead and undertake strategic development activities across the Leicestershire Northamptonshire and Rutland (LNR) Integrated Care System (ICS).

• Lead the development of an ICS strategy for Work and Health integration and development of a partnership approach to support delivery and implementation of the strategy.

• Support the Head of Work & Health to undertake the development of a range of ICS bids and business plans across the LNR Cluster Integrated Care Board (ICB) and systems.

• Developing the system strategic response to workforce, specific areas for example, health and work initiatives,

• Co-create the design and delivery plans across each local authority footprint and place areas for work and health integration which incorporates prevention; a reduction in health inequalities and how the integration can contribute and support mutually important priorities.

Main duties of the job

Key Working Relationships

The post holder will need to build and maintain constructive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including but not limited to:

• Internal ICB staff including managers, colleagues, and senior management as appropriate
• National and regional colleagues at NHS England
• Primary Care Workforce and PCN clinical leads
• ICS partners, including portfolio leads, Local Authorities and Provider and Place Collaboratives
• Non‑NHS organisations
• Members of the public and service users as appropriate
• Matrix work across all other teams to address interdependencies and ensure alignment of mutual objectives.
• External consultancy, as required.

Working for our organisation

The Work & Health Team is a new addition to the ICB within the Strategy and Planning Directorate across the cluster ICBs.

Our aim is to support the social and economic growth within a partnership delivery model with general practice, local authority, NHS, DWP/DHSC and VCSE based on personalisation, prevention and intervention.

Within a team of built up of the Head of Work & Health, Senior Work & Health Manager, two Work & Health Programme Managers and a Work & Health Assistant Officer.

Working for our Integrated Care Boards will require you contributing to a shared purpose of improving outcomes for the communities we serve as part of a wider health and social care system. The organisation’s ethos is rooted in integrity, collaboration and accountability, with a strong focus on putting its patient population at the centre of everything it does and delivering services to improve patient outcomes, patient experience and added years of optimised health. As part of the newly formed cluster bringing together NHS Northamptonshire ICB and NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB, staff are expected to work flexibly and collaboratively across organisational boundaries to support a joined‑up approach to strategic commissioning and service improvement. There is an expectation of 40% on patch working, with office bases at County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester and Haylock House, Kettering. Staff can choose which office is their primary base for contractual purposes and travel claims.

This role will require a minimum of 2 days ‘on patch’ working in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland in our 2 main offices or partner sites

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Support delivery of the NHS Strategic Commissioning Framework and LNR Operating Model.

2. To utilise workforce planning information and population data to identify and target interventions.

3.Influence primary care networks and GP practise with hosting of key workforce pertaining to WorkWell.

Building extensive knowledge of national strategy and policy direction as it relates to work and health integration and commissioning and disseminating this knowledge throughout the ICS to positively impact join up of employment and health support.

4. Co-design and delivery of work and health pilots within the ICS.

5. Supporting training, on capability building for work and health within the partnership to improve social value, where appropriate access national offer and embed into training.

6. Leadership for the planning and implementation of key elements of work and health strategy and linked workforce priorities across primary care and community sector , ensuring that key milestones are achieved and that the required outcomes are met.

7. Facilitate partners across the health and care system in recognising the importance of work and health integration, using analysis, judgement, knowledge and experience to support the system in developing actionable solutions.

8. Using evidence‑based research to promote new ways of working.

9. Deputise for the Head of Work & Health at relevant regional/national events/networks

10. Support the Head of Work & Health to develop a range of workforce strategic plans at both place and system level. This will include but not limited to the work and health strategy. The work will involve interpretation of national policy and guidance and local need and translating this into local priorities; working with other Directorates, providers and stakeholders to develop delivery plans and to work with regulators to ensure that strategies and plans are approved.

11. Support the Head of Work & Health to develop the ICBs and ICS work and health plans, ensuring alignment with neighbourhood health and working with other Directorates and providers to ensure delivery to timescales and that plans can be approved by regulators. This will include input into the development of efficiency plans.

12. Support the development of ICB plans, for example the ICB Work and Health Integration Strategy, neighbourhood health plan, operational Plan.

13. Work with NHSE and Department of Work and Pensions with regards the voluntary sector, small and medium Enterprises (SMEs) and out of area providers to ensure that the market is sufficiently engaged and can respond to the needs of LNR social and economic inactivity and take into account national requirements.

14. Lead on the development of ICS People level outcomes that support plans and strategies and that can deliver and demonstrate an improvement in health and work integration; a return to work , remain in and re‑enter work; a reduction in health inequalities.

15. Ensure there is robust clinical input into all activities of the Directorate and provide where required managerial support to enable effective clinical involvement.

16. Ensure that patient and public views are sought and considered in all activities of the Directorate.

17. Ensure the use of privacy, quality and equality impact assessments in all the activities of the Directorate and that any necessary action is taken to respond to any adverse impact.

18. Manage, monitor, interpret, and report progress against deliverables on benefits realisation management. Quality assurance and progress of deliverables to stakeholders that often require adjustments specifically in relation to the complex corporate business agenda, strategic objectives and the business planning process ensuring that the intended benefits are achieved with outcomes maximised.

Person specification

Knowledge, Training and Experience

• Educated to master’s level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
• Evidence of significant management experience, across health and care sector
• Evidence of post qualifying continuing professional development
• Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement
• Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health, NHS England and individual provider and commissioning organisations
• Experience of working across multidisciplinary and healthcare organisations and influencing decisions
• Experience of working directly with primary care
• Experience of commissioning of services
• Extensive knowledge of and expertise in Work & Health and reduction in economic inactivity, unemployment and health barriers to employment relevant to function and role
• Member of a relevant professional body or, post – registered clinical qualification and experience in a relevant speciality

Communication Skills

• Developed communication skills for delivering key messages to a range of stakeholders both internal and external (including outside the NHS) to the organisation, some at very senior level
• Good presentational skills for conveying complex concepts
• Ability to use informed persuasion to influence others

Analytical

• Ability to identify risks, anticipate issues, create solutions and resolve problems in relation to project or service delivery
• Ability to understand a broad range of complex information quickly and make decisions where opinions differ/no obvious solution

Planning Skills

• Evidence of planning and delivering programmes and projects and services on time

Autonomy

• Ability to work autonomously, providing specialist advice to the partner organisation, working to tight and often changing timescales
• Interpreting national policy for implementation

Management Skills

• Skills for direct line management and job management
• Skills for delivering results through managing others and using a range of levers in the absence of direct line management responsibility
• Skills for managing relationships with a range of different stakeholders

Physical Skills

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills

Equality and Diversity

• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of equality of opportunity and diversity taking into account and being aware of how individual actions contribute to and make a difference to the equality agenda.

Please note, there is an requirement for all positions at Bands 8b and above to be part of a On Call rota.

All new entrants to the ICB for a permanent position will be subject to a 6 month probationary period. For new entrants appointed on a fixed‑term basis, the probationary period is between 1 and 6 months.

We are an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be welcomed and considered regardless of a person’s age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

We welcome applications from disabled candidates and those applicants need only meet the essential criteria to be invited to interview. We will also make any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, including the Job Description and Person Specification, to enable you to pursue your application, providing that you inform us of any special requirements.

L N R ICBs recognise that applicants may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to support the preparation of their application, for example to help with structure, grammar, or presentation. Applicants must ensure that all information submitted is accurate, authentic, and reflects their own skills, experience, and suitability for the role. Any use of AI in preparing an application must be clearly declared and may be explored or challenged as part of the interview and selection process.

Arden & GEM CSU administer this account on behalf of the ICB, you may receive communications from both the CSU and the ICB during your recruitment.

If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system and other secure, internal NHS workforce systems in order to support and manage your recruitment and employment within the organisation.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.