Training Programme Director - Rheumatology - TV

NHS England; Old Warren; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS England, Thames Valley Local Office, is seeking a Consultant with a strong interest in medical education and training to be the Training Programme Director for Rheumatology.

The successful candidate will lead the delivery of the regional training programme, work with the Head of School, and oversee assessments, rotations and multi‑professional education with a focus on leadership and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with learners or doctors in training in an educational context
• Demonstrated leadership in clinical and educational settings
• Track record of delivering service and education
• Understanding of developments in NHS Colleges/Faculties and professional bodies
• Doctors require a licence to practise

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Regional Training Programme
• Lead specialty education and trainee/trainer concerns
• Recruitment to training posts and programmes
• Manage postgraduate programmes including assessments, progression, rotations, support and remediation

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Multi-professional teamwork

Educational supervision

Education

Fellowship of College/Faculty

Primary clinical qualification

Job description

Within NHS England, South East Region, the Thames Valley Local Office is responsible for the planning, development, education and training of the future and current healthcare and public health workforce across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

An opportunity has arisen for a Consultant with a strong interest in medical education and training to be the Training Programme Director for Rheumatology.

Applications are invited from current STC members, or from those within the specialty who can demonstrate relevant interest in education and training.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the overall delivery of the training programme. For more information regarding the post please refer to the attached Job Description with enclosed Person Specification.The role of the Training Programme Director is to work with the Head of School in leading the delivery of a wide range of functions, aligned to NHS England mandate.

Main duties of the job

The Training Programme Director 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.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced NHS Consultant, currently working within the Thames Valley, with a thorough understanding of Rheumatology training across the region and who will also have strong leadership and communication skills and be able to work effectively as a member of a multi-professional team.

About us

NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.

Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

In March 2025,the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.

If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.

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

We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.

Job responsibilities

The Training Programme Director will ensure that both national standards, determined by the Royal College, and guidelines and standards established within Paediatrics are met. Responsibilities will include:

• To oversee the Specialtys Regional Training Programme
• Specialty-specific matters and trainee/trainer concerns
• Recruitment to training posts and programmes
• Postgraduate programme management, including assessments, progression, rotations, support and remediation, OOP management, trainee management careers support, less than full-time training, inter-deanery transfer, academic training and other related work-streams.

The fixed level of funding contribution for this role is £5,000 per annum, as an Educational Management Contribution (EMC). 0.5 EMC has been allocated for this role. The number of EMCs indicatively equates to the number of PAs for job planning; however, the level of funding for EMCs is fixed and may not equate to your individual personal salary with your employer in relation to your planned activities.

Prior to applying, please ensure you have discussed this role with your local Director of Medical Education to ensure that this work functions as a secondment with time freed up in your job plan to fulfil expectations. The financial contribution to the Trust is then to backfill any clinical time. This will be followed up at interview to ensure support is in place.

The Trust Director of Medical Education will be asked to provide a reference in support of your application.

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
• Fellowship of College/Faculty: professional association and/or body

Desirable

• Attendance at courses aimed to support educational development

Employment/Experience

Essential

• Working with learners or doctors in training in an educational context
• Experience of clinical and educational leadership and innovation, including managing a multi-professional team
• Demonstrable track record of delivery of service and education
• Understanding of developments involving the relevant Colleges/Faculties, professional bodes related to NHS
• Applicants who are doctors require a licence to practise

Desirable

• Previous or current appointment as a leader in healthcare education
• Awareness of funding streams for healthcare education

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Politically astute with an ability to sensitively manage complexity and uncertainty
• 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