Director of Operations

Job responsibilities

Job Title: Operations Director

Team: Executive

Base Location: Unit 14, Longbow Close, Bradley, Huddersfield, HD2 1GQ

Line Manager: Chief Executive Officer

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week flexibly in a 24/7 environment to meet organisational needs

Vaccination Requirement Statement:

• Covid19 double vaccination not required but recommended.
• This job has been rated as Low Risk for requiring Hepatitis B immunisation.
• Flu jab recommended and will be offered.

Job Purpose:

This is an Executive level role with overall accountability for the planning, implementation and delivery of LCD operations to meet business objectives, contractual key performance indicators and regulatory standards.

As a Director the postholder will be required to contribute to all aspects of the business, its strategic and business plans, but will have specific accountability for:

• Development and delivery of Service Operating Plans which will meet Business Plan goals, contractual, regulatory and legal standards for all LCD contracted services.
• Be the designated Accountable Emergency Officer for the organisation and represent LCD externally in Emergency Planning forums
• Identification, management and mitigation of risks with LCD operations
• Ensuring that effective business continuity plans and measures are developed and embedded to provide assurance of business resilience across all services; to include appropriate on call management support
• The implementation and monitoring of appropriate and effective quality assurance across LCD operational teams
• Development of workforce plans to ensure the provision of agreed levels of staff with the required skills and experience; and the implementation of an agreed management structure to provide effective supervision of staff and adherence to LCD workforce policies and principles.
• Delivery of the operation in line with agreed budgets and financial frameworks

KEY PRINCIPLES

As a member of the Executive team the postholder will be a champion, ambassador, advocate for the organisation, its people and values and those who use our services.

• To champion Local Care Direct values and promote an engaging and inclusive leadership approach with your team, throughout the wider Local Care Direct organisation and with partners and other stakeholders
• To maintain the highest standards of conduct and meet all statutory responsibilities as a director
• To ensure the organisation remains fit for purpose at all times
• To ensure that the quality of patient care is firmly at the centre of the organisations objectives and vision.
• To manage the resources and infrastructure to meet contractual, statutory and organisational standards
• To seek continuous improvement in performance, quality and efficiency
• To raise the profile and reputation of Local Care Direct by establishing relationships with stakeholders
• To identify and develop existing business and new business opportunities which contribute to the achievement of Local Care Direct’s Vision and Strategic Goals
• To promote personal development across the organisation and build a trusting, inclusive and productive environment
• To promote and support the health and wellbeing of the workforce
• To support others to achieve their objectives
• To promote the use of accurate data and evidence to drive objective decision-making and weigh the balance of risk and reward
• To uphold organisational governance process, policies and standards and the principle of collective responsibility

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (This is not an exhaustive list)

Operations Management

• Development of performance goals and operational plans
• Maximising efficiency and productivity through the use of process analysis
• Setting goals for operational efficiency and productivity
• Analysing current operational processes and performance and identifying opportunities for improvement
• Identifying, assessing and logging operational risks and actions to mitigate or remove risk
• Implementing an agreed approach to consistent and effective quality management within the operational team
• Preparation of reports and presentations for internal and external audiences detailing operational performance
• Ensuring the maintenance of and participate in a management roster to provide effective on-call support to LCD operations 24/7/365
• Ensuring risk management training is available to all managers
• Ensuring all services and teams maintain risk registers including appropriate response actions.
• Ensuring all services and teams adhere to the Business Continuity Policy and Framework; including all relevant continuity and contingency plans, liaising with relevant departments to ensure these are tested.
• Preparing and maintaining a Major Incident Plan and ensure training provider to key postholders.
• Ensuring LCD is compliant with relevant EPRR standards and provide an annual compliance statement to the Board
• To act as the Emergency Planning Lead and represent LCD on the Local Health Resilience Partnership
• Provision of reports as required on Risk, Business Continuity and Emergency Planning to Executive and Board as required.
• Working with other members of the executive agree budgets for operational expenditure in line with service plans and including workforce plans to secure sufficient staff with the required skills to support the effective delivery of services
• Planning, monitoring and analysis of key metrics for the day to day performance of operations to ensure efficient and timely completion of tasks
• Identification and implementation of process improvements to improve efficiency and quality
• Advising the Board and its committees on key areas of responsibility as required
• Taking a lead role in the preparation for and response to CQC and other regulatory, contractual and professional inspection and audit
• Taking a lead role in ensuring effective contract management and relationships with commissioners are managed in such a way as to protect and enhance LCD’s reputation

Line Management

• Setting clear objectives for your team which support the delivery of Local Care Direct’s Strategic Plan and Operating Plans and monitor these within Local Care Direct’s agreed performance management framework
• Reviewing the performance of your team in line with the organisational and performance objectives and standards; identify team & individual development needs and agree team and personal development plans and activities
• Ensuring that the team adheres to legal, professional and organisational standards, policies and protocols.
• Monitoring performance and takes timely and appropriate action where work performance falls below the defined standard for the role.
• Developing strong relationships with other directors and senior managers to promote effective cross-functional team working across Local Care Direct that supports the achievement of the company’s objectives, standards and protocols
• Ensuring effective lines and channels of communication and reporting within the team to support all employees understanding Local Care Direct business plans, objectives, priorities and changes
• Ensuring all staff have received the defined company induction programme and core training for their role and all required refresher training thereafter.
• Ensuring all staff in your area of responsibility receive an annual performance and development review incorporating the development of a personal development plan.
• Ensuring the team meets appropriate standards of health and safety and that corrective action plans are implemented where breaches are identified.
• Ensuring the team operates within information governance protocols and business confidentiality is maintained at all times.
• Ensuring staff work in accordance with LCD environmental management policy

COMMUNICATIONS & RELATIONSHIPS

• To ensure agreed lines of communication and reporting are implemented within the team to support all employees understanding LCD business plans, objectives, priorities and changes.
• To promote effective cross-functional working and that the operational team supports the achievement of objectives, standards and protocols of other LCD areas.
• To attend internal and external meetings representing LCD and engaging in discussions appropriate to the role and level of the post.

CONFIDENTIALITY

• To operate and ensure the team operates within information governance protocols and that business confidentiality is maintained at all times.

The main duties and responsibilities shown here are not exhaustive and the postholder will be expected to carry out any reasonable activities according to the needs of the business as directed by the line manager.

Experience

Essential

• At least 5 years experience in a senior role within a service industry environment.
• Managing large, diverse, multi-site workforce.
• Leading large-scale change projects successfully.
• Managing performance within agreed financial and budgetary frameworks.
• Development of business improvement cases.
• Managing a senior multi-disciplinary portfolio role.
• Managing service contracts and delivering to agreed specifications.

Desirable

• Previous Board level exposure.
• Quality management and improvement systems.
• Business continuity and risk management.
• Working at a senior operational level within the NHS.
• Working in a regulated environment.

Knowledge

Essential

• Current knowledge and understanding of the NHS and its forward plans.
• Quality Management systems.
• Risk management systems.
• Business Continuity planning.
• Information Governance principles and legislation.

Desirable

• Clinical governance.
• Patient care pathways.
• Care Quality Commission standards.
• NHS Contracts and standards.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree and general leadership & management qualification (ie. MBA) OR Evidence of equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Major Incident Command training.

Skills

Essential

• Root cause analysis techniques.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent communication (written and oral), listening analytical and influencing skills.
• Presentation skills and ability to articulate vision effectively to a wide range of audiences.
• Strong organisational and planning skills including effective time management.
• Ability to maintain focus on longer term strategy whilst delivering short term tasks and solutions.
• Evaluating business cases and developing new business tenders.
• Ability to analyse complex data for trend and theme.
• Highly developed inter personal skills and emotional intelligence.
• Ability to chair meetings effectively to support collaborative and productive working and achievement positive outcomes.

Desirable

• Project management skills.
• Auditing.
• Use of SystmOne.
• Competent use of Microsoft Office suite.