South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Programme Director

The closing date is 06 June 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a programme director to lead a large-scale transformation across our health and social care system. This pivotal fixed term/secondment role will focus on delivering the South Tyneside and Sunderland system diagnostic and driving forward the transformation of discharge and intermediate care services.

The role will report into a shared Programme Board with representation from NENC ICB, Sunderland City Council, South Tyneside Borough Council and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS FT. You will be working closely with our strategic delivery partner (Newton Europe) to realise a range of opportunities identified in the diagnostic with a key focus on improving patient experience and health outcomes. This marks a fantastic prospect for the right person to make a positive & sustained difference to the populations of South Tyneside and Sunderland.

We are seeking an exceptional individual with a proven track record in strategic planning, change management, and programme delivery within the public sector. You will need strong communication and interpersonal skills to navigate complex stakeholder relationships across South Tyneside Borough Council, Sunderland City Council, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, and the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board.

Main duties of the job

Flexible Working Options: We understand the importance of work-life balance and offer a range of flexible working options, including part-time and job share. We encourage applicants to discuss their preferred working patterns during the interview process.

Hybrid Working: Subject to the requirements of the role, there is a potential opportunity for hybrid working, allowing you to split your time between our offices and home. We aim to provide a supportive and adaptable working environment that meets the needs of our staff, service delivery and the patients within the partnership.

Please note: Applications are invited only from employees of the four partnership organisations. For applicants from the Integrated Care Board, due to the ongoing transition process, this role will be considered on a fixed-term basis only.

If you are ready to drive significant change and improve outcomes for the population of South Tyneside and Sunderland, apply now!

If you want to know more, enquiries are welcome. Please contact the relevant director for your organisation:

South Tyneside Borough Council, vicki.pattinson@southtyneside.gov.uk

Sunderland City Council, graham.king@sunderland.gov.uk

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, vicky.mitchell1@nhs.net

NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, scott.watson3@nhs.net

About us

Please help us by adding your telephone number to your application form this will allow us to contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for STSFT. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via the Trust's Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,600 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area, in some cases to a population as great as 860,000. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Childcare Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated.

Details

Date posted

23 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£88,168 to £101,677 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9155-CRAC-0525-23

Job locations

Trust Headquarters

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Sunderland

SR4 7TP


Job description

Job responsibilities

The South Tyneside and Sunderland Health and Care Partnership across South Tyneside and Sunderland aims to improve services for residents by integrating pathways and processes between key organisations. This includes the Integrated Care Board, responsible for overseeing health and care services, Adult Social Care, focused on supporting individuals with care needs, and the local acute and community Foundation Trust, providing hospital and community-based healthcare. By working together, these organisations seek to enhance coordination, reduce duplication, and deliver more efficient and effective care that meets the needs of the local population.

The partnership is made up from South Tyneside Borough Council, Sunderland City Council, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust and the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board. We will also be working with a strategic delivery partner who will bring expertise and resource into the system on a fixed term basis.

The focus of the partnership will initially be on the delivery of the transformation programme to improve discharge and intermediate services.. This role will lead this transformation as the programme's 'senior responsible officer'. However, there will also be an expectation that the post holder will make strong links across the system and with the wider transformation agenda, including participation in the 'care closer to home' programme, which is focused on the transformation and delivery of our 'neighbourhood' offer across South Tyneside and Sunderland.

The post holder will facilitate the successful development and delivery of the programme, ensuring delivery of its strategic aims. This role will also have responsibility as the key link with the strategic delivery partners, acting as a conduit between the programme and the overarching steering group and ensuring appropriate knowledge and skills transfer to South Tyneside and Sunderland programme team members.

The post holder has a key role as a part of the ST&S partnership, providing insight, support, advice and guidance to deliver new ways of working and transformational change.

Work closely with the delivery partner, take a lead role in ensuring that there is a continued and sustained transfer of skills and knowledge across the duration of the programme, such that local teams become upskilled as a result of our partnership arrangement and can undertake future programmes of work as determined by the partnership.

Working across partners to deliver our priorities by ensuring teams and organisations come together to agree objectives and resources to support successful delivery of the programme. Play a key role in identifying potential barriers, working with partners to overcome those barriers, and building cultures in teams that enable transformational change.

Working to support the partnership to ensure the agreement between our organisations and the delivery partner facilitates the effective transformation of services required to meet the ambitions of the programme and enables a clear and transparent process for identifying benefits realisation and subsequent payment processes.

Contribute to wider transformation programmes and developments across the ST&S system as required and where interdependencies with the main programme of work exist (e.g. the interface with 'care closer to home' programme)

Working with the partnership's director team, contribute to respective organisational strategic planning, improvement and transformation requirements across ST&S, using an analysis of complex, relevant local performance data and regional and national benchmarking, research evidence and best practise

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE POST.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The South Tyneside and Sunderland Health and Care Partnership across South Tyneside and Sunderland aims to improve services for residents by integrating pathways and processes between key organisations. This includes the Integrated Care Board, responsible for overseeing health and care services, Adult Social Care, focused on supporting individuals with care needs, and the local acute and community Foundation Trust, providing hospital and community-based healthcare. By working together, these organisations seek to enhance coordination, reduce duplication, and deliver more efficient and effective care that meets the needs of the local population.

The partnership is made up from South Tyneside Borough Council, Sunderland City Council, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust and the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board. We will also be working with a strategic delivery partner who will bring expertise and resource into the system on a fixed term basis.

The focus of the partnership will initially be on the delivery of the transformation programme to improve discharge and intermediate services.. This role will lead this transformation as the programme's 'senior responsible officer'. However, there will also be an expectation that the post holder will make strong links across the system and with the wider transformation agenda, including participation in the 'care closer to home' programme, which is focused on the transformation and delivery of our 'neighbourhood' offer across South Tyneside and Sunderland.

The post holder will facilitate the successful development and delivery of the programme, ensuring delivery of its strategic aims. This role will also have responsibility as the key link with the strategic delivery partners, acting as a conduit between the programme and the overarching steering group and ensuring appropriate knowledge and skills transfer to South Tyneside and Sunderland programme team members.

The post holder has a key role as a part of the ST&S partnership, providing insight, support, advice and guidance to deliver new ways of working and transformational change.

Work closely with the delivery partner, take a lead role in ensuring that there is a continued and sustained transfer of skills and knowledge across the duration of the programme, such that local teams become upskilled as a result of our partnership arrangement and can undertake future programmes of work as determined by the partnership.

Working across partners to deliver our priorities by ensuring teams and organisations come together to agree objectives and resources to support successful delivery of the programme. Play a key role in identifying potential barriers, working with partners to overcome those barriers, and building cultures in teams that enable transformational change.

Working to support the partnership to ensure the agreement between our organisations and the delivery partner facilitates the effective transformation of services required to meet the ambitions of the programme and enables a clear and transparent process for identifying benefits realisation and subsequent payment processes.

Contribute to wider transformation programmes and developments across the ST&S system as required and where interdependencies with the main programme of work exist (e.g. the interface with 'care closer to home' programme)

Working with the partnership's director team, contribute to respective organisational strategic planning, improvement and transformation requirements across ST&S, using an analysis of complex, relevant local performance data and regional and national benchmarking, research evidence and best practise

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE POST.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Leadership and health and/or social care experience is essential including significant experience as a senior manager with a demonstrable track record of success in an NHS/local authority or partner organisation
  • A proven track record of implementing and overseeing improvements in performance and standards of care and delivering change within an organisation
  • A proven track record of transformation, planning and delivery across a range of areas and services with specific insight into commissioning and/or service delivery
  • Willingness to gain experience in dealing with litigation, regulation & improvement
  • Experience in the management of multi-project programmes of work
  • Experience in using a wide range of improvement tools and methodologies
  • Experience of effective partnership and working with internal and external stakeholders at a very senior level
  • Experience in leading and developing programme or project plans across multiple partners and stakeholders, achieving consensus and managing successful delivery
  • Experience in performance management approaches including analysis of data and performance reporting
  • Experience of managing relationships with stakeholders

Desirable

  • Experience at deputy director level within provider, commissioning or oversight and assurance / regulatory organisations

Physical Skills

Essential

  • May be required to participate in the on-call rota
  • Travel across region / nationally, independently
  • Frequent VDU use

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Evidence of sustained personal & professional development
  • Knowledge and experience of staff management
  • Knowledge and experience of financial management
  • Skilled in building consensus and enhancing collaboration
  • Conflict resolution
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, which engender community confidence, strong collaborations, and partnership
  • Critical thinking and problem solving; the ability to develop planning and undertake problem resolution and action
  • Analytical rigour and numeracy
  • Using measurement of data as an improvement tool
  • Leadership and influencing skills; building compassionate cultures where individuals and teams thrive at organisation, partnership and system levels
  • Programme management skills and experience
  • Risk identification and management
  • Open participative engaging communication and influencing skills
  • Capable of self-imposed time management and meeting deadlines
  • Understanding the balance between management and holding to account
  • Able to influence with the ability to shape development across the health and social care system
  • Demonstrable commitment to inclusive working practices and leadership
  • High level of confidence
  • Integrity
  • Trustworthy
  • Team player committed to corporate effectiveness
  • Approachable / builds effective working relationships
  • Resilience
  • Personal commitment to the values of the NHS Long Term Plan, the Priorities for Adult Social Care, the NHS People Plan, Nolan Principle and the Fit and Proper Persons regime
  • Demonstrates a compassionate leadership style with a track record of improvements to equality, diversity, inclusion, and social justice
  • Lives by the values of openness and integrity and has created cultures
  • Committed to continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Whole systems management

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree level qualification AND Master's level qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

  • Project management qualification e.g. Prince 2
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Leadership and health and/or social care experience is essential including significant experience as a senior manager with a demonstrable track record of success in an NHS/local authority or partner organisation
  • A proven track record of implementing and overseeing improvements in performance and standards of care and delivering change within an organisation
  • A proven track record of transformation, planning and delivery across a range of areas and services with specific insight into commissioning and/or service delivery
  • Willingness to gain experience in dealing with litigation, regulation & improvement
  • Experience in the management of multi-project programmes of work
  • Experience in using a wide range of improvement tools and methodologies
  • Experience of effective partnership and working with internal and external stakeholders at a very senior level
  • Experience in leading and developing programme or project plans across multiple partners and stakeholders, achieving consensus and managing successful delivery
  • Experience in performance management approaches including analysis of data and performance reporting
  • Experience of managing relationships with stakeholders

Desirable

  • Experience at deputy director level within provider, commissioning or oversight and assurance / regulatory organisations

Physical Skills

Essential

  • May be required to participate in the on-call rota
  • Travel across region / nationally, independently
  • Frequent VDU use

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Evidence of sustained personal & professional development
  • Knowledge and experience of staff management
  • Knowledge and experience of financial management
  • Skilled in building consensus and enhancing collaboration
  • Conflict resolution
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, which engender community confidence, strong collaborations, and partnership
  • Critical thinking and problem solving; the ability to develop planning and undertake problem resolution and action
  • Analytical rigour and numeracy
  • Using measurement of data as an improvement tool
  • Leadership and influencing skills; building compassionate cultures where individuals and teams thrive at organisation, partnership and system levels
  • Programme management skills and experience
  • Risk identification and management
  • Open participative engaging communication and influencing skills
  • Capable of self-imposed time management and meeting deadlines
  • Understanding the balance between management and holding to account
  • Able to influence with the ability to shape development across the health and social care system
  • Demonstrable commitment to inclusive working practices and leadership
  • High level of confidence
  • Integrity
  • Trustworthy
  • Team player committed to corporate effectiveness
  • Approachable / builds effective working relationships
  • Resilience
  • Personal commitment to the values of the NHS Long Term Plan, the Priorities for Adult Social Care, the NHS People Plan, Nolan Principle and the Fit and Proper Persons regime
  • Demonstrates a compassionate leadership style with a track record of improvements to equality, diversity, inclusion, and social justice
  • Lives by the values of openness and integrity and has created cultures
  • Committed to continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Whole systems management

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree level qualification AND Master's level qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

  • Project management qualification e.g. Prince 2

Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust Headquarters

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Sunderland

SR4 7TP


Employer's website

https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust Headquarters

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Sunderland

SR4 7TP


Employer's website

https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Director of Planning & Business Development

Vicky Mitchell

vicky.mitchell1@nhs.net

01915656256

Details

Date posted

23 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£88,168 to £101,677 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9155-CRAC-0525-23

Job locations

Trust Headquarters

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Sunderland

SR4 7TP


Supporting documents

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