Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Head of Improvement

The closing date is 29 September 2025

Job summary

We are pleased to be opening applications for a new Head of Improvement to work within the Strategy, Transformation and Partnerships Directorate at the Trust.

This role is working for with a dynamic team which is rooted in CQI and collaboration across all clinical and non-clinical departments. With increased success of our Improving Together methodology that underpins the Trust's Strategic Objectives, this is a truly exciting role for someone to further embed the programme, identify and manage projects and programmes and coach the organisation in how to manage change within this framework.

We are looking for applicants with a passion for transformation, a proven track record on programme management and practical delivery who can constructively challenge and support colleagues and provide enthusiasm to drive clinically-led change

Main duties of the job

Lead and manage the Trust's Improving Together Programme Team

Work closely with Care Group management and Corporate teams to develop, prioritise, resource and manage the roll out and implementation of Improving Together throughout teams to ensure delivery the Trust's strategic objectives

Ensure a standardised approach to CQI within the team and across the Trust that is based on agile principles, aligned to the Trust governance framework and focused on the delivery of tangible outcomes

Ensure all improvements have clear objectives and measurable benefits that contribute to improving quality and cost and are aligned to the Trust objectives.

Work with the Head of Transformation Programme Office, to support the design and implementation of training in programme and project management skills and practice across the Trust

Ensure that the Improving Together team provides a flexible resource pool of skilled staff from a variety of backgrounds that can help deliver high priority training and coaching to all staff in a timely and well planned manner

Promote learning across the Trust

Ensure that the team abides by the CARE values and actively works to eliminate inequalities of opportunity in project work and to personally role model the Leadership Behaviours.

The post holder will have robust knowledge of national policy and transformational change throughout the system which is delivering cost and quality savings

About us

Welcome to Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust: We are one of the largest general hospital foundation trusts in the country - serving a population of more than 500,000 people - and the main provider of acute and specialist care services for Berkshire West.

We are an inclusive, supportive and people-focused community that operates over seven sites across Reading, Wokingham, Henley-on-Thames, Bracknell and West Berkshire.

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust our CARE values are at the heart of how we operate and mean that we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. To find out more about our CARE values and how these are put into practice on a daily basis across the trust, please visit our YouTube channel here.

The Strategy, Transformation and Partnerships Directorate is a team who all share a passion for innovation, curiosity , creativity and turning ambition into practical delivery.

It is supportive team who are keen on constantly learning and developing and supporting each other.

Date posted

15 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working, Compressed hours

Reference number

193-7456661COR

Job locations

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

London Road

Reading

RG1 5AN

Job description

Job responsibilities

A full job description and role requirements is available for you to review. Please see the link on the right-hand banner to download and review. Further queries can be directed to the Associate Director of Improvement and Transformation.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Skills, Knowledge and Attributes

Essential

Highly developed knowledge of improvement methodology, processes, structure and governance
Able to think strategically and evaluate the longer term impact of proposals

Desirable

Knowledge of the BOB ICS, ICP and RBFT visions

Experience

Essential

Educated to degree level or equivalent
Experience of implementing a wide variety of large improvement programmes and projects to a formal methodology across public and private sector organisations

Desirable

Postgraduate management qualification or demonstrable equivalent experience
Application of lean methodologies to drive efficiencies

Attitude, Behaviour and Values

Essential

The applicant must be able to demonstrate that they abide by the Trust Values
Can evidence values and behaviours compatible with continuous improvement including being supportive, focusing on results and seeking different perspectives

Person Specification

Skills, Knowledge and Attributes

Essential

Highly developed knowledge of improvement methodology, processes, structure and governance
Able to think strategically and evaluate the longer term impact of proposals

Desirable

Knowledge of the BOB ICS, ICP and RBFT visions

Experience

Essential

Educated to degree level or equivalent
Experience of implementing a wide variety of large improvement programmes and projects to a formal methodology across public and private sector organisations

Desirable

Postgraduate management qualification or demonstrable equivalent experience
Application of lean methodologies to drive efficiencies

Attitude, Behaviour and Values

Essential

The applicant must be able to demonstrate that they abide by the Trust Values
Can evidence values and behaviours compatible with continuous improvement including being supportive, focusing on results and seeking different perspectives

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

London Road

Reading

RG1 5AN

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

London Road

Reading

RG1 5AN

Employer's website

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