North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Cancer Services Improvement Lead *Internal Only*

The closing date is 28 April 2026

Job summary

INTERNAL ONLY TO NORTH CUMBRIA INTEGRATED CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (NCIC) EMPLOYEES ONLY

Cancer Service Improvement Lead B8b

Are you passionate about improving care, experience and outcomes for patients and staff? Do you enjoy motivating and enabling teams to drive improvements in their own work areas? Do you want to work in a friendly, supportive and dynamic team? If the answer to this is yes, then we have a fantastic opportunity to join the Cancer Services at North Cumbria Integrated Care as Cancer Service Improvement Lead.

NCIC is making significant progress in recovering its waiting times and improving the delivery of Cancer Services, having commenced on a programme of work as part of the national agenda to transform the way that we deliver cancer, and ultimately improve cancer performance, we believe that this is a fantastic opportunity to join the team to support drive forward sustainable change to improve patient experience in North Cumbria.

Main duties of the job

We are looking to appoint a manager who is not only enthusiastic but shares our vision of providing world class cancer services to the population of North Cumbria, with the skills required to support the continued improvement in our cancer performance.

As the Cancer Service Improvement Lead, you will support the development and transformation of Cancer services within NCIC. Taking ownership of specific improvement work streams, to drive delivery of Faster Diagnosis Standards and implementation of Best Practice Timed Pathways, working with tumour groups and wider stakeholders to drive and implement sustainable improvements

You will work closely with clinical and operational teams to deliver service improvement, driving improvement and supporting organisational change and initiatives to achieve excellence, contributing to the development and implementation of the Trusts Cancer improvement program.

As Cancer Service Improvement Lead the post holder will have experience of delivering improvement and change management methodologies working in a complex healthcare environment. The post holder should be passionate about service improvement; a knowledge of cancer services would be advantageous.

About us

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':

  • Being a clinically led organisation
  • Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
  • A positive patient experience every time
  • A great place to work
  • Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Details

Date posted

15 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

262-A-25-7693014

Job locations

The Pillars, Cumberland Infirmary

Carlisle

CA2 7HY


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment.Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

Disclosure and Barring Service:

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.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £6.50 = £28.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £6.50 = £56.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Flexible working Scheme

NHS Discounts*

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*

Excellent opportunities for development*

Competitive NHS Pension scheme

Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Important Information

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment.Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

Disclosure and Barring Service:

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.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £6.50 = £28.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £6.50 = £56.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Flexible working Scheme

NHS Discounts*

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*

Excellent opportunities for development*

Competitive NHS Pension scheme

Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Important Information

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Considerable experience and knowledge of improvement methodology
  • Leadership skills gained through previous experience and/or in house training
  • Experience as a senior manager including multi-disciplinary team management
  • Training in Change management
  • Experience of delivering significant change within a clinical environment.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of change management and strategies and experience of implementing change
  • Highly developed operational management knowledge acquired through a combination of in-depth experience and post graduate study
  • Knowledge of NHS agenda and impact on service

Skills

Essential

  • Experience of leading, coordinating and organising teams
  • Experience and achievement in meeting performance targets
  • Project management skills
  • Judgement and analytical skills required to deal with clinical and non-clinical services
  • Coaching and mentoring skills

Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional qualification to Masters level or equivalent professional education in a relevant field
  • Training in leadership and management skills in an NHS setting
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Considerable experience and knowledge of improvement methodology
  • Leadership skills gained through previous experience and/or in house training
  • Experience as a senior manager including multi-disciplinary team management
  • Training in Change management
  • Experience of delivering significant change within a clinical environment.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of change management and strategies and experience of implementing change
  • Highly developed operational management knowledge acquired through a combination of in-depth experience and post graduate study
  • Knowledge of NHS agenda and impact on service

Skills

Essential

  • Experience of leading, coordinating and organising teams
  • Experience and achievement in meeting performance targets
  • Project management skills
  • Judgement and analytical skills required to deal with clinical and non-clinical services
  • Coaching and mentoring skills

Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional qualification to Masters level or equivalent professional education in a relevant field
  • Training in leadership and management skills in an NHS setting

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

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).

Employer details

Employer name

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Pillars, Cumberland Infirmary

Carlisle

CA2 7HY


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Pillars, Cumberland Infirmary

Carlisle

CA2 7HY


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

General Manager - Cancer Services

Georgia Argent

Georgia.argent@ncic.nhs.uk

07966711922

Details

Date posted

15 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

262-A-25-7693014

Job locations

The Pillars, Cumberland Infirmary

Carlisle

CA2 7HY


Supporting documents

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