Job summary
Having established the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group on the 1st July 2021 we are moving forward to develop hospitals to be proud of, by delivering clinical excellence and exceptional care for local people, creating new opportunities for colleagues, developing, retaining and attracting top talent.
Our Group has approximately 1,400 beds, serving a diverse population of approximately 800,000 people across the county and employing over 10,000 colleagues, making us one of the largest employers in Northamptonshire and one of the largest NHS provider collaborations in the country.
Main duties of the job
Reporting to the Group Chief Executive Officer the post-holder has a crucial role in the delivery of the Group's Dedicated to Excellence strategy and ambitions. Central to our ambition is the difference this role will make to staff and patient satisfaction, our culture and our reputation. Overseeing a Group communications and engagement function which serves the distinct needs of both hospitals, and working closely with Board and senior colleagues across the two Trusts, the postholder will fundamentally transform the way in which we communicate and engage with our patients, staff, healthcare partners and wider stakeholders.
This is a rare opportunity for a politically astute, inclusive and creative leader who not only makes great things happen, but who also brings people along with them on the journey. Previous NHS experience is not essential, however you will have worked at this level and have an appreciation of the healthcare sector. You will be proactive, strategically minded and able to think several years ahead, whilst being able to turn ambition into action and reality today. You will also have a proven track record in leading change, inspiring people, demonstrating integrity, and developing mutually beneficial relationships with people, groups and organisations.
About us
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group is made up of Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust and Kettering General NHS Foundation Trust. Both hospitals are separate hospitals/employers with hospital board and leadership. We share a group executive team leading on a shared vision, mission, priorities, strategies and Dedicated to Excellence Values.
Our Excellence Values
- Compassion
- Accountability
- Respect
- Integrity
- Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the Shortlisting Criteria section of the document.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the Shortlisting Criteria section of the document.
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
- Master's degree or equivalent level of education, training or experience
- Relevant professional qualification or equivalent experience
- Evidence of recent leadership development, as well as continuous professional and personal development
- Substantial relevant experience in a Board-level or senior leadership role.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of providing board level and / or system leadership within a regulatory environment and across complex systems with demonstrable impact.
- Able to communicate effectively with large and diverse groups, and to support leadership teams in motivating and inspiring colleagues to perform and achieve the organisation's ambitions.
- Visible, flexible and open leadership style, demonstrating integrity and a clear alignment with Group values
- Track record of partnership working
- Bring determination, professional integrity and a solutions-focused approach to organisational challenges with a strong appetite for driving continuous quality improvement and achieving results
- Experience of providing clinical leadership, mentorship and professional development at a very senior level with demonstrable outcomes.
Desirable
- Experience as a communications lead in the NHS or public sector
Key Competencies/ Personal Qualities & Attributes
Essential
- Passionate and committed to bring our Dedicated to Excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality diversity and inclusion of our staff, patients and service users
- Commitment to continuing professional development.
- Ability to build credibility quickly.
- Ability to build and maintain relationships, have a collaborative approach and style
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrable leadership skills.
- Able to think and act strategically and to articulate a clear vision and sense of direction
- Able to lead continuous change and improvement in services, encouraging the use of new communication methods and service technologies with a multi-disciplinary teams
- Adept at building and managing complex external relationships and partnerships and able to influence, engage and negotiate successfully with multiple stakeholders by tailoring style and approach as appropriate. Must be able to support the development of effective partnerships with other members of the local health and care systems.
- Ability to communicate vision and lead change effectively.
- Ability to present to a high standard and produce quality documents, reports and correspondence, which can be understood from 'Board to ward' by staff, as well as by patients and the public.
- Strong critical thinking and strategic problem solving.
- Ability to think conceptually in order to plan flexibly for the longer term and continually identify opportunities for improvement.
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
- Master's degree or equivalent level of education, training or experience
- Relevant professional qualification or equivalent experience
- Evidence of recent leadership development, as well as continuous professional and personal development
- Substantial relevant experience in a Board-level or senior leadership role.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of providing board level and / or system leadership within a regulatory environment and across complex systems with demonstrable impact.
- Able to communicate effectively with large and diverse groups, and to support leadership teams in motivating and inspiring colleagues to perform and achieve the organisation's ambitions.
- Visible, flexible and open leadership style, demonstrating integrity and a clear alignment with Group values
- Track record of partnership working
- Bring determination, professional integrity and a solutions-focused approach to organisational challenges with a strong appetite for driving continuous quality improvement and achieving results
- Experience of providing clinical leadership, mentorship and professional development at a very senior level with demonstrable outcomes.
Desirable
- Experience as a communications lead in the NHS or public sector
Key Competencies/ Personal Qualities & Attributes
Essential
- Passionate and committed to bring our Dedicated to Excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality diversity and inclusion of our staff, patients and service users
- Commitment to continuing professional development.
- Ability to build credibility quickly.
- Ability to build and maintain relationships, have a collaborative approach and style
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrable leadership skills.
- Able to think and act strategically and to articulate a clear vision and sense of direction
- Able to lead continuous change and improvement in services, encouraging the use of new communication methods and service technologies with a multi-disciplinary teams
- Adept at building and managing complex external relationships and partnerships and able to influence, engage and negotiate successfully with multiple stakeholders by tailoring style and approach as appropriate. Must be able to support the development of effective partnerships with other members of the local health and care systems.
- Ability to communicate vision and lead change effectively.
- Ability to present to a high standard and produce quality documents, reports and correspondence, which can be understood from 'Board to ward' by staff, as well as by patients and the public.
- Strong critical thinking and strategic problem solving.
- Ability to think conceptually in order to plan flexibly for the longer term and continually identify opportunities for improvement.
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.
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.
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).
