Job summary
The role of Head of Equality and Inclusion is being offered as a 12-month development opportunity for a suitably qualified and experienced internal candidate.
Initially the successful candidate will work alongside the existing post holder prior to their retirement in November 2025 and will then continue in the role whilst developing their experience for a maximum period of 12 months in total.
Applicants will be expected to have existing experienced and transferable skills relevant to the seniority of the role. (see additional information for more details)
This role provides an organisational lead on Equality Diversity and Inclusion focusing on our workforce but also ensuring though working in partnership and advising senior leaders, that service functions comply with legal requirements.
Working to the Executive Director of People, the Head of Equality and Inclusion has a key role in providing senior leadership and advocacy for equality, diversity and inclusion. The post holder will help to build and develop a culture that values diversity as a key precept to achieving the organisations strategic ambitions and goals including influencing decision making and increasing organisational and individual awareness through the introduction, development and maintenance of leading-edge interventions.
Main duties of the job
- Lead on the development and implementation of a strategic approach relevant to Equality Diversity and Inclusion
- Provide senior expertise for EDI matters across the organisation.
- Advise and provide subject matter expertise for Sheffield Health and Social Care (SHSC) Committees, the Executive Management Team (EMT) and Board of Directors, and other leaders across the organisation.
- Ensure that the Equality Diversity and Inclusion management and governance frameworks are fit for purpose and effectively support the Trust to meet legal obligations and reporting requirements, including responding to the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) and Gender Pay Gap requirements. The role will also ensure that relevant sections of the NHS Standard Contract are complied with including the Equality Delivery System (EDS), the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES), the Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES), and the NHS six EDI High Impact actions.
- Have overall responsibility for leading the organisation approach to setting Equality Objectives, related action and strategic approaches.
- Develop key alliances and positively engage with external agencies, communities and stakeholders.
- Strategically develop, oversee and manage Equality Diversity and Inclusion initiatives and programmes.
- Lead on specific areas in the People Directorate as part of the People Directorate Senior Leadership Team.
About us
At SHSC, we prioritise the well-being and safety of both our service users and employees. It is our policy and a condition of employment that all employees must join the DBS Update Service. This service carries an annual fee, which employees are responsible for paying up front. However, employees may claim this cost back through the Trust's Employee Expenses Reimbursement Policy. For those requiring a Basic DBS check, it is necessary to register for a DBS Online Account.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will liaise with relevant parties across the organisation and externally to facilitate partnership and joint working in these areas:
- Leading the development, coordination and delivery of the Trusts Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategic approach and action planning.
- Build organisational understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion and develop interventions to support the mainstreaming of equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Providing specialist support to ensure equality, diversity and inclusion principles are built into the development of Directorate strategies and business plans.
- Developing effective strategic partnerships and networks on both internal and external platforms and manage strong working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
- Ensure the organisation meets relevant statutory and policy requirements and remains compliant with current legislation and relevant aspects of the NHS Standard Contract.
- Ensure that relevant areas align with the work of the Head of Population Health
- Ensure that relevant areas align with the work of the organisation lead for Human Rights
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will liaise with relevant parties across the organisation and externally to facilitate partnership and joint working in these areas:
- Leading the development, coordination and delivery of the Trusts Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategic approach and action planning.
- Build organisational understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion and develop interventions to support the mainstreaming of equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Providing specialist support to ensure equality, diversity and inclusion principles are built into the development of Directorate strategies and business plans.
- Developing effective strategic partnerships and networks on both internal and external platforms and manage strong working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
- Ensure the organisation meets relevant statutory and policy requirements and remains compliant with current legislation and relevant aspects of the NHS Standard Contract.
- Ensure that relevant areas align with the work of the Head of Population Health
- Ensure that relevant areas align with the work of the organisation lead for Human Rights
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- oA high-level understanding of relevant national NHS strategy and policy and the relevance of equality diversity and inclusion at a strategic and operational level
- oEducated to master's level in an area relevant to the skills and experience required for the role or able to demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge and development achieved through career and personal experience.
Desirable
- oAdvanced understanding of equality, diversity and Inclusion theory and practice including interpretation of legal requirements and the ability to review evidence and data to inform action and improvement
Skills
Essential
- oExperience of and ability to respond and deliver in a complex and rapidly changing environment where there is a high level of ambiguity and fixed time constraints
- oExperience of and ability to analyse both strategic and operational problems and work with others to develop innovative and practical solutions and progress these through to implementation.
Experience
Essential
- oExperience at a senior management or professional level, with staff management and financial/budgetary responsibilities, within a healthcare or similar complex organisation
- oExperience of delivering and or commissioning learning and development interventions in a multi professional environment at all levels and presenting to large groups
- oExperience of working within and leading partnership with a range of stakeholders to develop strategies and deliver projects
- oSignificant experience of developing and delivering detailed reports relevant to equality and inclusion or similar for a range of internal and external bodies
Desirable
- oExtensive experience of providing advice on equality and diversity matters in a large, complex, multi-professional organisation
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- oA high-level understanding of relevant national NHS strategy and policy and the relevance of equality diversity and inclusion at a strategic and operational level
- oEducated to master's level in an area relevant to the skills and experience required for the role or able to demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge and development achieved through career and personal experience.
Desirable
- oAdvanced understanding of equality, diversity and Inclusion theory and practice including interpretation of legal requirements and the ability to review evidence and data to inform action and improvement
Skills
Essential
- oExperience of and ability to respond and deliver in a complex and rapidly changing environment where there is a high level of ambiguity and fixed time constraints
- oExperience of and ability to analyse both strategic and operational problems and work with others to develop innovative and practical solutions and progress these through to implementation.
Experience
Essential
- oExperience at a senior management or professional level, with staff management and financial/budgetary responsibilities, within a healthcare or similar complex organisation
- oExperience of delivering and or commissioning learning and development interventions in a multi professional environment at all levels and presenting to large groups
- oExperience of working within and leading partnership with a range of stakeholders to develop strategies and deliver projects
- oSignificant experience of developing and delivering detailed reports relevant to equality and inclusion or similar for a range of internal and external bodies
Desirable
- oExtensive experience of providing advice on equality and diversity matters in a large, complex, multi-professional organisation
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.
