Director of Operations

Job overview

As a member of the Divisional management triumvirate, the Divisional Director of Operations will have joint responsibility for the delivery of the Divisional agenda and specific responsibility and accountability for the leadership and management of performance across the Division.

Reporting to the Chief of Service, the Divisional Director of Operations, alongside the Divisional Director of Nursing, will be integral to the successful delivery of safe and effective services across the Division.

The Divisional Director of Operations will take the operational leadership role in a complex Division which includes multiple clinical service areas, managed through the Trust’s Care Groups. They will be responsible for interpreting key performance data and developing strategies and operational plans to deliver high quality patient services, taking into account competing internal and external priorities.

Main duties of the job

Working as part of the Trust’s senior leadership team, the Director of Operations will ensure that service objectives are implemented and, as a key member of the hospital executive team, will accept shared accountability for the hospital meeting its strategic, operational, and financial objectives.

Reporting to the Chief of Division, the Director of Operations is accountable for the delivery of the operational and clinical performance in a number of specialisms at King’s College Hospital. The Director of Operations is responsible for providing strong leadership to senior management reports, ensuring that effective management and performance systems are in place.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Drive the operational performance and strategic development of the Division to provide high quality patient care

· Take an evidence-based approach to support decision making at Divisional level using all relevant and appropriate information to create high quality, standardised performance management

· With the Chief of Service and Divisional Director of Nursing develop and deliver strategic and operational plans which are aligned to the Trust strategy and priorities ensuring the provision of quality experience for patients and staff

· With the Chief of Service and Divisional Director of Nursing deliver a ‘balanced scorecard’ with a focus on quality, safety and the use of resources

· Work closely with the Divisional Care Groups to ensure safe and effective day to day operations of the Trust are maintained and plans are in place to mitigate any risks to the delivery of a safe service

· With the Chief of Service and Divisional Director of Nursing ensure relevant national and local targets are met at Divisional and Care Group level, (eg infection control, management of complaints, financial management, etc)

· With the Chief of Service and Divisional Director of Nursing, deliver corporate initiatives and interventions at Divisional and Care Group level and deliver all corporate nursing initiatives across the Division ensuring a standard approach to delivery and consistent positive results

· Accountability for the effective performance of the Division, ensuring compliance with national and local targets and the Division’s/Trust’s business plan.

· Develop operational objectives with the Divisional Care Groups which align with internal and external requirements

· Lead the Division’s annual business planning process in line with Finance Business Partners, ensuring that the Division delivers a quality, value for money service which is costed and identifies annual cost improvements

· Ensure robust financial management systems and processes are in place which take into account the operational management of services and the use of capital to deliver a modernised approach to patient care

· Ensure processes are in place for on-going review of services utilising best practice models to achieve optimal patient outcomes

· Develop and implement systems to ensure optimal patient flow through timely admission and discharge arrangements for the Division across all sites. Where issues arise, ensure these are addressed and interventions provide long term solutions

· Support the Chief of Service in the planning and delivery of clinical services, service development and demand & capacity for the Division utilising all available information, (eg patient acuity models, workforce KPIs, financial modelling, etc), to ensure the best possible clinical and performance outcome

· Working closely with the Chief of Service and the Divisional Director of Nursing ensure the implementation of robust clinical and corporate governance structures and process for the Division

· Joint accountability with the Chief of Service and Divisional Director of Nursing for patient safety, clinical effectiveness, patient experience and risk management

· Joint responsibility for the oversight, delivery and management of key performance indicators across the Division highlighting areas of concern and agreeing actions with Care Groups to remedy any issues

· Overseeing the use of systems, and relevant reporting, which support better governance and greater safety and quality within the Division and develop a standard approach to reporting incidents ensuring this meets Trust’s requirements and promotes a learning environment where quality patient care and safety is the key priority

· Lead work with the Trust’s system partners, (eg South East London ICB, NHSE London, etc), to ensure strategic and operational collaborations between the Trust and the system are developed leading to better delivery of service and patient outcomes

· With the Trust’s corporate team, promote the development of a culture of continuous improvement which delivers long term different ways of working

· Support all corporate processes at Divisional and Care Group level, and ensure these are completed in a timely and effective manner, (eg recruitment, employee relations, monthly budget reviews, etc)

· Promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion within the Division

Participate in the Trust’s GOLD out of hours on call rota

2. Corporate

Work as a key member of the Divisional management triumvirate to develop and deliver the

Both the Trust’s and the Divisional strategic and operational plans

· Act as an ambassador for the Trust at all times and to promote the Trust’s values and

objectives

· Develop constructive relationships with clinicians and senior managers within the Trust and

with all external partners

· Contribute to the ongoing development and achievement of Trust-wide standards to maintain, monitor and improve the quality of care and the efficient use of resources.

· Work across Divisional portfolios at the discretion of the Divisional Chief of Service as required.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Educated to degree standard or equivalent
• Evidence of continuing professional development and management education (e.g. Diploma, Master’s Degree)

Experience and Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Significant experience at senior operational level in an acute hospital within the NHS or another large complex healthcare organisation
• Significant experience of managing clinical and operational teams to deliver against national and local performance requirements
• Experience of successfully leading and managing a large and diverse team
• Proven diplomatic and persuasive verbal and written communication skills at an executive level

Personal Skills

Essential criteria

• Able to relate to people at all levels and build beneficial working relationships with internal staff and the employees from partners and key stakeholders

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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