Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Job overview

The Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) will play a pivotal role in shaping the Trust's approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This position will support the Associate Director of EDI in advancing King's EDI priorities, aiming to establish the Trust as a leader in implementing EDI initiatives. The goal is to create a dynamic, inclusive workforce culture by bringing together leaders, managers, staff, various networks, and corporate functions to build a solid foundation for the EDI strategy within the Trust.

The postholder will collaborate with the Associate Director of EDI (AD of EDI) to strategically and operationally develop and advance the EDI agenda. This transformation aims to cultivate a compassionate and inclusive care culture that is equitable, compliant with equality legislation, and aligned with mandatory NHS reporting requirements and EDI best practices.

This post will require cross-site working.

Main duties of the job

Reporting to the Associate Director for EDI, the post-holder will provide expertise and assist in leading, coordinating and championing the development, improvement and delivery of the Trust’s EDI development work, using an evidence-based approach to fulfil King’s BOLD strategy and vision.

The post-holder will work with colleagues across the People directorate to inspirationally and boldly drive forward a compassionate and inclusive workplace culture and achieve continuous improvements in equality of opportunities, access and outcomes for all staff and volunteers across divisions and sites. Through providing support and guidance to leaders across the Trust they will work to achieve: -

• Improved patient access, safety, experience and outcomes
• A representative, included and supported workforce
• A compassionate culture and with inclusive leadership

The role holder will also work support divisional leadership teams to ensure they build equality and inclusion in their delivery plans, and the EDI partners to support their business areas.

Working for our organisation

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

Reporting to the Associate Director for EDI, the post-holder will provide expertise and assist in leading, coordinating and championing the development, improvement and delivery of the Trust’s EDI development work, using an evidence-based approach to fulfil King’s BOLD strategy and vision.

The post-holder will work with colleagues across the People directorate to inspirationally and boldly drive forward a compassionate and inclusive workplace culture and achieve continuous improvements in equality of opportunities, access and outcomes for all staff and volunteers across divisions and sites. Through providing support and guidance to leaders across the Trust they will work to achieve: -

• Improved patient access, safety, experience and outcomes
• A representative, included and supported workforce
• A compassionate culture and with inclusive leadership

The role holder will also work support divisional leadership teams to ensure they build equality and inclusion in their delivery plans, and the EDI partners to support their business areas.

The Head of EDI will lead the delivery of high-quality Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training to our workforce by working in close collaboration with Learning and Development, Health and Wellbeing and Recruitment colleagues.

Strategic Leadership:

Working to support the Associate Director of EDI, to develop and implement a comprehensive EDI road and/or strategy aligned with the NHS objectives; and the rollout organisationally and locally. To provide strategic guidance to Trust leaders on EDI matters.

Policy Development:

Formulate and update policies to ensure compliance with national EDI standards and legislation. Stay abreast of changes in national reports, frameworks, and guidelines related to EDI.

Data Analysis, Reporting and Decision Making:

Oversee the collection and analysis of EDI data and the production of regular reports on EDI metrics and outcomes in accordance with national reporting requirements. Make decisions which are informed by data sources and current research, evidence and best practices.

Training and Awareness:

In collaboration with Learning and Development colleagues, implement training programmes to enhance EDI awareness and understanding across all levels of the organisation. Foster an inclusive culture through educational initiatives, events and campaigns. Support the development of EDI team through providing inhouse workshops and experiential learning opportunities.

Collaboration and Engagement:

Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment with national initiatives. Engage with staff, patients, and stakeholders to promote diversity and inclusion. Building new relationship with HR colleagues to enhance the reach and impact of EDI in the Trust.

Compliance and Auditing:

Conduct regular audits to assess compliance with national standards and identify areas for improvement. Ensure the Trust meets requirements outlined in national reports and drivers.

Equality Impact Assessments:

Lead the process of conducting Equality Impact Assessments for policies, procedures, and projects. Mitigate potential negative impacts and promote positive outcomes through proactive measures.

Health Inequalities

Support the development of King’s as an anchor organisation in the community recognising the Trust can help improve population health outcomes

Expert Advisor

To be an expert advisor on equalities legislation, regulations and codes of practice and ensure that the current and emerging legal, regulatory and policy drivers on equality, diversity and inclusion are met. To work collaboratively with senior leaders to advise on complex EDI investigations, complex changes or organisational design programmes to ensure processes are in line with best practice and promote EDI.

To role model the Trust values, behaviours and proactively address any barriers to high quality team performance. Maintain an evidence base of EDI improvement activities and access their impact on service experience, and patient and staff delivery.

External Influencer

To work across organisational boundaries to ensure that King’s is adopting EDI best practice and delivering a step change in our local agenda. To draw from experience and expertise in other academic fields and industries, ensuring that the Trust benefits from relevant engagement and inclusion initiatives.

To represent King’s when requested by the Associate Director of EDI at national and London region EDI forums, networks and meetings. To work collaboratively with local community groups to influence staff engagement practices and to further our anchor organisation priorities.

Data, insight analysis and reporting

Provide the Associate Director of EDI / Deputy Chief People Officer / Senior Leaders with regular updates on progress against the WRES, WDES, EDS 2022, GPG and other national metrics as well as local success measures.

Continue to develop the Trust’s EDI dashboard, using the analysis of this to drive positive change in the organisation. Design and agree measures to track improvements and manage stakeholder communications on the performance of strategies and policies.

Develop and implement pulse surveys to capture regular feedback from staff, using the results to generate and inform action plans Lead the analysis of all EDI insight data, reporting widely on results, and actively drive proactive and meaningful solutions that support cultural transformation

Lead the data capture and analysis processes related to the gender and ethnicity pay gaps, ensuring timely and quality reporting, with meaningful deliverables. Ensure information gained from workforce reports across the Trust is used to identify current and future EDI issues, supporting the organisation to develop a range of initiatives to tackle them. Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, presenting it to a wide range of stakeholders in a formal setting.

Leadership and Management:

Support the Associate Director of EDI to take the strategic lead on specific projects or pieces of work on behalf of the Chief People Officer, taking responsibility for the achievement of outcomes within required timescale. Lead relevant preparation for external regulatory meetings e.g. CQC, NHS E/I.

Lead a high performing EDI Team through regular team meeting, personal development and courageous conversations to create an environment of continuous quality improvement and development. Role modelling compassionate and inclusive leadership behaviours and actively support the development of individuals and the teams through regular one to ones, appraisals, personal development planning, career conversations and coaching and mentoring.

Person specification

Education and training:

Essential criteria

• Master’s degree (including Level 7 qualification) or equivalent experience, knowledge or expertise gained in a relevant field through professional or lived experience.
• Specialist knowledge and/or experience of advancing EDI.

Desirable criteria

• CIPD qualified
• Coaching and/or mentoring qualification or experience.

Experience and knowledge:

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable experience of influencing and leading at a senior level in a complex organisation, gained through professional or voluntary capacity.
• Experience in a relevant Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) role, within the NHS or a similarly complex organisation/setting.
• Proven experience in leading EDI initiatives across diverse protected characteristics, with a strong understanding of inequalities, systemic barriers, and practical strategies to address, reduce, or challenge them.
• An ability to provide and receive highly complex information and disseminate to various stakeholders, staff, patients and the public.
• Experience of strategy or policy design/co-design and implementation within a complex organisation.
• Experience of delivering, leading, embedding and evaluating inclusive change initiatives.
• Experience of working effectively with staff networks or staff led groups, to enable their impact and influence in an organisation

Desirable criteria

• Change Management experience.
• Project or programme management experience.

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams.
• Ability to analyse and interpret qualitative and quantitative data to inform EDI strategy and drive evidence-based decision-making.
• Ability to prioritise and monitor workloads to ensure delivery of strategic objectives and operational needs, whilst supporting the development of the EDI team.
• Demonstrates ability to question and challenge practice in a constructive way to continually evaluated and improve standards of practice.
• Able to lead and manage others with self-awareness and compassion, role-modelling inclusive and compassionate leadership behaviours.
• Able to remain resilient under pressure, manage multiple and sometimes conflicting demands, and prioritise effectively to maintain focus and impact.
• Demonstrates a growth mindset, with a commitment to continuous self-development, innovation, and inclusive, aspirational and forward-thinking approaches.
• Acts as role model/lead by example to ensure the Trust’s values and behaviours are reinforced throughout the team, service and wider Trust.

Desirable criteria

• Demonstrates ability to maintain and contribute to the standards of practice, conduct and decision-making in conjunction with the team, leaders and other 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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