Directorate Operations Manager

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Service/operational management

• Provides operational management support for all services within the directorate, working closely with the general manager, clinical director and group leaders, departmental heads and divisional management team.
• Implements effective and appropriate performance management systems and processes to ensure delivery of performance targets
• Provides support to patients' relatives and carers in the delivery of services ensuring best practices are adhered to at all times.
• Supports the clinical facilities with day to day operational matters (e.g. bed escalation meetings, staffing concerns, ward maintenance) to ensure patient flow is maintained.
• Ensures the implementation of effective and appropriate performance management systems and processes to ensure delivery of performance targets.
• Interprets and analyses highly complex data in relation to performance management using Trust software to develop performance management reports.
• Develops own work plan in line with divisional and Trust objectives.

2. Strategic planning, service development and improvement

• Responsible for the interpretation, development and implementation of broad policies and NHS guidance at both directorate and divisional level, when required.
• Plays a key role in service planning and development for the directorate. Develops and implements long term strategic plans for new ways of working and the continued development and improvement of services
• Ensures that developments and improvements are across entire patient pathway and are in line with directorate, divisional and trust objectives.
• Ensures patients and relatives have a central role in the development and monitoring of service development projects for which the post holder is responsible.
• Uses and interprets research and audit findings to aid the development of new guidelines and protocols which support service improvements.
• Ensures regular progress reports, data sources and project reports are produced and submitted to clinical service manager and presented to project boards

3. Financial management and Business planning

• Responsible and accountable for, the management of designated budgets for services within directorate.
• Prepares robust business cases to enable services to remain financially stable and responsive to the demands placed upon them. Performs complex option appraisals in order to inform decision-making process, to include redesign of services.
• Identifies and makes recommendations for capital investment programmes.
• Ensures compliance with Trusts' standing orders and standing financial instructions.
• Ensures organisational procedures are deployed across directorate for control of activities against budget, ensuring that services are delivered within available resources.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of schemes and action plans to deliver cash-releasing efficiency savings according to target.
• Contributes to budget setting for services within the directorate.
• Assists in the negotiation of annual service level agreements / contracts as required, ensuring they meet the needs of the directorate.
• Identifies opportunities for service redesign in line with QIPP strategies.

4. Human resources management

• Responsible for the effective attendance, performance and appropriate conduct of staff in areas of responsibility. Takes action under Trust personnel policies (e.g. grievance, disciplinary, capability, attendance management) where necessary. Undertakes formal investigations and presents to panels.
• Provides appraisal/performance review for line managed staff resulting in clearly understood objectives and personal development plans that reflect both the needs of the Trust and the longer-term goals of staff.
• Ensures that grievances and whistle blowing are treated appropriately and within Trust policies.
• Ensures effective recruitment processes are implemented within directorate compliant with Trust policy.
• In liaison with HR develop and implement local strategies, using appropriate and innovative approaches to maximise retention and recruitment within own areas of responsibility.
• Contributes to divisional workforce plan as part of business planning process in line with division and corporate HR strategies.

5. Governance, quality and risk management

• Assists general manager and clinical director to lead and set the strategic direction for governance within the directorate, developing a culture where patient safety, quality and excellent care are delivered on a consistent basis.
• Contributes to the implementation of robust systems and reporting structures for monitoring quality, reviewing standards of service delivery, risk management and safe practice ensuring excellence in the management and delivery of all services within directorate.
• Develops plans and promotes risk management throughout the directorate. Ensures systems and processes are in place for the proactive management of risk registers and that remedial action is promptly taken where unacceptable risks are identified.
• Undertakes investigation and management of incidents and complaints. Undertakes root cause analysis and presents findings to executive review group.
• Required to deal with patients and relatives in serious circumstances which may be traumatic, and highly emotive as a result of a serious untoward clinical incident or complain

6. Communication

• Maintains a range of highly developed effective communication and working relationships.
• Communicates at the highest level, with respect to highly sensitive and highly contentious information regarding service improvement and development.
• Negotiates, influences, persuades and reconciles conflicting views in a challenging and sometimes hostile environment in a manner that ensures credibility and fosters effective and lasting relationships with colleagues, staff, users and other stakeholders.
• Presents information both formally and informally to, divisional board, senior managers, staff groups and patients.
• Develops and implements processes that support good communications both within the Trust and division.
• Actively works with clinicians, managers and staff to develop an environment that promotes continuous service improvement
• Employs motivational skills to encourage collaborative working to improve services and performance.
• Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour

7. Education & training, audit, R&D

• Assists general manager to implement divisional strategies for training and development, lifelong learning and modernising the workforce.
• Ensures training and development plans are in place within directorate and that training needs analyses are regularly reviewed in order to determine optimum staff to deliver present and future services.
• Ensures that line managed staff undertake mandatory training. Audits compliance and takes remedial action.
• Takes responsibility for personal continuing professional development.
• Ongoing requirement to undertake formal investigations, audits and surveys. Evaluates findings, develops and monitors action plans, undertakes remedial action.
• Encourages others to complete satisfaction surveys and develops action plans to address any deficiencies identified.

8. Information resources

• Expected to create and maintain information systems as part of ongoing project and programme management.
• Regularly required to use a variety of software to create performance management and financial reports.

9. General

• Participates in Trust duty manager on call rota.

The above indicates the main duties of the post which may be reviewed in the light of experience and developments within the service. Any review will be undertaken in conjunction with the post holder.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Management Qualification - NEBs, CMS, DMS
• In depth professional knowledge in operational management, financial management, performance management, information systems, staff management, change management, acquired through post graduate management qualification
• Expected to maintain, improve and update professional knowledge and skills and participate in continuing Professional Development

Desirable criteria

• First Degree or equivalent

Experience

Essential criteria

• Minimum of 2 years proven experience in service management
• Considerable understanding & experience of managing complex services, including exposure to solving a range of operational and strategic problems
• Track record of delivering against set objectives and achieving key organisational targets, demonstrating continuous performance improvement
• Experience of managing large groups of staff and implementing HR strategies and policies
• Experience of managing budgets
• Experience of developing business cases and successful project management
• Experience of working in a pressurized, unpredictable environment

Skills

Essential criteria

• Demonstrates principles and behaviors described within the Christie Commitment
• Demonstrates commitment to an empathetic and caring approach to patients and relatives. Ability to motivate staff to demonstrate this to ensure that patients are treated with dignity and respect at all times.
• Well developed political awareness, influencing, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• A team player who can work effectively with clinical and managerial colleagues
• Good presentation skills, ability to prepare and present reports for consideration at Trust Board or equivalent
• Highly computer literate. Ability to use computer packages to create reports, analyse data

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge across a range of clinical areas, the NHS and changes within it
• Knowledge of strategic management processes and their application
• Sound knowledge of clinical governance and risk management agendas.
• Knowledge of business planning process and its application in service delivery

Values

Essential criteria

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other

Essential criteria

• Ability to work management
• on-call

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy

All positions within the Christie are subject to the receipt of satisfactory written references, medical clearance and evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. Some roles will require a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Please note if you are successfully appointed to a post with this Trust, you will be required to pay for your own DBS Disclosure.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.

The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

Overseas candidates wishing to apply for this position and who would require immigration sponsorship, may wish to self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the post on the UKVI website.

You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Documents to download

• Job Description and Person Specification (PDF, 212.1KB)
• The Christie Values and Behaviours (PDF, 919.5KB)
• Strategy Brochure (PDF, 1.0MB)
• Trust Membership - Christie Talent (PDF, 23.0KB)
• Travel to The Christie (PDF, 3.8MB)