Job summary
We have an exciting ambition to transform the services we provide for the people of Wales, with strategic planning, engagement, partnership working and transformation skills central to planning and delivery of system level change.
The Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust (WAST) provides services across 8,000 square miles to over 3.5 million people, from Emergency Medical Services, to 111, 999, non-emergency patient transport and the national 111.wales website. As part of our Strategy, Planning and Performance Directorate, you'll be leading internal and external planning processes, supporting operational and senior leaders on local and national planning requirements and engaging with the strategic change agenda across NHS Wales.
This is an exciting time to join WAST.
Main duties of the job
We are very excited to recruit a Head of Planning. This person will lead the organisation in developing and evolving its directorate plans linking them to the wider approach to strategic and quality planning in WAST. We will need a strong leader, who is highly analytical and comfortable with a range of data, with experience and expertise in both planning, data analysis and performance management. You will also have the ability to bring people together from across and outside the organisation.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
About us
#RemarkablePeople
Our workforce is made up of over 4,000 remarkable people who contribute to the delivery of world-class patient care across Wales, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether you work in a patient-facing role or within our range of support services, the work that you do enables us to provide high quality care, wherever and whenever we're needed.
The Trust recognises the need for its workforce to represent the diversity of the population it serves across the whole of Wales and seeks to create an environment where diversity is celebrated and inclusivity matters. We are also keen to break down any barriers into the Trust, and would encourage applications from under-represented groups, including those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ communities and disability groups.
Careers within the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust are diverse and varied, with opportunities arising right across the service. Whatever your skills and background, you're sure to find a career with us which is fulfilling, challenging, and rewarding.
In line with the Trust's Starting Salary Procedure, all applicants will start at the bottom of the band for the position applied for, but can apply for a higher salary if they have previous experience relevant to the position.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will work nationally within NHS Wales to represent WAST in key regional or national strategic planning, for a whilst deputising for the Assistant Director of Planning and Transformation as required. Further details are available in the job description and person specification.
Additionally, if you would like an informal discussion about the role please contact Alexander Crawford, Assistant Director of Planning and Transformation at alexander.crawford2@wales.nhs.uk
We look forward to receiving your application form and hope to be supporting you with your career in the Welsh Ambulance Service in the near future.
Join our #RemarkablePeople at #TeamWAST and be remarkable too.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will work nationally within NHS Wales to represent WAST in key regional or national strategic planning, for a whilst deputising for the Assistant Director of Planning and Transformation as required. Further details are available in the job description and person specification.
Additionally, if you would like an informal discussion about the role please contact Alexander Crawford, Assistant Director of Planning and Transformation at alexander.crawford2@wales.nhs.uk
We look forward to receiving your application form and hope to be supporting you with your career in the Welsh Ambulance Service in the near future.
Join our #RemarkablePeople at #TeamWAST and be remarkable too.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Knowledge
Essential
- Educated to Masters Degree level qualification or equivalent experience/ extensive knowledge and expertise across the areas detailed in job description
- Degree and/or professional qualification
- Evidence of leadership development
- In depth knowledge of healthcare planning, particularly the Welsh NHS Planning environment and/or ability to translate knowledge from other countries to the Welsh planning context
- Understanding of the statutory, planning and performance requirements under which the Trust operates.
- Evidence of leadership development
- Evidence of working at a senior level in a complex and dynamic organisation
- A clear understanding of the mechanisms for achieving improved performance, including key Government targets and performance measures
- Knowledge of governance structures and how their hierarchy integrates to support the delivery of a large programmes of work
- Knowledge and experience of service redesign techniques
- Evidence of relevant continuing professional development
- Knowledge and experience of service redesign techniques, for example: LEAN and systems thinking
Experience
Essential
- Experience of planning, performance and commissioning in a complex healthcare system
- Substantial experience of working in planning, performance management and performance improvement roles at a senior level
- Experience working with partners on strategic service changes, ensuring the impact is understood across a range of service lines
- Evidence of the ability to solve complex strategic and operational problems, and guiding senior leaders through the planning process
- Experience of data analysis to inform planning, performance improvement and service redesign, including deep understanding of activity flows and demand & capacity analysis
- Experience of collaborative and/or partnership working at a system level, often with senior leaders of commissioning or partner organisations
- Experience of change management in a complex and emotional environment
- Experience of leadership and management of staff but also leading in a matrix working environment
- A track record of successfully developing business cases and delivering beneficial service change as a result
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Politically astute with a track record of translating key policy, strategy or legislation into service delivery, planning and development
- Ability to develop and maintain key working relationships across a range of stakeholders and at a senior level
- Evidence of ability to confront challenging issues taking a problem solving approach to ensure proactive and effective resolution
- Flexible and adaptable working practice with a proactive approach to problem solving
- The ability to manage conflict positively, defusing tension in complex and emotive situations
- Excellent communications skills (written and verbal); excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate information to executive and board level decision-makers, senior managers, staff, the public and external agencies.
- Ability to act on own initiative with evidence of high level of decision-making
- Highly developed influencing and negotiating skills
- The ability to use a range of software applications expertly to interrogate data, and develop planning tools and processes
- Track record of delivering against set objectives and achieving key organisational targets, demonstrating continuous improvement and taking remedial action to address deviances
- A leadership style that aligns to the Trust's behaviours framework
- Ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and large teams, and have them understand your expectations
Other
Essential
- This role requires travel pan Wales
- Able to work flexibly
Person Specification
Qualifications & Knowledge
Essential
- Educated to Masters Degree level qualification or equivalent experience/ extensive knowledge and expertise across the areas detailed in job description
- Degree and/or professional qualification
- Evidence of leadership development
- In depth knowledge of healthcare planning, particularly the Welsh NHS Planning environment and/or ability to translate knowledge from other countries to the Welsh planning context
- Understanding of the statutory, planning and performance requirements under which the Trust operates.
- Evidence of leadership development
- Evidence of working at a senior level in a complex and dynamic organisation
- A clear understanding of the mechanisms for achieving improved performance, including key Government targets and performance measures
- Knowledge of governance structures and how their hierarchy integrates to support the delivery of a large programmes of work
- Knowledge and experience of service redesign techniques
- Evidence of relevant continuing professional development
- Knowledge and experience of service redesign techniques, for example: LEAN and systems thinking
Experience
Essential
- Experience of planning, performance and commissioning in a complex healthcare system
- Substantial experience of working in planning, performance management and performance improvement roles at a senior level
- Experience working with partners on strategic service changes, ensuring the impact is understood across a range of service lines
- Evidence of the ability to solve complex strategic and operational problems, and guiding senior leaders through the planning process
- Experience of data analysis to inform planning, performance improvement and service redesign, including deep understanding of activity flows and demand & capacity analysis
- Experience of collaborative and/or partnership working at a system level, often with senior leaders of commissioning or partner organisations
- Experience of change management in a complex and emotional environment
- Experience of leadership and management of staff but also leading in a matrix working environment
- A track record of successfully developing business cases and delivering beneficial service change as a result
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Politically astute with a track record of translating key policy, strategy or legislation into service delivery, planning and development
- Ability to develop and maintain key working relationships across a range of stakeholders and at a senior level
- Evidence of ability to confront challenging issues taking a problem solving approach to ensure proactive and effective resolution
- Flexible and adaptable working practice with a proactive approach to problem solving
- The ability to manage conflict positively, defusing tension in complex and emotive situations
- Excellent communications skills (written and verbal); excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate information to executive and board level decision-makers, senior managers, staff, the public and external agencies.
- Ability to act on own initiative with evidence of high level of decision-making
- Highly developed influencing and negotiating skills
- The ability to use a range of software applications expertly to interrogate data, and develop planning tools and processes
- Track record of delivering against set objectives and achieving key organisational targets, demonstrating continuous improvement and taking remedial action to address deviances
- A leadership style that aligns to the Trust's behaviours framework
- Ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and large teams, and have them understand your expectations
Other
Essential
- This role requires travel pan Wales
- Able to work flexibly
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).