Job summary
We have an excellent opportunity for an outstanding Chief People Officer to join the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. You will be a key leader, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the successful applicant will be accountable for the development of a skilled and effective workforce that has the capability and capacity to deliver high quality services in line with the Trust's vision, values, and Strategic objectives.
At the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. You will be responsible for developing and leading the implementation of the Trust's People Strategy and lead work to embed the Trusts values by developing a culture of engagement and inclusivity throughout the Trust.
You will bring extensive People and Organisational Design experience at a senior level in a complex organisation, and a proven track record of leading through change. Credible and inspirational in a demanding environment, you will be decisive, articulate, and resilient under pressure, with strong problem-solving acumen.
Applicants should apply by completing a short online application form and are also required to provide a CV and covering letter.
Interview date to be notified
Main duties of the job
The Chief People Officer will be specifically responsible for the following:
- Lead the implementation of the People and Organisation Development Strategy and associated action plans that foster an organisational culture that is in line with the Trust's vision, values and strategic objectives.
- Work with the Board and senior leaders in the Trust to develop leadership capacity and capability within the organisation at all levels to support enhanced performance and develop an engaged, motivated, and flexible workforce.
- Develop and implement programmes of workforce development to promote a safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led service to our patients and their carers.
- Utilise national and local methods for obtaining feedback on organisational climate and staff views to improve the quality of working life so that staff feel valued, motivated, supported, and involved.
- Ensure that equality and diversity are championed and fully integrated into all aspects of the workforce and organisation development agenda.
- Work collaboratively with external partners and influence the work of the Local and Regional workforce forums to provide the best possible outcomes for our local communities.
- Be accountable for the development and delivery of the workforce and OD elements of CQC and other regulatory assessments, working alongside the Medical Director & Deputy CEO and Director of Nursing & Quality.
About us
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:
- The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds.
- Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
- Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Trust employs over 6258 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 407,000. This includes 357,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.
The Trust is a busy district general hospital and in 2022/2023, there were more than 503,342 patient attendances (inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery. This is an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to the previous year when there were 494,387 patient attendances.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £23 (standard) or £43 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £13 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £23 (standard) or £43 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £13 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Member of Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (MCIPD)
- Post-Graduate Degree in Human Resources Leadership or Management or equivalent
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrable track record in leading, motivating and managing teams both directly and indirectly to achieve significant sustainable service improvements and results.
- Highly developed problem solving, analytical and interpretive skills with a proven ability to analyse and interpret data to identify trends and variances.
- Ability to analyse both strategic and operational problems and develop innovative and practical solutions and to progress these through to implementation.
- Significant management experience
- Ability to respond and deliver in a complex and rapidly changing environment where there is a high level of ambiguity and fixed time constraints.
- Ability to delegate work and to supervise work in progress to required timescales.
- Good knowledge of Employee Law
- Ability to form successful partnerships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills
- Keyboard and IT skills and will be required to use a range of applications including PowerPoint and Word
- Experience of leading and delivering service improvement and change projects across a complex organisation.
- A thorough understanding and practical experience of delivering staff engagement initiatives, team development, leadership and management and development
- Experience at a senior management or professional level, with experience of managing diverse teams and financial/budgetary responsibilities, within a healthcare or similar complex organisation.
- Experience of undertaking organisation/team diagnostic needs assessments and analysis
- Experience of presenting to and facilitating small and large diverse groups at all levels Understanding of the Equality Act and the Trusts legal obligations
Desirable
- Working knowledge of funding streams and how to access them.
- Working knowledge of funding streams and how to access them.
- Experience of procurement and management of external consultancy contracts
- Experience of working within the NHS in a senior people role
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Member of Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (MCIPD)
- Post-Graduate Degree in Human Resources Leadership or Management or equivalent
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrable track record in leading, motivating and managing teams both directly and indirectly to achieve significant sustainable service improvements and results.
- Highly developed problem solving, analytical and interpretive skills with a proven ability to analyse and interpret data to identify trends and variances.
- Ability to analyse both strategic and operational problems and develop innovative and practical solutions and to progress these through to implementation.
- Significant management experience
- Ability to respond and deliver in a complex and rapidly changing environment where there is a high level of ambiguity and fixed time constraints.
- Ability to delegate work and to supervise work in progress to required timescales.
- Good knowledge of Employee Law
- Ability to form successful partnerships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills
- Keyboard and IT skills and will be required to use a range of applications including PowerPoint and Word
- Experience of leading and delivering service improvement and change projects across a complex organisation.
- A thorough understanding and practical experience of delivering staff engagement initiatives, team development, leadership and management and development
- Experience at a senior management or professional level, with experience of managing diverse teams and financial/budgetary responsibilities, within a healthcare or similar complex organisation.
- Experience of undertaking organisation/team diagnostic needs assessments and analysis
- Experience of presenting to and facilitating small and large diverse groups at all levels Understanding of the Equality Act and the Trusts legal obligations
Desirable
- Working knowledge of funding streams and how to access them.
- Working knowledge of funding streams and how to access them.
- Experience of procurement and management of external consultancy contracts
- Experience of working within the NHS in a senior people role
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
