Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Group Director - Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC)

The closing date is 01 February 2026

Job summary

This role is open to GWH and BSW ICB colleagues only.

BSW Hospitals Group is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to drive urgent and emergency care (UEC) strategy and performance across our three acute trusts. This pivotal role will provide group-wide leadership, ensuring consistent, high quality care and operational excellence

You will bring proven senior leadership experience in urgent and emergency care, alongside strong strategic, operational, and financial acumen. Your inclusive, values-driven leadership style will reflect a deep commitment to collaboration, equity, and system-wide improvement. With a track record of managing complex healthcare environments and building effective partnerships, you'll be well-positioned to drive transformation across the BSW Hospitals Group.

This is a high impact role requiring regular travel across the BSW Group and can be based at any of the three care organisations, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GWH), Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Foundation Trust (RUH) and Salisbury Foundation Trust (SFT).

If you're ready to shape the future of urgent and emergency care across a leading hospital group, we'd love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

  • Lead the development and delivery of the BSW UEC strategy and annual work programme.
  • Provide expert support to Managing Directors and CEOs across the group.
  • Oversee UEC performance, improvement initiatives, and escalation responses.
  • Foster collaboration across trusts and with system partners to align pathways and share best practice.
  • Represent the group in discussions with regulators and commissioners.
  • Drive data-led decision-making and continuous improvement using tools like SHREWD

About us

Our STAR values - Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect - are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.

Details

Date posted

26 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£109,179 to £125,637 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

249-7759781

Job locations

GWH / RUH / SFT

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Job description

Job responsibilities

Providing system leadership across the acute hospitals group and support to system partners across health and social care to enable delivery of the BSW Hospitals Group Urgent Care operating plans and UEC strategy.

Ensure effective delivery and oversight of performance in UEC pathways across the acute trusts. Provide oversight and support to acute trust leaders for UEC pathways across the three hospitals.

Please see attached full Job Description

Job description

Job responsibilities

Providing system leadership across the acute hospitals group and support to system partners across health and social care to enable delivery of the BSW Hospitals Group Urgent Care operating plans and UEC strategy.

Ensure effective delivery and oversight of performance in UEC pathways across the acute trusts. Provide oversight and support to acute trust leaders for UEC pathways across the three hospitals.

Please see attached full Job Description

Person Specification

Communication Skills

Essential

  • Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situations
  • Ability to provide and receive, convey and present highly complex, sensitive and/or contentious information to large groups, responding openly to questions to ensure full understanding and engagement
  • Ability to communicate with clinical and all levels of colleagues effectively

Analytical

Essential

  • High level analytical skills and the ability to draw qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of sources and present in a clear concise manner
  • Ability to analyse numerical and written data, assess options and draw appropriate conclusions
  • High level critical thinking skills
  • Ability to develop, maintain and monitor information systems to support innovation initiatives
  • Demonstrates sound judgement in the absence of clear guidelines or precedent, seeking advice as necessary from more senior management when appropriate

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential

  • Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
  • Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master's level equivalent
  • Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development
  • Must understand the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement
  • Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health and Social Care, Regional and National teams and individual provider and commissioning organisations
  • Member of relevant professional body

Desirable

  • Clinical registration and experience across a wide range of services
Person Specification

Communication Skills

Essential

  • Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situations
  • Ability to provide and receive, convey and present highly complex, sensitive and/or contentious information to large groups, responding openly to questions to ensure full understanding and engagement
  • Ability to communicate with clinical and all levels of colleagues effectively

Analytical

Essential

  • High level analytical skills and the ability to draw qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of sources and present in a clear concise manner
  • Ability to analyse numerical and written data, assess options and draw appropriate conclusions
  • High level critical thinking skills
  • Ability to develop, maintain and monitor information systems to support innovation initiatives
  • Demonstrates sound judgement in the absence of clear guidelines or precedent, seeking advice as necessary from more senior management when appropriate

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential

  • Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
  • Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master's level equivalent
  • Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development
  • Must understand the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement
  • Should have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health and Social Care, Regional and National teams and individual provider and commissioning organisations
  • Member of relevant professional body

Desirable

  • Clinical registration and experience across a wide range of services

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

GWH / RUH / SFT

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Employer's website

https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

GWH / RUH / SFT

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Employer's website

https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Managing Director - Great Western Hospital

Lisa Thomas

lisathomas2@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

26 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£109,179 to £125,637 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

249-7759781

Job locations

GWH / RUH / SFT

Swindon

SN3 6BB


Supporting documents

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