Job summary
We are seeking a committed and value-driven individual to lead North Kent Pathology Services across Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and Medway Hospital NHS Foundation Trust on a fixed term basis. The two Trusts currently operate their pathology services as a joint venture across the two organisations, hosted by Dartford and Gravesham.
With a deputy, the postholder will provide operational leadership, strategic direction, financial control and corporate management to staff across the pathology services at both hospital sites.
Main duties of the job
1.1 The North Kent services are a core part of the wider Kent and Medway Pathology Network and the expectation is that the services will join with those at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust to form a consolidated pathology service in 2025. It is intended that the postholder will then form part of the senior leadership team of the future Kent and Medway pathology joint venture to manage pathology services.
Kent and Medway Pathology Network is a formal partnership of seven laboratories across three pathology services in four acute Trusts. Our 800 colleagues provide services across the health and care sector to a population of nearly 2 million.
We are at an exciting point of our network development with large-scale transformation including a single Laboratory Information Management System, Managed Equipment Service and digital projects.We are developing a clinical strategy enabling pathology to drive change and improvement in patient pathways and population health. We are therefore looking for leaders who thrive in transformation environments.
About us
We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities.
If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. Due to the government regulations for mandatory vaccinations for COVID-19 for NHS employees, it has been necessary to take significant steps to protect the health and safety of our staff and our patients. In order to comply with our duty of care, we require all of our staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Your vaccination status will be a condition of your employment and evidence of vaccination will be obtained during the recruitment process, unless you are medically exempt.Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Manage complex financial resources, maintaining a balanced position, ensuring cost effective services are planned and organised to maximise effective care at both acute hospital sites.
1.2 Manage complex cost improvement and efficiency programmes while maintaining service delivery.
1.3 Responsible for Laboratory and Department Managers, Biomedical and clinical scientists, technical and support grades, screeners, medical laboratory assistants (MLAs) and Administrative and Clerical staff at both acute hospital sites.
1.4 Analyse complex financial data and report to the Managing Director and NKPS Board any cost pressures and where appropriate write business development cases to support those pressures, having undertaken option appraisal.
1.5 Initiate regular review of services within Pathology, ensuring new developments are appropriately resourced through business planning.
1.6 Review capacity planning including diagnostic waiting times on a regular basis ensuring compliance, continuous improvement and modernisation for the Trust.
1.7 Ensure Pathology Services are delivered effectively and efficiently to meet the needs of inpatient, outpatient, GP and other requestors.
1.8 Responsible for Health & Safety and risk management within the Department maintaining the risk register including Trust risk assessments and co-ordinating appropriate remedial action.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Manage complex financial resources, maintaining a balanced position, ensuring cost effective services are planned and organised to maximise effective care at both acute hospital sites.
1.2 Manage complex cost improvement and efficiency programmes while maintaining service delivery.
1.3 Responsible for Laboratory and Department Managers, Biomedical and clinical scientists, technical and support grades, screeners, medical laboratory assistants (MLAs) and Administrative and Clerical staff at both acute hospital sites.
1.4 Analyse complex financial data and report to the Managing Director and NKPS Board any cost pressures and where appropriate write business development cases to support those pressures, having undertaken option appraisal.
1.5 Initiate regular review of services within Pathology, ensuring new developments are appropriately resourced through business planning.
1.6 Review capacity planning including diagnostic waiting times on a regular basis ensuring compliance, continuous improvement and modernisation for the Trust.
1.7 Ensure Pathology Services are delivered effectively and efficiently to meet the needs of inpatient, outpatient, GP and other requestors.
1.8 Responsible for Health & Safety and risk management within the Department maintaining the risk register including Trust risk assessments and co-ordinating appropriate remedial action.
Person Specification
Education and Training
Essential
- Educated to degree level
- Masters degree or equivalent relevant experience
- Relevant business qualification
- Evidence of ongoing CPD
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Understanding of pathology service issues, policies, regulatory requirements and procedures.
- Advanced IT skills including common office software
- Politically aware
- Excellent communication skills both verbally and written
- Effective personal networking skills
- Excellent presentation skills
- Excellent report-writing skills
- Good business acumen with the ability to negotiate
- Ability to manage stressful situations.
- Excellent leadership skills
- Complex staffing issues including disciplinary and intra-Trust investigations
- Analytical skills
- Project management skills
- Able to deal with unpredictable situations.
- Strategic thinker.
- Emotionally resilient able to deal with and communicate to others, information of a distressing nature
Experience
Essential
- Experience of operational management in a relevant healthcare environment with a successful track record in managing a diverse agenda and delivery against agreed targets.
- Experience of complex financial management with the ability to analyse complex financial data.
- Experience of managing a large budget and delivering cost improvement plans
- Demonstrable experience of planning, leading and implementing change and service developments.
- Experience in leading and managing staff with extensive Human Resource management experience and skills
- Experience in planning for, procuring and deploying capital assets or new equipment
Person Specification
Education and Training
Essential
- Educated to degree level
- Masters degree or equivalent relevant experience
- Relevant business qualification
- Evidence of ongoing CPD
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Understanding of pathology service issues, policies, regulatory requirements and procedures.
- Advanced IT skills including common office software
- Politically aware
- Excellent communication skills both verbally and written
- Effective personal networking skills
- Excellent presentation skills
- Excellent report-writing skills
- Good business acumen with the ability to negotiate
- Ability to manage stressful situations.
- Excellent leadership skills
- Complex staffing issues including disciplinary and intra-Trust investigations
- Analytical skills
- Project management skills
- Able to deal with unpredictable situations.
- Strategic thinker.
- Emotionally resilient able to deal with and communicate to others, information of a distressing nature
Experience
Essential
- Experience of operational management in a relevant healthcare environment with a successful track record in managing a diverse agenda and delivery against agreed targets.
- Experience of complex financial management with the ability to analyse complex financial data.
- Experience of managing a large budget and delivering cost improvement plans
- Demonstrable experience of planning, leading and implementing change and service developments.
- Experience in leading and managing staff with extensive Human Resource management experience and skills
- Experience in planning for, procuring and deploying capital assets or new equipment
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.
