Job summary
This role is with the Innovation Agency, the Academic Health Science Network for the North West Coast, who are hosted by Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.
The Innovation Agency is one of England's 15 AHSNs in the AHSN Network which acts as the innovation arm of the NHS.
In our tenth year, we are about to be relicensed for a further five years by NHS England and the Office for Life Sciences, to accelerate the spread and adoption of innovation in all its forms, including medicines, med-tech and digital solutions and clinical pathways.
We understand the needs of our health and care systems and are well placed to broker innovative solutions while collaborating across England to take what works best and spread it quickly beyond our region. There is a strong focus on addressing health inequalities and we seek to meet the diverse needs of patients and our population through partnerships and collaborations.
Complementing a portfolio of national programmes we work in the North West Coast footprint supporting the two integrated care systems to build capacity and capability to create a culture of innovation. To strengthen the economic health of our region, we connect businesses and innovators with clinicians and system leaders, creating opportunities for real-world evaluation and early access to novel therapies.
Main duties of the job
The Chair will provide leadership to the senior leadership team at the Innovation Agency and will be a key ambassador with partner organisations; with the private sector; and in representing the Innovation Agency nationally.
We are looking for someone with experience of leadership at Board level; who is well networked in the health and care sector and who has a passion for innovation and improvement.
The Chair must ensure that high standards of probity and governance prevail and that the Innovation Agency remains within the terms of its license.
They must actively promote the twin aims of improving patient outcomes and the delivery of wider economic benefit and will be responsible for supporting engagement with industry and patient/public organisations.
The Innovation Agency is a hosted NHS body with hosting being provided by Liverpool Heart and Chest Foundation Trust who will be the employing organisation.
As the largest single site specialist heart and chest hospital in the UK, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital has a clear vision 'to be the best cardiothoracic integrated healthcare organisation'.
The Trust provides specialist services in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine both in the hospital and out in the community.
More Information
To find out more about the Innovation Agency visit our website, https://www.innovationagencynwc.nhs.uk/ , or to see more about the work of AHSNs around the country: https://www.ahsnnetwork.com/ .
About us
The Innovation Agency (IA) is one of 15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) established by the NHS in England to accelerate the spread of innovations. The Innovation Agency website contains more details about the organisation and its area of cover (www.innovationagencynwc.nhs.uk) which includes Merseyside, South Cumbria, Lancashire and most of Cheshire.
AHSNs are a critical structure for aligning the NHS, academia and industry, and work as system integrators across these domains. The Innovation Agency has six strategic goals, these are:
1. Support system transformation through the adoption of innovations that enhance quality and value
2. Deliver an Innovation Exchange to accelerate innovation into practice and drive economic growth
3. Develop and connect the digital health and care sector
4. Deliver the NHS Improvement Patient Safety Collaborative Programme
5. Collaborate with the national AHSN Network
6. Supporting a culture where innovation can thrive
We are the AHSN for the North West Coast and part of the AHSN Network which collectively acts asthe innovation arm of the NHS.
We are unique. We understand the needs of our health systems and are well placed to broker innovative solutions, while collaborating across England to take what works best and quickly spread it nationally.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Innovation Agency, Chair
Responsible to: Chair of the host organisation, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Location Innovation Agency, Sci-Tech Daresbury WA4 4AB
Tenure 3 years
Remuneration £30,000 per annum
Time commitment 1 day per week
The Innovation Agency is the Academic Health Science Network for the North West Coast, one of Englands 15 AHSNs in the AHSN Network which collectively acts as the innovation arm of the NHS.
We are commissioned by NHS England and the Office for Life Sciences primarily, to deliver programmes, support and innovations for adoption and spread in our region.
We understand the needs of our health systems and are well placed to broker innovative solutions, while collaborating across England to take what works best and spread it quickly, nationally, while responding to the diverse needs of patients and our population through partnerships and collaboration.
Our work is overseen by a Board of partners who help to shape our plans, provide insight into the needs of the region and act as our ambassadors for innovation.
Role summary
The Chair will provide leadership to the executive team at the Innovation Agency and be a key ambassador in the regional community; with partner organisations; with the private sector; and in representing the Innovation Agency nationally.
The Chair must ensure that high standards of probity and governance prevail and that the Innovation Agency remains within the terms of its license.
They must actively promote the twin aims of improving patient outcomes and the delivery of wider economic benefit and will be responsible for supporting engagement with industry and patient/public organisations.
Applications are invited from senior individuals who are expertly networked and able to contribute expertise and skills.
Key responsibilities
As Chair of the Innovation Agency you will be required to undertake the following key responsibilities:
Strategy
- Demonstrate leadership by supporting a positive culture for the Innovation Agency; facilitating a close and constructive working relationship between all Partnership Board members, built on transparency, openness, mutual respect and trust, valuing the contribution of all participants.
- Provide independent judgment and advice on issues of strategy, vision, performance, resources and standards of conduct; and constructively challenge, influence and assist the Executive Team in developing proposals on such strategies.
- Horizon scan regionally and nationally to bring good practice and foresight to further develop the Innovation Agency.
- Build on existing, far-reaching local, national, and international networks as well as seeking and fostering new relationships with potential partners and commissioners of innovation and improvement programmes.
- Challenge partners to look beyond daily operational pressures to consider innovative strategies to tackle some of the most difficult healthcare challenges.
Governance
- To bring independent judgment and experience based on commercial, medical, financial, legal or governance expertise from outside the Innovation Agency and apply this to the benefit of the Innovation Agency, its partners and wider community.
- To commit to working to, and encouraging within the Innovation Agency, the highest standards of probity, integrity and governance and contribute to ensuring that the Innovation Agencys internal governance arrangements conform to best practice and statutory requirements.
- Ensure the Innovation Agency supports its partners to develop, evaluate and implement transformative healthcare solutions and create a healthier population, including the delivery of AHSN Network national programmes.
Communication and relationships
- Develop a constructive, frank and open relationship with the Chief Executive and Directors of the Innovation Agency through regular communication and provide support and advice while respecting executive responsibility.
- Solicit input from the Boards Committees, namely, Finance, Performance and Strategy; Governance and Risk; and Remuneration; and ensure routine alignment with Innovation Agency objectives.
- Act as an ambassador, represent and promote actively the Innovation Agency and build strong relationships with partners, the AHSN Network, affiliated organisations, commissioners and other national bodies.
Social value
As an NHS hosted organisaton, the Innovation Agency is a committed member of the group of health and care partners acting as anchor institutions and providing social value to our community.
As chair you will play a central role in
- Championing inclusion, diversity and equal opportunity both within the team and as a leader in the health and care community ensuring the organisation strives to retain and recruit a workforce reflective of the population we serve.
- Recognising the important role of the NHS in achieving a net zero carbon economy by supporting partners to adopt sustainable solutions in their operations and seeking to build stronger relations with innovators working in this area.
Confidentiality
All employees must adhere to policies and procedures relating to information governance, confidentiality and information security.
Risk management
The Trust is committed to approaching the control of risks in a strategic and organised manner.
The postholder must be aware of their individual responsibilities as detailed in the Trusts Risk Management, Health and Safety and Incident policies, and those under the Health and Safety at Work Act. This includes the reporting of any untoward incident, accident, potential or actual hazard identified.
Safeguarding
Staff who come into contact with children, vulnerable adults, parents and carers in the course of their work and/or have access to records will have responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Infection control
In accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, it is the responsibility of every member of staff to participate in the prevention and control of infection within the capacity of their role. In order to maintain high standards of infection and prevention control all staff are expected to comply with the relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines and report any concerns to their manager or to the infection prevention team.
Health and wellbeing
The Trust is a Health Promoting Hospital. The Trust expects that when you are presented with opportunities to improve the lifestyle of our patients you seek help from appropriately trained clinical staff to ensure patients are supported and assisted in making the necessary lifestyle changes. This is in accordance with best practice as described in the DoH white paper Choosing Health Making Healthy Choices Easier.
Equal opportunities
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is committed to achieving equal opportunities. All employees are expected to observe this policy in relation to the public and fellow employees.
All staff are expected to adhere to, and act in accordance with, the values and behaviours of the Trust.
This document is intended to be used as a guide to the general scope of duties involved in this post. It is not exhaustive and should not therefore be used as a rigid specification. It will be kept under review and amended as required in consultation with the postholder.
Exclusions
The post holder is not an employee of the host trust or a partnering NHS body, higher education institution or business operating within the North West Coast footprint.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Innovation Agency, Chair
Responsible to: Chair of the host organisation, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Location Innovation Agency, Sci-Tech Daresbury WA4 4AB
Tenure 3 years
Remuneration £30,000 per annum
Time commitment 1 day per week
The Innovation Agency is the Academic Health Science Network for the North West Coast, one of Englands 15 AHSNs in the AHSN Network which collectively acts as the innovation arm of the NHS.
We are commissioned by NHS England and the Office for Life Sciences primarily, to deliver programmes, support and innovations for adoption and spread in our region.
We understand the needs of our health systems and are well placed to broker innovative solutions, while collaborating across England to take what works best and spread it quickly, nationally, while responding to the diverse needs of patients and our population through partnerships and collaboration.
Our work is overseen by a Board of partners who help to shape our plans, provide insight into the needs of the region and act as our ambassadors for innovation.
Role summary
The Chair will provide leadership to the executive team at the Innovation Agency and be a key ambassador in the regional community; with partner organisations; with the private sector; and in representing the Innovation Agency nationally.
The Chair must ensure that high standards of probity and governance prevail and that the Innovation Agency remains within the terms of its license.
They must actively promote the twin aims of improving patient outcomes and the delivery of wider economic benefit and will be responsible for supporting engagement with industry and patient/public organisations.
Applications are invited from senior individuals who are expertly networked and able to contribute expertise and skills.
Key responsibilities
As Chair of the Innovation Agency you will be required to undertake the following key responsibilities:
Strategy
- Demonstrate leadership by supporting a positive culture for the Innovation Agency; facilitating a close and constructive working relationship between all Partnership Board members, built on transparency, openness, mutual respect and trust, valuing the contribution of all participants.
- Provide independent judgment and advice on issues of strategy, vision, performance, resources and standards of conduct; and constructively challenge, influence and assist the Executive Team in developing proposals on such strategies.
- Horizon scan regionally and nationally to bring good practice and foresight to further develop the Innovation Agency.
- Build on existing, far-reaching local, national, and international networks as well as seeking and fostering new relationships with potential partners and commissioners of innovation and improvement programmes.
- Challenge partners to look beyond daily operational pressures to consider innovative strategies to tackle some of the most difficult healthcare challenges.
Governance
- To bring independent judgment and experience based on commercial, medical, financial, legal or governance expertise from outside the Innovation Agency and apply this to the benefit of the Innovation Agency, its partners and wider community.
- To commit to working to, and encouraging within the Innovation Agency, the highest standards of probity, integrity and governance and contribute to ensuring that the Innovation Agencys internal governance arrangements conform to best practice and statutory requirements.
- Ensure the Innovation Agency supports its partners to develop, evaluate and implement transformative healthcare solutions and create a healthier population, including the delivery of AHSN Network national programmes.
Communication and relationships
- Develop a constructive, frank and open relationship with the Chief Executive and Directors of the Innovation Agency through regular communication and provide support and advice while respecting executive responsibility.
- Solicit input from the Boards Committees, namely, Finance, Performance and Strategy; Governance and Risk; and Remuneration; and ensure routine alignment with Innovation Agency objectives.
- Act as an ambassador, represent and promote actively the Innovation Agency and build strong relationships with partners, the AHSN Network, affiliated organisations, commissioners and other national bodies.
Social value
As an NHS hosted organisaton, the Innovation Agency is a committed member of the group of health and care partners acting as anchor institutions and providing social value to our community.
As chair you will play a central role in
- Championing inclusion, diversity and equal opportunity both within the team and as a leader in the health and care community ensuring the organisation strives to retain and recruit a workforce reflective of the population we serve.
- Recognising the important role of the NHS in achieving a net zero carbon economy by supporting partners to adopt sustainable solutions in their operations and seeking to build stronger relations with innovators working in this area.
Confidentiality
All employees must adhere to policies and procedures relating to information governance, confidentiality and information security.
Risk management
The Trust is committed to approaching the control of risks in a strategic and organised manner.
The postholder must be aware of their individual responsibilities as detailed in the Trusts Risk Management, Health and Safety and Incident policies, and those under the Health and Safety at Work Act. This includes the reporting of any untoward incident, accident, potential or actual hazard identified.
Safeguarding
Staff who come into contact with children, vulnerable adults, parents and carers in the course of their work and/or have access to records will have responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Infection control
In accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, it is the responsibility of every member of staff to participate in the prevention and control of infection within the capacity of their role. In order to maintain high standards of infection and prevention control all staff are expected to comply with the relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines and report any concerns to their manager or to the infection prevention team.
Health and wellbeing
The Trust is a Health Promoting Hospital. The Trust expects that when you are presented with opportunities to improve the lifestyle of our patients you seek help from appropriately trained clinical staff to ensure patients are supported and assisted in making the necessary lifestyle changes. This is in accordance with best practice as described in the DoH white paper Choosing Health Making Healthy Choices Easier.
Equal opportunities
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is committed to achieving equal opportunities. All employees are expected to observe this policy in relation to the public and fellow employees.
All staff are expected to adhere to, and act in accordance with, the values and behaviours of the Trust.
This document is intended to be used as a guide to the general scope of duties involved in this post. It is not exhaustive and should not therefore be used as a rigid specification. It will be kept under review and amended as required in consultation with the postholder.
Exclusions
The post holder is not an employee of the host trust or a partnering NHS body, higher education institution or business operating within the North West Coast footprint.
Person Specification
Professional or personal experience, qualifications and training
Essential
- Professional qualification in a relevant discipline or relevant experience.
- Degree or equivalent.
- Experience of leadership in a large and complex organisation.
Desirable
- Further qualification in management.
- Experience at Board level in a large and complex organisation.
- Experience in chairing Boards or committees.
Communication and relationship skills
Essential
- Highly developed verbal and non-verbal communication skills across a range of stakeholders and circumstances.
- High level of communication and listening skills with the gravitas to support and challenge senior clinicians and other senior stakeholders at regional, national and international level.
- High level of influencing, persuasion and negotiating skills.
- Ability to challenge effectively.
- Ability to demonstrate warmth and empathy when communicating.
- The ability to motivate and inspire staff at all levels
Analytical and judgment skills
Essential
- Experience in exercising judgment involving complex facts and situations, requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options.
Aptitude and style
Essential
- Intellectually flexible, to think broadly and creatively to develop new solutions to difficult issues.
- Experience of developing effective relationships and sustainable partnerships with a wide and diverse range of stakeholders.
- Ability to simultaneously and successfully lead strategic change, performance improvement and cost-effective service delivery.
- Resilience, innovation and the ability to influence at regional, national and international level.
- A commitment to equality, diversity and wider human rights.
Motivation and disposition
Essential
- The drive and determination to make a difference.
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable understanding of the NHS and the context in which it operates.
- Experience of working in or at least with an NHS organisation at senior level.
Desirable
- Demonstrable understanding of health related research and the issues relevant to it.
- Awareness of best practice and statutory requirements relevant to Innovation Agency governance.
- Understanding and experience of the interplay between national policy and regulation and local delivery in relation to innovation.
Person Specification
Professional or personal experience, qualifications and training
Essential
- Professional qualification in a relevant discipline or relevant experience.
- Degree or equivalent.
- Experience of leadership in a large and complex organisation.
Desirable
- Further qualification in management.
- Experience at Board level in a large and complex organisation.
- Experience in chairing Boards or committees.
Communication and relationship skills
Essential
- Highly developed verbal and non-verbal communication skills across a range of stakeholders and circumstances.
- High level of communication and listening skills with the gravitas to support and challenge senior clinicians and other senior stakeholders at regional, national and international level.
- High level of influencing, persuasion and negotiating skills.
- Ability to challenge effectively.
- Ability to demonstrate warmth and empathy when communicating.
- The ability to motivate and inspire staff at all levels
Analytical and judgment skills
Essential
- Experience in exercising judgment involving complex facts and situations, requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options.
Aptitude and style
Essential
- Intellectually flexible, to think broadly and creatively to develop new solutions to difficult issues.
- Experience of developing effective relationships and sustainable partnerships with a wide and diverse range of stakeholders.
- Ability to simultaneously and successfully lead strategic change, performance improvement and cost-effective service delivery.
- Resilience, innovation and the ability to influence at regional, national and international level.
- A commitment to equality, diversity and wider human rights.
Motivation and disposition
Essential
- The drive and determination to make a difference.
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable understanding of the NHS and the context in which it operates.
- Experience of working in or at least with an NHS organisation at senior level.
Desirable
- Demonstrable understanding of health related research and the issues relevant to it.
- Awareness of best practice and statutory requirements relevant to Innovation Agency governance.
- Understanding and experience of the interplay between national policy and regulation and local delivery in relation to innovation.
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
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).
