Job summary
The role of Deputy Head of School is to work with and support the Head of School and NHS England Primary Care Dean and Postgraduate Dean in leading the delivery of a wide range of functions, aligned to the NHS England mandate.
The Deputy Head of School is professionally and managerially accountable to the Head of School and Primary Care Dean. The Deputy Head of School will focus upon improvement of learner supervision, assessment and experience, engagement of faculty and ensuring effective educational outcomes, both now and in the future. The role is evolving and will also focus on whole workforce transformation and developing multi-professional links.
To support the Postgraduate Dean, Primary Care Dean and Head of School, the Deputy Head of School will work across the spectrum of health and where relevant, social care, within the context of a team, so that the provision of education reflects changing service models. This will deliver an integrated workforce comprising individuals from a spectrum of professional and other backgrounds.
Main duties of the job
We are looking to recruit a Deputy Head of School for Thames Valley for 1 session (4 hours per week) The postholder is needed to help the Head of School and primary care Dean, offering Strategic and operational support to the GP School in Thames Valley and helping co-ordinate management of teams between Head of School and Associate Deans. They should have good organisational skills, be able to manage teams, good negotiation and leadership skills and be able to cooperatively work with the senior educators in the team. They will work alongside the Head of school and may need to attend national meetings. They need to also be able to come up with innovative ideas for the future of GP training and placements as well as development of the Educator faculty.
This role will be paid at GP05.
About us
The NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by:
- Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
- Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
- Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
- Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
- Delivering value for money.
If you would like to know more or require further information, please visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.
If you are successful at interview, we will run an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) in the Electronic Staff Record system (ESR). This transfer gathers valuable information from a previous or current NHS employer to support the onboarding process, including; statutory and mandatory competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You will have the opportunity throughout the recruitment process to inform us if you do not consent.
Job description
Job responsibilities
NHSE is expected to cease as a separate entity on 31/10/2026 with the merger into DHSC, therefore extensions and new appointments can only be guaranteed up until this date. We anticipate educator roles being required beyond this point and further arrangements to be made once the new structure becomes clearer. We recognise this will create some uncertainty and will do our best to keep any potentially impacted informed of future plans as they come available.
1 EMC has been allocated for this role. The number of EMCs indicatively equates to the number of PAs for job planning; however, the level of funding for EMCs is fixed and may not equate to your individual personal salary with your employer in relation to your planned activities.
Prior to applying, please ensure you have discussed this role with your local Director of Medical Education to ensure that this work functions as a secondment with time freed up in your job plan to fulfil expectations. The financial contribution to the Trust is then to backfill any clinical time. This will be followed up at interview to ensure support is in place.
The Trust Director of Medical Education will be asked to provide a reference in support of your application.
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Secondments
Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
NHSE is expected to cease as a separate entity on 31/10/2026 with the merger into DHSC, therefore extensions and new appointments can only be guaranteed up until this date. We anticipate educator roles being required beyond this point and further arrangements to be made once the new structure becomes clearer. We recognise this will create some uncertainty and will do our best to keep any potentially impacted informed of future plans as they come available.
1 EMC has been allocated for this role. The number of EMCs indicatively equates to the number of PAs for job planning; however, the level of funding for EMCs is fixed and may not equate to your individual personal salary with your employer in relation to your planned activities.
Prior to applying, please ensure you have discussed this role with your local Director of Medical Education to ensure that this work functions as a secondment with time freed up in your job plan to fulfil expectations. The financial contribution to the Trust is then to backfill any clinical time. This will be followed up at interview to ensure support is in place.
The Trust Director of Medical Education will be asked to provide a reference in support of your application.
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Secondments
Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.
Person Specification
Employment/Experience
Essential
- Working with learners or doctors in training in an educational context,
- Experience of clinical and educational leadership and innovation, including managing a multi-professional team,
- Demonstrable track record of delivery of service and education,
- Understanding of developments involving the relevant Colleges/Faculties, professional bodes related to NHS.
- Understanding of the workforce transformation agenda,
- Trained and experienced in recruitment, selection and E&D in the last 3 years,
- Active involvement in and up to date with appraisal process,
- Knowledge of the NHS, its structures and processes, including understanding workforce educational context,
- Applicants who are doctors require a licence to practise.
Desirable
- Previous or current appointment as a leader in healthcare education
- Awareness of funding streams for healthcare education
- Understanding of current health and social care and education policy
Qualifications
Essential
- Primary clinical healthcare qualification
- Fellowship of College/Faculty: professional association and/or body
Desirable
- Attendance at courses aimed to support educational development
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrable leadership skills and an ability to influence and motivate others.
- A strong sense of vision and an ability to innovate.
- Politically astute with an ability to sensitively manage complexity and uncertainty.
- Ability to problem solve and maintain objectivity.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, written and presentation skills.
- Ability to quickly establish personal and professional credibility with colleagues and other key stakeholders.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills.
- Committed to own personal development and an ability to support others to develop and progress.
Desirable
- Ability to rapidly establish academic credibility
Person Specification
Employment/Experience
Essential
- Working with learners or doctors in training in an educational context,
- Experience of clinical and educational leadership and innovation, including managing a multi-professional team,
- Demonstrable track record of delivery of service and education,
- Understanding of developments involving the relevant Colleges/Faculties, professional bodes related to NHS.
- Understanding of the workforce transformation agenda,
- Trained and experienced in recruitment, selection and E&D in the last 3 years,
- Active involvement in and up to date with appraisal process,
- Knowledge of the NHS, its structures and processes, including understanding workforce educational context,
- Applicants who are doctors require a licence to practise.
Desirable
- Previous or current appointment as a leader in healthcare education
- Awareness of funding streams for healthcare education
- Understanding of current health and social care and education policy
Qualifications
Essential
- Primary clinical healthcare qualification
- Fellowship of College/Faculty: professional association and/or body
Desirable
- Attendance at courses aimed to support educational development
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrable leadership skills and an ability to influence and motivate others.
- A strong sense of vision and an ability to innovate.
- Politically astute with an ability to sensitively manage complexity and uncertainty.
- Ability to problem solve and maintain objectivity.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, written and presentation skills.
- Ability to quickly establish personal and professional credibility with colleagues and other key stakeholders.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills.
- Committed to own personal development and an ability to support others to develop and progress.
Desirable
- Ability to rapidly establish academic credibility
Additional information
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
