Head of Performance and Planning

Performance Management and Assurance Lead the development, implementation and management of the Trusts performance management framework, including early warning systems, escalation triggers and exception reporting that enable timely identification and resolution of performance risks. Provide expert constructive challenge and support to Divisional teams, ensuring robust recovery planning, delivery grip and timely escalation where performance is at risk of not meeting national, contractual or internal standards. Lead the Trusts approach to variance and exception reporting, ensuring that issues are investigated with services, root causes are understood, and recovery actions are agreed, tracked and delivered through appropriate governance. Provide expert knowledge and detailed commentary on performance indicators to clinical staff, managers and executives, increasing organisational understanding of how metrics can be used to drive operational improvement. Support, in collaboration with BI and Finance, the monitoring of activity against plan and the associated income position, ensuring that any risks to delivery are understood and appropriate mitigating actions are in place. Operational Performance Improvement Lead and coordinate Trust-wide performance improvement programmes, convening operational, clinical, business intelligence, finance, workforce and digital expertise to diagnose root causes and implement sustainable solutions. Act as the expert bridge between operational and clinical teams and digital and BI teams on performance and activity metrics, ensuring improvement initiatives are evidence-based and appropriately supported by data and technology. Work with IT, BI and digital teams to identify, evaluate and support implementation of software and tools that can improve operational performance management and address strategic challenges. Work across the organisation to support and improve data quality in relation to performance, activity, income and clinical coding where it impacts performance reporting. Ensure relevant Trust performance policies and standard operating procedures are maintained, communicated and followed. Support use of tools such as population health management to identify wider trends and reduce health inequalities. Reporting, Governance, Stakeholder Management and Deputising Lead the production of high-quality performance papers, presentations and briefings for general management, Executive, Board sub-committees, Trust Board and external reporting, ensuring clear narrative, quantified risks and actionable recommendations. Manage the coordination and governance grip of key committees and meetings between the Director, COO and Deputy COOs, ensuring effective preparation, structured agendas, action tracking and follow-through on decisions. Respond to ad hoc queries and requests from internal and external stakeholders including NHS England, the ICB, CQC and Trust Board, providing timely, accurate and well-evidenced information and advice. Represent the Trust at system-level and regional performance forums, building effective working relationships with ICB, provider collaborative and NHS England colleagues. Deputise for the Director of Performance and Information as required, including at executive meetings, Trust committees and external forums. National Guidance Interpretation, Policy and Compliance Act as the Trusts senior source of expertise for interpretation of national performance guidance, standards and policy changes; assess impact, develop recommendations, secure internal approval and oversee implementation across the organisation. In partnership with Business Intelligence, ensure policies and standard operating procedures support compliant activity recording, performance reporting and data quality in line with national standards and contractual requirements. Oversee assurance activity including audits, spot checks and deep dives to confirm data quality and compliance, ensuring remediation plans are developed, implemented and tracked through governance. Proactively horizon-scan for forthcoming policy and guidance changes, ensuring the Trust is prepared and can implement changes at pace when required.

Annual Planning

Activity and Performance Trajectories Lead the operational performance and activity elements of the annual planning round, ensuring compliance with national planning guidance, alignment to ICB and regional requirements, and robust management through Trust governance processes. Ensure divisional bottom-up activity plans are coherent, deliverable and aligned to performance trajectory requirements, agreed demand and capacity assumptions, and productivity and efficiency initiatives, with risks and dependencies explicitly articulated. Coordinate the triangulation of activity plans with finance, workforce and capacity plans, ensuring consistency across planning submissions. Ensure planning outputs are clearly communicated to and understood by operational teams, with in-year tracking through governance arrangements and timely variance management where plans are not being delivered. Leadership, People Management and Budget Provide visible, supportive and accountable leadership to the Performance and Planning team, including setting direction, allocating work, coaching and developing staff, managing performance and holding individuals to account for delivery. Ensure the effective management of the allocated budget, including planning, monitoring and control in line with Trust Standing Financial Instructions and policies, reporting variances and risks as required. Foster a culture of continuous improvement, analytical rigour and collaborative working within the team and across the wider organisation. Ensure a clear approach to skills and knowledge development within the performance team. Develop and maintain positive working relationships across the organisation, operating with a high degree of autonomy while ensuring appropriate and timely feedback to the Director and executive team on risks, issues and progress.