Interim Head of Improvement (Band 8C)

1)

Service Improvement

Work effectively with all stakeholders to understand service needs and to co-design improvement plans and projects to align service needs with organisational improvement priorities. Work effectively with Care Group teams to support the development of improvement plans for their services. Create forums and methodologies that support colleagues to advance their services for patients. Responsible for change projects that may be associated with significant operational, financial and resource implications. In conjunction with the Care Group and Executive teams develop new and innovative service improvement schemes including the operational translation of re design projects which support the provision of safe, effective and high-quality patient care services (both within the Trust and across the wider population we serve). Apply continuous improvement principles and methodologies to all improvement programmes. Prioritise appropriately to ensure that improvement resources are targeted and deployed in an optimum way. Ensure appropriate programme governance and assurance. 2)

Quality Improvement

Work with colleagues at all levels to further develop the improvement strategy and priorities aligned to the Trust strategy. Maintain a culture of continuous improvement across the Trust, showcasing the outcomes of QI work. Support the Associate Director of QI in ensuring effective and standardised QI methodology, training and delivery. 3)

Planning

To support the Business Planning and operational planning process working proactively with the Care Groups and Finance teams to ensure annual business plans are translated into clear and effective improvement priorities, effectively identifying clinical, access and financial priorities for improvement. Co-ordinate improvement activity ensuring a clear alignment and coherence of quality, workforce, finance and activity plans. Play a key role in the communication and reporting of the annual improvement plan both internally and externally. 4)

Performance and Information Management

Support performance improvement through the use of improvement project management, effective relationships with staff and data-driven approaches Appropriately manage high level operational governance risks associated with performance and improvement projects. Communicates with internal staff and external agencies (GIRFT, Place etc) to ensure compliance with performance targets, strategic objectives and returns. Track delivery of major programmes, by analysing performance against objectives providing support and intervention by offering a range of options as required so programmes remain on track to deliver specified benefits in the timescales required. Produce statistical/performance reports to track performance against targets and objectives. Analyse and communicate highly complex verbal and written information and data to all relevant stakeholders using developed negotiating and persuasive skills where co-operation is required and where there may be barriers to understanding. 5)

Financial Management

Working with finance and programmes leads, ensure the cost benefits of improvement programmes are modelled and understood and contribute towards financial targets set by the Trust. Using financial acumen assess change programmes via cost-benefit analysis and assess their impact on gross contribution. Ensure the optimum use of resources, including the establishment and maintenance of effective management processes to ensure effective financial control. Evaluate the return on investment. Manage improvement & transformation programmes and projects to budgets. Monitor activity, budgets and financial controls as set out through annual budget setting. 6)

Governance and Risk

Promote and support the Associate Director for QI in implementing systems for quality and safety improvement. Present to staff groups and the public to convey information in proposed change. Apply robust project governance for major and large programmes, ensuring clear accountability frameworks and reporting mechanisms are in place to support the delivery of outcomes and enable early identification and management of issues and barriers, which could affect delivery. Create governance frameworks, tools, guidance and support to the Care Groups and corporate functions to ensure robust project governance across improvement projects. Ensure all improvement plans have appropriate quality and equality impact assessments.