Go back South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Deputy Head of Occupational Health
The closing date is 07 April 2026
As Deputy Head of Occupational Health & Wellbeing, you'll be the clinical powerhouse behind a dynamic, forward-thinking service. You'll lead brilliant people, influence Trust-wide decisions, drive innovation, and champion exceptional, person-centred care. On one moment you're guiding complex case management; the next, you're shaping strategy, elevating standards, and spotting new opportunities to make a real difference. If you love variety, leadership, collaboration and high-impact work that helps people thrive, this role puts you right at the heart of a healthier, happier NHS workforce. We look forward to hearing from you.
At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will lead the day-to-day clinical delivery of Occupational Health services, providing expert guidance, supervision and support to a multidisciplinary team. They'll manage a complex clinical caseload, drive service quality, and ensure compliance with SEQOHS, FOM standards and national guidance. They will shape clinical protocols, lead audits, and champion evidence based practice. As deputy to the Head of Service, they'll represent the department at key meetings, oversee line management responsibilities, support staff development and training, and help deliver the Trust's wellbeing and strategic priorities – ensuring a high quality, person-centred service for staff and external clients. This role will be a hybrid role, with flexibility that will support you to develop as a leader operationally and strategically.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to reflect our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve the right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
The OH Clinical Lead will support the Head of Service in the day-to-day operational delivery of clinical services to both the internal and external customer base. We work collaboratively with all members of the OH Team to ensure the effective delivery of services in accordance with agreed objectives, key performance indicators, local and national targets and internal and external quality standards.
The post holder will support the Head of Service in the development and delivery of the Trust's strategic vision for staff health and wellbeing, to meet the demands of a modern NHS workforce and the requirements and expectations set out within the NHS People's Promise.
KEY RESULT AREAS:
* Provide clinical and professional leadership to the wider OH team, responsible for embedding and developing the department's clinical core and professional competencies.
* To deputise the Head of Occupational Health at key meetings as required.
* To act as line manager for the service.
* Provide strategic advice regarding occupational health & staff wellbeing to management internally & externally.
* Undertake clinical audits to develop an evidence base of compliance against internal and external standards.
* Ensure maintenance of clinical excellence inline with Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM) guidance and ethics, Safe Effective Quality Occupational Health Services (SEQOHS) standards and legislative requirements.
* Develop OD service clinical and operational protocols and procedures.
* Horizon scan the changing priorities and opportunities within the Occupational Health at local, regional and national level and elevate emerging risks.
1.1 Care/service/function provision:
* Manage a caseload in Occupational Health including complex case management (approx. 50% of time).
* Produce and update Written Instructions working collaboratively with the medicines management team and ensure adherence to the Green Book.
* Ensure robust monitoring and ordering of medicines under written instructions and by the clinical team.
* Support the Head of Service in achieving SEQOHS compliance.
* Use best practice to analyse evidence-based practice and benchmarking to inform clinical practice.
1.2 Working as part of a Team:
* As part of a team, deliver person-centred care whilst meeting the service standards and objectives.
* Work clinically to identify actual and potential learning opportunities and support the development of colleagues, particularly if there are specific learning needs identified.
* Lead the team to deliver on the shared purpose, as much as on their individual objectives, looking out for opportunities to celebrate and acknowledge high standards.
* Provide informal teaching, support and clinical supervision to the wider MDT.Support the wider MDT team promoting the comprehensive holistic assessment of employees to achieve optimum outcomes for the employee, their manager and the organisation.
* To deal with all clinical queries.
* Work collaboratively with other functions e.g. Infection Control, Health & Safety, and operational management and provide an expert OH opinion.
* Responsible for establishing and developing internal development programme in collaboration with other senior clinicians which helps develop skills, encourage reflective practice and support peer review of practice.
1.3 Managing Self:
* Participate in clinical supervision to develop skills and knowledge of clinical care and practice and apply continuous reflection on own practice.
* To be responsible for management clinical risk within your case load and across staff under your supervision.
* To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities and maintain a portfolio that reflects personal development.
* To adhere to the relevant professional standards and code of conduct and be conversant within the scope of professional practice.
1.4 Management Supervision and Support:
* To be responsible for the line management of the OH service, including responsibility for recruitment, workload management and annual, first line disciplinary, performance and grievance issues, staff development reviews and appraisals and supervision.
* Represent the Head of OH at internal and external meetings as required and take decisions for the service within the scheme of delegation.
* Lead and support the team in delivering the requirements sent out in the OH Operational Policy to ensure the delivery of an evidence-based service.
* Lead on aspects of change in working and clinical practices of the team to induct and provide support for new team members, assessing and evaluating competence.
* To work with Head of Occupational Health to manage resources and ensure the service is delivered in budget.
* Deputise for the Head of OH at Budget meetings as required.
* Be an authorised signatory in the absence of the Head of Service, including authorising expenditure for vaccines.
* Responsible for seeking income generation opportunities.
1.6 Trust Values:
* Respectful – the Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people e.g., service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc., with dignity and respect at all time. The postholder must act in accordance with the Trust's Values.
* Person first and in the centre.
* Improve and be outstanding.
* Relevant today, ready for tomorrow.
* Families and carers matter.
1.7 Safeguarding:
* Report any concerns regarding the safety or well-being of children, adults, service users, members of their families etc., in accordance with Trust Policy.
* Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.
1.8 Trust policies and commitments to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy:
* All staff employed by the Trust must comply with the Trust's policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to...
* Ensure they are aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and how they raise concerns.
* Maintain confidentiality, in line with the Trust's Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct.
* Understood their personal responsibilities with regards to data quality for any information they create, use or process in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Trust Data Protection Policy.
* Comply with the provisions of the Trust's Health and Safety Policy and Protocol ensuring their own safety and that of colleagues, service users and visitors. Know the action to be taken in the event of a fire and must undertake fire training annually.
* Receivesupervision in line with the Trust's Supervision Policy and an annual Appraisal in line with the Trust's Appraisal Policy, during which mandatory, roles-specific and personal development needs should be identified and agreed.
* Understand their responsibilities under the Trust's Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy.
* Recognise, respect and support the equality diversity of staff, colleagues, service users, carers and the public. Contribute to a working environment which promotes and responds positively to difference and diversity.
* Ensure they carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 years, as issued under Section 11 of The Children Act 2004, by being familiar with and adhering to Trust safeguarding policies and participating in relevant training.
* Comply with their professional responsibilities to develop their practice and deliver care through a Clinical Governance framework (i.e. CPD, Audit, Supervision).
* Demonstrate, through practice and practical understanding, the importance of the continual development of individual, team and service wide quality improvement.
* Abide by relevant codes of professional practice, with the organisation taking action when codes of conduct are breached.
* Work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation, whilst working within a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) Standards.
* Adhere to the Trust's smoke free policies, which prohibit smoking anywhere on Trust grounds.
* Being socially responsible by complying with measures that support the Trust in reducing or offsetting our environmental impact.
* Identify and report risks, hazards, incidents, accidents and near misses promptly.
* In addition to the Trust's own responsibilities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, for your safety all staff (and contractors) are responsible for ensuring their work adheres to this Code in the delivery of safe patient care.
This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the band as directed. The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.
For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Current registration as a Registered Nurse.
* Post Graduate Diploma or Degree in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing – Occupational Health Nursing or equivalent relevant qualification or experience.
* Masters/Advanced Clinical practitioner in OH or relevant subject.
* Teaching qualification.
Experience
* Extensive post-registration experience in an Occupational Health setting at a senior level.
* Experience of working autonomously as a clinical practitioner in a nurse led service.
* Evidence of audit and evidence-based care.
* Evidence of demonstrating effective leadership within collaborative MDT team working.
* Demonstrates a high level of numerical data and analytical skills including spreadsheets and datasets.
* Experience of effective staff engagement and management.
* Experience of management within a health & well-being setting in the NHS.
Training
* Evidence of CPD at a specialist/senior level within field of OH.
* Evidence of further specialist training/qualifications relevant to the role.
Special Knowledge/Skills
* Developed working knowledge and understanding Information Governance and confidentiality.
* Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of relevant national guidance e.g. Faculty of Occupational Medicine, the Green Book, NICE etc.
* Highly developed clinical assessment and problem-solving skills, and able to demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning to analyse their own and others practice.
* Understanding the Trusts objectives and priorities and the ability to work across operational boundaries.
* A good working knowledge of aspects of legal and role boundaries in relation to Occupational Health activities.
* A good working knowledge and understanding of SEQOHS standards and the impact on standards of delivery of quality services.
* Highly developed oral and written communication skills with employees and managers, confidence to discuss complex case management.
* Ability to manage time and workload effectively and work in a high-pressure environment.
* Self-aware reflective practitioner and able to demonstrate ability to critique own practice.
* Ability to demonstrate high emotional intelligence and leadership skills.
* Ability to resolve conflict and overcome resistance.
* Report writing / presentation skills.
* Recruitment and selection experience.
* Teaching, mentoring and assessment skills.
* Ability to manage, motivate and empower others.
* Ability to analyse information / data and provide written reports.
Physical Attributes
* Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Personal Attributes
* Ability to work independently and part of a team.
* Able to demonstrate tact, empathy and reassurance.
* Practice with assertiveness and confidence.
* Understand own limitations.
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.
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
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