Overview
Job summary: A corporate leadership opportunity to join Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust as the Head of Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR). The post holder will lead the EPRR team, work with internal teams and external multi-agency partner organisations, and act as the expert for all EPRR matters within the Trust to ensure statutory, regulatory and NHS requirements are met. The role requires a strong leader who can proactively build relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders.
Essential requirements include significant senior management experience in a large complex organisation, demonstrable experience of strong financial and performance management, and experience of leading people and managing change.
Main duties of the job include compiling the Trust annual work programme for EPRR, developing strategy to secure delivery of statutory compliance, and ensuring local, regional and national guidance implementation, performance targets and strategic objectives are met. The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and be able to work collaboratively across internal and external stakeholders.
About us: Based in the North East of England, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital and community health services from facilities including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon Urgent Care Centre and Bensham Hospital. We employ around 4,800 staff and provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region. Our values are Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect and Engagement (ICORE). We support staff through networks and wellbeing initiatives as part of the Balance programme.
Details: Date posted 12 September 2025. Band 8b. Salary £64,455 to £74,896 a year. Contract: Permanent. Working pattern: Full-time. Location: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Sheriff Hill, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE9 6SX.
Job responsibilities
The post holder has strategic lead responsibility for professional leadership and improvement strategies in Emergency Preparedness, Resilience & Response (EPRR) and Business Continuity Management (BCM), acting on behalf of the Accountable Emergency Officer (AEO).
Key duties include ensuring statutory, regulatory and NHS requirements are met, alignment with Civil Contingencies Act (2004), compliance with EPRR guidance for the NHS, and coordination of on-call systems, rotas, logs and learning. The post holder leads winter planning and collaborates with internal teams and system partner organisations.
Responsibilities also include overseeing and delivering an EPRR Work Programme, developing policies and frameworks, embedding a culture of EPRR and BCM, and building relationships with external multi-agency partners. In major incidents, the post holder may act as an EPPR Advisor to the CEO/COO or Director of Operations during working hours or on-call periods.
Person specification
QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
* Essential: Masters' qualification or equivalent; or demonstrable equivalent senior-level experience in a specialist area.
* Essential: Active continued professional development with a minimum of 5 years in Emergency Preparedness, Resilience & Response (EPRR).
* Desirable: Project Management Qualification; Training Qualification (min BTEC Level 3); Diploma in Health Emergency Planning; HMIMMS; Award in Health Emergency Planning; CBCI.
SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE
* Essential: Ability to analyse and interpret complex information to identify themes, trends and improvements.
* Essential: Motivating, persuading and influencing skills.
* Essential: IT skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, dashboards).
* Essential: Experience in facilitating emergency planning exercises and tests.
Other information
Disclosure and Barring Service: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. A disclosure will be required.
Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker sponsorship will be considered. For more information see the UK Visas and Immigration guidance.
Employer details: Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Sheriff Hill, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE9 6SX. Website: https://www.qegateshead.nhs.uk
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