Job overview
The Clinical Lead for Head and Neck Surgery will provide strategic and operational leadership across the Head and Neck service, encompassing ENT and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS). The postholder will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality care across the cancer and elective pathways, working closely with the Directorate Manager, Matron, and Clinical Director.
This role is pivotal in supporting the service to meet national access standards, including the -day Faster Diagnosis Standard and -day cancer treatment targets. The Clinical Lead will also play a key role in workforce planning, service transformation, and quality improvement initiatives, while maintaining strong links with the wider multidisciplinary team including CNS, SALT, Dietetics, Oncology, Radiology, and Pathology.
Main duties of the job
1. Clinical Leadership: Provide visible and effective leadership to the Head and Neck clinical team, ensuring high standards of care, patient safety, and compliance with national guidelines.
2. Service Planning and Development: Contribute to the development of strategic and annual service plans, including business case preparation and service redesign to meet evolving clinical needs.
3. Governance and Quality: Monitor the quality and safety of clinical activities, lead on incident reviews, and implement actions to address risks identified in the divisional risk register ( delays in laryngectomy valve changes, tracheostomy weaning, and outpatient capacity) .
4. Operational Oversight: Work collaboratively with the Operational Service Manager and Matron to ensure efficient use of resources, theatre scheduling, and delivery of performance targets.
5. Workforce and Education: Support recruitment, retention, and development of clinical staff. Contribute to teaching, training, and mentorship of junior doctors and allied health professionals.
6. Communication and Representation: Act as the key liaison between the specialty and the Directorate/Divisional teams, representing the service at governance, performance, and planning meetings.
7. On-Call Participation: Participate in the consultant on-call rota as required, ensuring safe and sustainable cover for the service
Working for our organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
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