University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
The closing date is 14 April 2026
Come and join our Kaizen Promotion Office to support our cultural journey implementing our lean management system called UHCWi. As part of the Transformation Directorate you will work in collaboration with our Innovation, Enablement, and Organisational Development and Engagement teams to support the organisation in the delivery of our strategic objectives.
As we continue in our partnership with the Virginia Mason Institute we are committed to embedding UHCWi into the fabric of 'how we do things around here'. This is based on lean but more importantly will be how you can connect others to our aims of:
* Putting patients first
* Empowering our staff
For the cultural shift we need to further connect with our leaders and our front line staff so all are both expected to and empowered to continuously improve for the benefit of patients and staff. We have made significant strides in training staff in the Passport to Improvement and in Lean for Leaders but we need to further support these staff so that they use this training in their daily work to make measurable improvements. We need you to help us reach our tipping point aligned to our strategic objectives of being patient first and a model employer. We want you to bring leadership experience and the energy and openness to challenge and coach staff.
Main duties of the job
As part of our commitment to patients and delivery of a world class service for all we have created the UHCW Improvement (UHCWi) System in partnership with the Virginia Mason Institute in Seattle; this involves a structured approach to removing waste and putting the patient first using a lean management system and methodologies. Our culture and ways of working reflect and embed the practices and methodologies of UHCWi. You are expected, to attend and complete relevant training and development opportunities to support this including Advanced Lean Training.
As a KPO Specialist you will coach leaders to embed the principles of daily management and key UHCWi tools into their everyday work. After certification in advanced lean training, you will lead improvement events, which includes Rapid Process Improvement Workshop in the roles of Workshop and Team Lead. This role also includes managing a value stream and coaching an executive sponsor who will lead the work in the value stream.
About us
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.
We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.
Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.
We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation - please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)
By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.
The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.
Job responsibilities
The KPO Specialist will specifically:
* Lead and facilitate education and workshops to engage staff in UHCWi methodology
* Manage and lead a value stream
* Act as a role model, demonstrating the Trust values, whilst being visible, providing coaching, guidance and support for all staff
* Provide ongoing support to teams as they test ideas
* Providing feedback and communicate areas of concern to teams or services
* Empower staff to actively participate in continuous incremental improvement
* Act as Workshop and Team Lead on week‑long improvement events called Rapid Process Improvement Workshops (RPIW), supporting and engaging the away team prior to, during and after the RPIW week
* Challenge processes ensuring teams develop and maintain a patient first perspective
* Coach leaders in the use of daily management principles
* Facilitate Lean for leaders course and coach leaders to apply their knowledge in their workplace everyday
For further details of the role please see the attached job description.
Person Specification
Qualification/Training
* See supporting documents
* See supporting documents
Experience
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Knowledge
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Skills
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Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
* See supporting documents
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.
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
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