The role of Head of School for Ophthalmology is to work with and support the Postgraduate Dean in leading the delivery of a wide range of functions, aligned to the NHS England mandate.
Educator roles are usually recruited for a fixed 3 year term, maximum of 2 x 3 year tenure, however due to NHSE organisational change currently we are only able to offer contract till 31 March 2027. We are hoping this will be reviewed soon.
The salary contribution towards this role is in line with TPD sessional payments at £12,000 per session. Please make sure you discuss it with your employer before applying.
Main duties of the job
The Head of School is professionally and managerially accountable to the Postgraduate Dean. The HoS will focus upon improvement of learner supervision, assessment and experience, engagement of faculty and ensuring effective educational outcomes, both now and in the future. The role is evolving and will also focus on whole workforce transformation and developing multi-professional links.
About us
Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.
We lead the NHS in England by:
* Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities
* Making the NHS a great place to work, where people can develop and make a difference
* Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
* Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
In 2025, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and waste.
If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Education and Training Quality Improvement and Performance
* To emphasise the importance and promote the development of a quality learning environment for all learners.
* To support Postgraduate Deans in meeting all NHSE statutory requirements.
Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality Improvement
* Assist in the development of quality processes which are complementary across the healthcare workforce.
* To support the use of clinical skills training and simulation (where appropriate/applicable), stressing the importance of teamwork and human factors.
School Programme Management
* Specialty-specific matters and trainee/trainer concerns;
* Recruitment to training posts and programmes;
* Postgraduate programme management, including assessments, progression, rotations, support and remediation, OOP management, trainee management, careers support, less than full‑time training, interdeanery transfer, academic training and other related work‑streams.
* To oversee the School structure and relevant School meetings within the structure.
Educational and Workforce Development
* Professional Development of the educational faculty
* To support compliance with requirements particularly with regard to the supervision and support for trainees and learners.
* To identify learning needs and support provision of educational appraisal, educator development and resource for faculty, trainees and learners.
* To create and promote shared learning opportunities to increase effective inter‑professional working across the School.
* To ensure local intelligence processes inform quality management processes.
* To engage with information systems (trainee database, post establishments).
Strategic Workforce Development and Commissioning
* To contribute to workforce planning, ensuring clinical engagement with local and national workforce planning processes.
* To develop educational programmes where needed to support achievement of curriculum competencies, engaging with commissioning processes as required.
* To identify and support the implementation of alternative workforce solutions within the School.
* To advise the Postgraduate Dean on commissioning and decommissioning activities.
Finance
* To engage with business planning processes and associated School budgets as needed.
* To ensure compliance with procurement requirements.
Secondments
Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Membership/Fellowship of a College, Faculty, professional association and/or regulatory body
* Attendance at courses aimed to support educational development
* Primary clinical healthcare qualification
* Educational qualification such as postgraduate certificate diploma or masters in medical education
Experience
* Considerable experience of working with learners or doctors in training in an educational context
* Experience of clinical and educational leadership and innovation, including managing a multi-professional team
* Understanding of developments involving the relevant Colleges/Faculties, professional bodies related NHS organisations and regulatory bodies
* Previous or current appointment as a leader in healthcare education
* Awareness of funding streams for healthcare education
* Understanding of current health, social care and education policy
Skills
* Demonstrable leadership skills and an ability to influence and motivate others
* Ability to quickly establish personal and professional credibility with colleagues and other key Stakeholders
* Committed to own personal development and an ability to support others to develop and progress
* Ability to rapidly establish academic credibility
Behaviours and Values
* To contribute to the vision of the local NHS and to enhance patient care by providing leadership and direction with respect to the quality of education and training
Depending on experienceIn line with HoS sessional payments
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