Associate Director of Health and Research
The Associate Director of Health & Research provides senior strategic leadership across nursing, pharmacy, EEG, and research services, shaping clinical practice, driving innovation, and ensuring the highest standards of patient care. The role contributes to the delivery of the National Health & Wellbeing Strategy and supports the wider Young Epilepsy five year strategy. It also oversees key external relationships and marketing activity to enhance the organisations profile and impact.
Although not part of the Executive Team the Associate Director of Health will report directly to the CEO providing direction and assurance to the Board and Executive Team.
Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities:
* Provides strategic leadership across nursing, pharmacy, EEG, and research services, fostering a collaborative culture while mentoring staff and supporting their professional development.
* Ensures highquality patient care through strong operational oversight and continuous improvement of clinical practice.
* Oversees regulatory compliance for Health and Research services as the CQC Nominated Individual, ensuring adherence to all relevant standards, policies, and professional requirements.
* Leads robust quality assurance processes, drives continuous improvement, and develops training to strengthen organisationwide awareness of compliance.
* Supports organisational sustainability by working with executive colleagues to maintain robust financial systems and meet all directorate budget targets.
* Represents Health and Research services at key meetings and conferences, promoting the organisations values and expertise.
* Ensures a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to care across teams, carers, and external partners. Acts as a key organisational spokesperson, strengthening engagement and representing Young Epilepsy across professional networks and strategic forums.
* Develops and delivers partnership strategies, maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders including families, clinicians, academic institutions, and regulatory bodies.
About us
Epilepsy can be one of the most frightening and isolating conditions a child can experience. The loss of any sense of safety, trapped in an unpredictable world, not knowing when their next seizure will happen, where it will happen, who will be there and if they will be hurt.
Living in this unpredictable world takes its toll on a childs physical and mental health, as well as impacting their education and social life. It can limit opportunities for the rest of their life.
Children with epilepsy have a right to be heard. We are here for them.
Together we can create a society where children and young people with epilepsy have a voice and can live happy, fulfilled lives. Through research that improves diagnosis and treatments, campaigning for childrens rights, and providing innovative tools, information, and practical support for living day-to-day life.
Together we create possible.
Job responsibilities
Strategic
* Oversee clinical governance arrangements across Health and Research Services defined within this role providing strategic direction and assurance to the Board and Executive Team on safeguarding and compliance matters.
* Creating strategic aims and objectives in line with Young Epilepsys values that are easily translated and understood.
* Strategic oversight and operational management of relevant Health and Research budgets ensuring quality is not compromised through efficiency.
* Overall responsibility for Health and Research Policies and Procedures ensuring they are regularly updated and correctly implemented across the service provision.
* Develop positive working relationships with other clinicians and managers to ensure that the organisation is at the forefront of best professional practice and service delivery.
* Lead the Health and Research Strategy as part of the 5 year plan including PPI development, partnership building, public awareness and education and health information and support.
* Attend Executive meetings on a monthly basis providing reports and updates.
* Attend the Strategy Steering Group as required to inform and update.
* Lead on discussion at Health Services Committee Meeting updating the committee with relevant and timely reporting and information
Leadership and Management
Mentor and support staff within nursing, Pharmacy, EEG, and research teams, promoting a collaborative and inclusive working environment. Identify training needs and facilitate opportunities for professional development.
* Nursing & Pharmacy Leadership: Provide strategic direction and operational oversight for nursing and pharmacy services, ensuring excellence in patient care, staff development, and adherence to regulatory requirements. Lead initiatives to enhance nursing and medical practice and support professional growth within the team.
* External Health Management: Oversee the delivery and quality assurance of EEG services, ensuring compliance with clinical standards and best practice. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate EEG diagnostics effectively into patient pathways and support ongoing education for staff.
* Lead, manage and develop the external health teams to provide effective delivery of external health services at Young Epilepsy and support the provision of health provision for St Piers students as necessary and within the framework of CQC requirements and Young Epilepsy standards.
* Research Oversight: Provide oversight and support for clinical research, fostering a culture of enquiry and evidence-based practice. Support the development and implementation of research projects, secure necessary approvals, and ensure ethical standards are upheld throughout all research undertakings.
* Ensure that the leadership, management and governance structures of all Health and Research services within Young Epilepsy and St Piers are appropriate and effective to maximise the quality of children and young peoples experiences, within the framework of CQCs regulatory requirements and the mission, vision and values of Young Epilepsy and St Piers.
* Promote a culture of inclusion and belonging for staff.
* Lead the development, implementation, and review of Health and Research policies, procedures, and practices, ensuring alignment with current legislation and best practice.
* Monitor and report on Health and Research performance, risks, and incidents, ensuring robust investigation, learning, and improvement processes are in place.
* Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory requirements, sector developments, and emerging risks as and act as the organisations principal point of contact with external agencies, regulators, and inspection bodies relevant to the role.
* Lead on internal audits and reviews relating to relevant Health and Research services and ensure that recommendations are actioned and embedded in practice.
* Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement across the relevant Health and Research services.
* Chair the Clinical Governance Committee and lead compliance across staff teams.
Quality & Compliance
* Be the CQC Nominated Individual for Health related services across Young Epilepsy and St Piers and ensure compliance to relevant standards, policies and procedures.
* Develop and lead the process for compliance across the relevant Health and Research services providing assurance and accountability through rigorous and robust systems of quality assurance ensuring NMC requirements are met.
* Develop and deliver or source as appropriate, training programmes to promote a culture of awareness and compliance at all levels of the organisation.
* Drive continuous improvement initiatives across Health and Research functions. Monitor performance metrics, implement best practices, and contribute to the development of policies and procedures that promote patient safety and service excellence.
* Lead on any concerns or complaints from parents, carers etc relating to Health and Research services as appropriate.
Finance
* Partner with executive colleagues to ensure the long‑term financial sustainability of Young Epilepsy and St Piers by ensuring proper financial systems are established and effectively monitored.
* Ensure that all budgetary targets are met in all cost centres associated with the directorate.
* Act as the Health and Research representative at relevant meetings and annual conferences, promoting our services and ethos.
* Promote patient and public involvement in the evaluation and improvement of services.
* Review the results of patient satisfaction surveys and utilise findings to improve services.
* Contribute to the development of clinical protocols in accordance with valid evidence.
* Ensure a patient focussed multidisciplinary approach to care in collaboration with carers, health care professionals and other agencies.
Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
* Lead and develop initiatives relating to public awareness, training and information for young people and their families in relation to epilepsy.
* Act as a key spokesperson and representative of the organisation engaging and informing others around epilepsy and the work of Young Epilepsy.
* Develop and lead a partnership strategy building professional networks.
* Develop and maintain strong relationships with parents/carers, students, staff, Directors, Governors and Trustees across the Charity.
* Act as a key liaison with internal and external partners, including clinicians, academic institutions, and regulatory bodies.
* Represent the organisation at relevant forums and contribute to strategic planning and decision‑making.
General
Ensure all duties are carried out in accordance with health and safety regulations as given by the Young Epilepsy health and safety policy and procedures.
This job description is not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonable and appropriate tasks.
Young Epilepsy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Person Specification
Skills, Knowledge and Aptitude
* Ability to manage teams and budgets
* Evidence of relative and extensive CPD
* IT Skills
* Ability to work as part of the team and/or autonomously.
* Good organisational skills
* Ability to prioritise conflicting demands.
* Evidence of having undertaken/been involved in relevant nursing research projects
Qualifications
* Degree educated or equivalent relevant experienced at a senior level.
* Experience of having been a Registered Manager for a service.
Personal Qualities
* Effective leader who can build a positive organisational culture, encourage reflection, delegate responsibility, build teams, strive for continuous improvement and inspire staff to achieve their full potential.
* A strategic thinker who can deliver against a strategy underpinned by strong values and behaviours.
* Professionally presented, confident, calm and assured in a wide range of settings with diverse audiences.
* Flexible and able to adapt to changing priorities and challenging situations effectively.
* Ability to be discreet at all times, to act with integrity and sensitivity in order to maintain confidentiality.
* A leader who can analyse and process complex information and data quickly and rigorously in order to make the best of opportunities.
* Evidence of continuing professional learning and development.
Experience
* Experience of working with/in:
* Children- special/complex needs, Epilepsy/neurology.
* Previously held CQC Registered Manager post within a clinical setting.
* Good understanding of CQC regulations.
* Significant post qualification experience in a variety of relevant health and research settings.
* Demonstrable experience of managing a team/department.
* Excellent understanding of Clinical Governance.
* Evidence of leadership in a variety of settings.
* Experience of working with/in:
* Accident and emergency, School/practice nursing,
* Nurse led service.
* Experience of leading audit or clinical research.
* Experience of having chaired Clinical Governance Committee.
* Epilepsy Nurse Specialism.
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.
£88,682 a yearannual salary pro rata, plus HCAS Fringe pro rata
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