Job summary
Applications are invited for the post of Head of Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response. We are seeking an individual who will be the expert for all EPRR matters within the Trust and act as a conduit for guidance and information while promoting a positive culture of EPRR across the organisation.
The postholder will work closely with partner organisations to support system resilience and contribute to forums that enable the sharing of best practice, peer review and collaborative working.
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the postholder will be responsible for the safe, efficient, effective and coordinated function of the Trust’s Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Recovery. This includes ensuring compliance with statutory regulatory, CQC and NHS EPRR national contract standards across all sites and local non‑statutory guidance, including business continuity and resilience preparedness.
The postholder will be responsible for risk assessing, planning, leading and responding to incidents and emergencies as defined in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
As the EPRR lead, the postholder will provide expert advice and guidance to the Trust Executive, senior management and staff, ensuring the Trust is kept informed of related national and regional strategic issues. Travel across all SPFT sites and on‑call support in emergency situations may be required.
Responsibilities
* Establish effective communication networks and engage with key internal and external stakeholders, including Directors, Service Leads, Business Managers, Estates and Security teams, and Corporate Senior team.
* Provide and receive highly complex, multi‑stranded information and motivate relevant stakeholders.
* Develop and maintain strong professional relationships with other EPRR leads across agencies.
* Represent SPFT at local and regional health sector forums, ensuring the Trust’s interests are represented and system discussions are fed back into the Trust.
* Advise on emergency planning and business continuity, developing, delivering, and monitoring systems to ensure an effective emergency response for major incidents, disruptive events and surges in demand.
* Work closely with Operational and Corporate teams to ensure that any interruption to Trust business or incidents (loss of utilities, IT/digital technology, damage to sites, planned maintenance, infectious outbreaks, industrial action, major road closures, etc.) has an appropriate contingency and is managed effectively.
* Lead the Trust’s EPRR agenda and ensure compliance with the Civil Contingencies Act 2024.
* Maintain robust processes to develop the Trust’s EPRR as defined by NHS England EPRR Framework and Standards 2022.
* Lead emergency and resilience planning across the Trust, covering major incident, influenza pandemic, heatwave, cold weather and service business continuity plans.
* Compile the Trust annual business plan in relation to EPRR.
* Develop strategies for each activity area to secure delivery of EPRR compliance, including development, approval and review of all related plans and policies.
* Work autonomously making highly complex decisions to meet defined results.
* Ensure SPFT has robust, tested, effective, up‑to‑date EPRR plans and policies that respond to all reasonably foreseeable incidents.
* Line‑manage the EPRR team, ensuring team meets all departmental and Trust objectives.
* Provide subject‑matter expert support for specialised incidents.
* Lead the design and delivery of training and exercise programs for all Trust staff, adapting material to audience needs and coordinating with multi‑agency partners.
* Assist with communication and media response during significant events and emergencies.
* Implement integrated emergency management within the Trust.
Qualifications
* Educated to degree level in a relevant subject or equivalent qualification with specialist training to masters or equivalent level.
* Recognised training qualification or willingness to work towards (e.g. City & Guilds Level 3 award in education & training, PTTLS, CTLS).
* Experience of continuing professional development and significant training in a workplace setting.
Knowledge & Experience
* Subject‑matter expertise across key areas relating to EPRR, the Civil Contingencies Act and the Health and Social Care Act.
* Experience of emergency planning and business continuity within the NHS, CCG or local authority, ideally within the NHS.
* Knowledge of resilience legislation and guidance, including the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
* Demonstrable senior management experience.
* Understanding of current healthcare policy and its implications for engagement.
* Budgetary responsibility experience, including setting budgets and financial processes.
* Experience of managing staff or functions.
* Appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement and individual providers and commissioning organisations.
Employer details
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Portland House, Richmond Road, Worthing, BN11 1FG
Employer website: https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/
Job details
Date posted: 11 December 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: 8b
Salary: £64,455 to £74,896 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full‑time, Flexible working
Reference number: 354‑CO‑21782
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance on criminal records checks for overseas applicants is available online.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) may be required to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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