Job summary
The Head of Operations is responsible for Operational management of the service, ensuring Trust resources are used to maximum efficiency, while ensuring safety, quality, and performance are delivered.
Main duties of the job
To be responsible for the operational management of Child Health Services including:
* Providing visible proactive leadership to the service, acting as the key senior lead for issues, challenges, and escalation.
* Work collaboratively with the Care Groups to provide assurance that robust systems for elective and non elective patient flow are in place and that quality patient led services are delivered consistently.
* Collaborate with Care Group teams, to ensure Trust wide operational priorities are identified and delivered on a daily basis with robust plans from the Care Group for out of hours.
* Provide leadership to the key functions of: Delivery of Business Plan, Delivery of RTT and non RTT pathways
Main duties of the job
The general duties of the post of Head of Operations is covered in the Job description. Listed below are areas which give context to the demands of the role and the requirement to recruit.
The post holder has overall responsibility for the day to day management of Child Health Services with responsibility for 13 sub- specialties with the support of a general manager.
Some of the sub-specialties have elective inpatients and day cases
The operational delivery of the services as a whole covers the whole Trust.
About us
We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It\'s about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We\'re looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
Details
Date posted: 08 October 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8c
Salary: £76,965 to £88,682 a year Per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 344-7296WCY
Job locations: William Harvey Hospital, Kennington Road, Ashford, TN24 0HZ
Job description
Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in Documents to download.
If you have further queries please dont hesitate to get in touch using the contact details below.
Person Specification
Qualifications and training
* Essential: Masters or demonstration of equivalent substantial continuing professional development.
* Management qualification or relevant experience.
* Desirable: Qualification in management coaching or improvement
Skills and experience
* Essential: Substantial experience of senior management in a relevant healthcare provider, in a multi- disciplinary environment
* Experience of developing and/or sustaining a culture consistent with Trust values
* Proven track record of management of budgets, including development of cost efficiencies, income generation, capital planning and value for money service developments
* Track record of achievement of objectives, including delivery of performance objectives
* Experience of influencing at senior level within and across organisations to develop services and improve performance
Clinical governance
* Essential: Commitment to implementation and strengthening of clinical governance
Personal/professional attributes
* Essential: Environmental and political awareness.
* Excellent written and verbal communications, Interpersonal and influence skills
* High analytical and numeracy skills.
* High level of self-awareness and openness to self-improvement.
Other requirements
* Essential: Able to function in a multi-professional environment
* Ability to cope under pressure and work to ambitious deadlines
* Self-motivated, energetic and flexible, with well-developed interpersonal skills
* Personal resilience, self-awareness, determination to succeed
Disclosure and Sponsorship
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.
Certificates of Sponsorship: 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. Guidance on criminal records checks for overseas applicants can be found here. (Links removed in refined version)
Employer details
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
William Harvey Hospital
Kennington Road
Ashford
TN24 0HZ
Website: ekhuft.nhs.uk
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