Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country. Across the whole of the region we provide: Adult and older adult mental health services Specialist learning disability services Mental health services for children and young people Community healthcare services for children, young people and families in Dudley Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2020, with the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust. Combining resources, strategies and talented workforce enables us to deliver a wider variety of outstanding services that are based on best practice and are continually improving. We currently employ over 4,000 people and just like the population we serve, we are made up of diverse cultures and backgrounds. Whatever your role, working in a NHS Foundation Trust, like ours, is a demanding and extremely rewarding experience. Knowing that every day you can help to make a positive difference to someone’s life is a very powerful feeling. We know that our Trust runs on this desire to help and support people, and our Trust vision expresses this. Our vision is to improve health and wellbeing for everyone, especially our colleagues to achieve the best possible work/life balance. We proudly offer supportive, inclusive and family friendly employment and flexible working policies. We have a wide range of professional services and employee networks to help our colleagues be at their best - and find support if they need it. To find more about our staff benefits, please visit our website: blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk. Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and ethnic minority candidates are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Black Country Healthcare we recognise and value all forms of knowledge and expertise, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification or criteria in the job description/person specification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. For further supporting information to help you apply for this role please see documents attached under ‘Additional documents’. Job overview We are delighted that you’re considering joining us as our Chief Operating Officer. This is an exciting time for our organisation, and we are looking for someone who shares our passion for making a real difference in people’s lives. We’re a Trust that’s big enough to make an impact, but small enough to feel personal. We care deeply about our people - both those we support in the community and those who work with us. As our Chief Operating Officer, you’ll play a key role in shaping our future, improving our culture, driving excellence, and helping us deliver compassionate, high-quality care every day. The post holder must ensure that services are delivered within a culture of continuous improvement and safety and in line with our Trust values. They will be accountable for all aspects of operational service delivery and performance. They will work collaboratively with other executives to optimise service performance and productivity, ensuring high quality care and rigorous resource management which supports the Trust’s financial recovery programme. The COO will also be accountable for the delivery of national and local key performance indicators, as well as compliance against Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) core standards. Advert The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is accountable to the Chief Executive Officer and the Trust Board for the overall strategic and operational leadership of service delivery within the Trust. The post holder must ensure that services are delivered within a culture of continuous improvement and safety and in line with our Trust values. They will be accountable for all aspects of operational service delivery and performance. They will work collaboratively with other executives to optimise service performance and productivity, ensuring high quality care and rigorous resource management which supports the Trust’s financial recovery programme. Key relationships Internal · Chair · Chief Executive · Executive and Non-Executive Directors · Chair of the Audit Committee · Board level Directors · NED Chairs of board subcommittees · Governors · Clinical Directors · Senior Clinicians, Directors, Associate · Directors and Managers · Internal auditors External · Directors and Officers from partner organisations within the wider ICB cluster · Directors and Officers of stakeholder organisations · External auditors · Directors and Officers from other NHS Bodies · Directors and Officers from other statutory and regulatory bodies · Voluntary, community, social enterprise and faith (VCSEF) sector Working for our organisation Why this role matters We are an ambitious organisation, proud to advocate for and stand alongside our Black Country communities. As Chief Operating Officer, you’ll be at the heart of operational delivery, strategic execution and compassionate leadership. In organisations such as ours, care is often complex, multi-disciplinary and deeply personal. Operational leadership needs to balance delivery and performance targets with the human realities of recovery, wellbeing and dignity. As the NHS embraces new models of care; shifting from hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention, you will play a pivotal role in leading that change locally. You will help shape and implement new care pathways, integrate services across systems and neighbourhoods, and ensure that innovation is embedded in practice. You will help foster collaboration across clinical and corporate teams, build trust with partners, and ensure that our values are lived, not just stated. You will help create a culture of inclusion, hope, and recovery. Ultimately, you will be part of a team that is accountable for delivering results that matter: improved patient outcomes, reduced inequalities, better access to care, and enhanced productivity. Your leadership will help ensure that every part of the organisation is aligned with its mission This is your chance to make a lasting impact. To help us do our best for the Black Country, and for everyone who calls it home. Detailed job description and main responsibilities Core executive responsibilities Executive director · Wholly participate in the role of the unitary Board of Directors in discharging its collective responsibilities for: · Providing active leadership to the Trust within a framework of robust and effective controls which enable risk to be evaluated and informed decision-making. · Ensuring compliance with the Trust’s Terms of Authorisation, its Constitution, mandatory guidance issued by regulators, relevant statutory requirements and contractual obligations. · Setting the strategic aims and objectives of the Trust, taking into account the views of the Council of Governors and ensuring that the necessary human, physical and financial resources are in place for the Trust to meet its objectives and deliver on Trust-wide performance. · Ensuring the quality and safety of services, education and training and research delivered by the Trust, and applying the principles and standards of clinical governance. · Setting the Trust’s values and standards of conduct, and ensuring its obligations to its members, service users and other stakeholders are understood and met. · Be objective and offer constructive challenge in forming the decisions of the Board in the interests of the Trust. · Accept joint and collective responsibility for the decisions of the Board. · Represent the Trust as required and authorised, in appropriate forums and events. · Work in partnership with other key stakeholders to ensure delivery of the Trust’s key strategies. Please download the accompanying Application Pack for a full background to the role, further information and Job Descriptions and Person Specifications. Please Note that Internal at Risk Employees will be given preference for this position We reserve the right to bring the closing date forward for this vacancy at any time should we receive an overwhelming response of applications. We therefore encourage applicants to apply early if you wish to be considered for this post. If you do not hear from the recruitment 4 weeks within the advertised closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful at the shortlisting stage. Please ensure that you check your emails on a regular basis for any recruitment updates regarding this vacancy. If you are not successful at the shortlisting stage and would like feedback, please contact the Recruitment Team directly for feedback. The salary range quoted is as per NHS Agenda for Change pay structures. This is based on the number of years’ working directly within the NHS at the advertised pay band. Experience gained with other NHS Trusts will apply, but candidates without prior experience working direct for the NHS would normally be appointed at the lowest point unless they can demonstrate the equivalent experience and then be eligible for incremental increases in future years. Successful applicants for clinical posts up to and including Band 4 are expected to hold the national Care Certificate qualification and will be supported to attain this once in post. The Trust is committed to equal opportunities, providing opportunities for flexible working and is a non-smoking organisation. As a Trust we are passionate about Anti-Racism, Disability Inclusion, and LGBTQ Equality, and are committed to diversifying our staff team in all areas and at all levels of seniority to better reflect the diverse communities we serve. Therefore, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from people who belong to a minority or marginalised community, including from Black and Asian, Disabled (including hidden disabilities such as Neurodiversity, Mental Health, etc), or Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans or Queer (LGBTQ) people. Furthermore, Disabled applicants have the option of requesting that their application is considered under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS). Please indicate your intention to apply under the GIS in the relevant section of your application. Regardless of whether you participate in the scheme or have shared a disability, you will be provided the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the interview process at each stage of the recruitment process. Due to the nature of the work some posts may be subject to a Standard Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, through the Disclosure and Barring Service as stipulated under part V of the Police Act 1997. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us; this will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances of your offences.