Job responsibilities

The Days Matter Improvement Lead will provide senior leadership and programme management expertise to support the delivery of cancer pathway improvement and sustainable performance against national Cancer Waiting Time standards. The post holder will lead the identification, design, implementation and evaluation of improvement initiatives aimed at reducing delays across cancer pathways and improving compliance with the Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS), 31-Day and 62-Day standards.

Working closely with clinical, operational and executive colleagues, the post holder will undertake detailed pathway analysis to identify bottlenecks, unwarranted variation and opportunities for service improvement. They will lead the development and delivery of improvement plans, applying recognised quality improvement and service redesign methodologies to support measurable and sustainable change.

The post holder will establish and maintain effective programme governance arrangements, including programme plans, risk registers, action plans and performance reporting processes. They will analyse complex performance information, monitor progress against agreed objectives and provide assurance through high-quality reports and presentations to Trust and system-wide governance groups.

The role requires significant stakeholder engagement and the ability to influence senior leaders across organisational boundaries. The post holder will facilitate multidisciplinary workshops, support implementation of best practice, and promote collaboration to drive improvement in patient outcomes and experience.

The post holder will also support evaluation of programme outcomes, benefits realisation and sustainability planning, ensuring that improvements are embedded within operational services and maintained beyond the life of the 12-month programme.

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in a relevant field
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Formal programme/project management qualification (PRINCE2, MSP, APM) or equivalent experience
• Training in service improvement, quality improvement or transformational change methodologies

Desirable

• Master's degree or equivalent qualification
• Lean, Six Sigma or Quality Improvement qualification
• Management or leadership qualification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of cancer services, cancer pathways or cancer performance management
• Experience of influencing senior clinical and operational stakeholders
• Experience of analysing and interpreting complex performance data
• Experience of presenting complex information to senior leadership teams and governance groups
• Significant experience of leading complex service improvement or transformation programmes within the NHS.
• Experience of working across organisational and professional boundaries to deliver improvement.
• Experience of delivering complex improvement or transformation programmes within defined timescales and achieving measurable performance outcomes.

Desirable

• Experience of regional or system-wide transformation programmes
• Experience of business case development and programme budget management.
• Experience of leading quality improvement initiatives within cancer services.

Knowledge

Essential

• Detailed knowledge of NHS performance frameworks.
• Knowledge of Cancer Waiting Time standards and cancer pathways
• Knowledge of programme governance and risk management
• Knowledge of service improvement and transformation methodologies
• Understanding of NHS operational and performance management processes.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Cancer Alliance arrangements and regional cancer performance
• Knowledge of diagnostic and treatment pathway design.

Skills/Competencies

Essential

• Excellent programme and project management skills.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interpret, analyse and present complex performance information.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Ability to lead complex change programmes across organisational boundaries.

Desirable

• Facilitation and workshop leadership skills.
• Advanced data visualisation and reporting skills.

Specific Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel across organisational sites.
• Ability to work independently and prioritise competing demands.
• Professional credibility and confidence to challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.

Desirable

• Membership of a relevant professional body.
• Experience of working with NHS England, Cancer Alliances or Integrated Care Boards.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to work in line with and role model Group values.
• Highly motivated and self-directed.
• Resilient and adaptable.
• Collaborative and supportive approach to leadership.
• Commitment to improving patient outcomes and service quality.

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.

Certificate 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 (Opens in a new tab).

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. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).