Job summary As the Deputy Head of PTS Operations, you will work closely with the Head of Operation- PTS and other senior stakeholders to lead on clinical, quality, and governance initiatives within the service. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape and enhance patient transport delivery, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and driving continuous improvement across clinical operations. North West Ambulance Service is dedicated to providing high-quality, patient-centred healthcare services. Our Patient Transport Services (PTS) play a vital role in ensuring safe, reliable, and compassionate transportation for patients across our region. We are committed to delivering exceptional care while maintaining the highest clinical, quality, and governance standards. To support our ambitious goals, we are seeking a dynamic and experienced Deputy Head of Patient Transport Services to oversee regulatory compliance, governance, and quality within our PTS team. Main duties of the job Deputy Head of PTS - Clinical Provide clinical leadership, ensuring the highest standards of patient safety and care within the PTS. Develop and implement governance frameworks and quality assurance processes to maintain compliance with CQC and other regulatory requirements. Lead on incident investigations, root cause analysis, and action planning to promote a culture of learning and improvement. Oversee staff training, education, and clinical competency assessments to ensure all team members operate at the required professional standard. Monitor and analyse performance data, identifying trends and areas for service improvement. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, external partners, and stakeholders to deliver patient-focused services. Deputise for the Head of PTS as required, providing operational and strategic leadership. About us North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust provides 24 hour, 365 days a year accident and emergency services to those in need of emergency medical treatment and transport. Our highly skilled staff provide life-saving care to patients in the community and take people to hospital or a place of care if needed.We also provide non-emergency patient transport services for those patients who require non-emergency transport to and from hospital and who are unable to travel unaided because of their medical condition or clinical need. Alongside the other emergency services, we also work to ensure the safety of the public and treatment of patients in the event of a major incident. We also deliver the NHS 111 service in the North West. NHS 111 replaced NHS Direct in 2013. This service was introduced to make it easier for people to access local NHS healthcare services in England. It provides non-emergency medical help fast, and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Date posted 03 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8b Salary £62,215 to £72,293 a year Per Annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 242-4554-LR Job locations 20 PTS Senior Management Team Bolton BL1 5DD Job description Job responsibilities We are looking for an inspiring and enthusiastic leader with proven experience in quality and governance. A clinical background is desirable but not essential. You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, be able to demonstrate compassionate leadership, a passion for patient care, and a commitment to driving improvement. What We Offer A supportive and collaborative working environment. Opportunities for professional development and career progression. Access to employee wellbeing programmes. Job description Job responsibilities We are looking for an inspiring and enthusiastic leader with proven experience in quality and governance. A clinical background is desirable but not essential. You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, be able to demonstrate compassionate leadership, a passion for patient care, and a commitment to driving improvement. What We Offer A supportive and collaborative working environment. Opportunities for professional development and career progression. Access to employee wellbeing programmes. Person Specification Skills / Competencies Essential Can evidence innovative and strategic thinking ability Able to demonstrate the ability to provide and receive highly complex information where there are significant barriers to acceptance. Ability to demonstrate the ability to communicate in situations where it is considered sensitive or highly contentious Highly developed negotiating and influencing skills Able to make sense of complex and conflicting priorities and reach effective and speedy solutions Can lead and motivate complex singular or multi-disciplinary teams Is politically astute with knowledge of local decision making and influencing bodies. Open and democratic style Ability to handle detail within strategic plans and make informed decisions and judgements. Ability to assess risks, anticipate difficulties and successfully address them. Experience in the application of HR processes Demonstrable experience of line management responsibilities Highly developed negotiating and influencing skills at a senior level Demonstrates resilience, confidence and self-belief when under pressure Committed to promoting diversity and awareness of equal opportunities Able to produce results to deadlines and work under pressure Able to be flexible - across geographical areas and work hours Able to work and lead effectively within a team Qualifications and Knowledge Essential Educated to Master's degree level in a relevant subject or can demonstrate equivalent experience Evidence of audit and evaluation / benchmarking of clinical services Master's degree in a relevant clinical field (or working towards) Evidence of recent on- going personal development action, as well as activity and reflective practice Current broad knowledge of the national NHS context Strategic awareness of the challenges facing health and social care, and in particular Ambulance Services Experience of practice, and development of systems to deliver and monitor operational training, and additional professional development Knowledge and understanding of PTS non-emergency and 111 call triage processes Formal management training or demonstrable experience Evidence of relevant Continuing Professional Development Has specific in-depth knowledge of the challenges facing the multi-agency urgent and emergency care environment gained through a mix of experience and formal training. Has specific in-depth knowledge of the challenges facing health and social care gained through a mix of experience and formal training Has current broad knowledge of the national NHS context in respect of transforming the response to patient care needs Desirable Registered Health Care Professional Experience Essential Evidence of recent on- going personal development action, as well as activity and reflective practice Evidence of recent on- going personal development action, as well as activity and reflective practice In depth knowledge across a number of disciplines including performance management, information systems, staff management and financial management within the Emergency Service Sector Experience of patient care delivery across all parts of the NHS, considering access to routine and urgent care Can demonstrate experience of leading staff employed in the provision of patient services Has business planning, objective setting and performance management experience and is able to formulate medium/long term and tactical plans (which contribute to strategic plans) involving uncertainty and which might impact on the Trust and geographical area outside the Trusts boundaries Experience in the delivery of management structure reviews Values and Behaviours Essential Working together - demonstrate collaborative and inclusive working and challenge behaviour that is not inclusive or acceptable Person Specification Skills / Competencies Essential Can evidence innovative and strategic thinking ability Able to demonstrate the ability to provide and receive highly complex information where there are significant barriers to acceptance. Ability to demonstrate the ability to communicate in situations where it is considered sensitive or highly contentious Highly developed negotiating and influencing skills Able to make sense of complex and conflicting priorities and reach effective and speedy solutions Can lead and motivate complex singular or multi-disciplinary teams Is politically astute with knowledge of local decision making and influencing bodies. Open and democratic style Ability to handle detail within strategic plans and make informed decisions and judgements. Ability to assess risks, anticipate difficulties and successfully address them. Experience in the application of HR processes Demonstrable experience of line management responsibilities Highly developed negotiating and influencing skills at a senior level Demonstrates resilience, confidence and self-belief when under pressure Committed to promoting diversity and awareness of equal opportunities Able to produce results to deadlines and work under pressure Able to be flexible - across geographical areas and work hours Able to work and lead effectively within a team Qualifications and Knowledge Essential Educated to Master's degree level in a relevant subject or can demonstrate equivalent experience Evidence of audit and evaluation / benchmarking of clinical services Master's degree in a relevant clinical field (or working towards) Evidence of recent on- going personal development action, as well as activity and reflective practice Current broad knowledge of the national NHS context Strategic awareness of the challenges facing health and social care, and in particular Ambulance Services Experience of practice, and development of systems to deliver and monitor operational training, and additional professional development Knowledge and understanding of PTS non-emergency and 111 call triage processes Formal management training or demonstrable experience Evidence of relevant Continuing Professional Development Has specific in-depth knowledge of the challenges facing the multi-agency urgent and emergency care environment gained through a mix of experience and formal training. Has specific in-depth knowledge of the challenges facing health and social care gained through a mix of experience and formal training Has current broad knowledge of the national NHS context in respect of transforming the response to patient care needs Desirable Registered Health Care Professional Experience Essential Evidence of recent on- going personal development action, as well as activity and reflective practice Evidence of recent on- going personal development action, as well as activity and reflective practice In depth knowledge across a number of disciplines including performance management, information systems, staff management and financial management within the Emergency Service Sector Experience of patient care delivery across all parts of the NHS, considering access to routine and urgent care Can demonstrate experience of leading staff employed in the provision of patient services Has business planning, objective setting and performance management experience and is able to formulate medium/long term and tactical plans (which contribute to strategic plans) involving uncertainty and which might impact on the Trust and geographical area outside the Trusts boundaries Experience in the delivery of management structure reviews Values and Behaviours Essential Working together - demonstrate collaborative and inclusive working and challenge behaviour that is not inclusive or acceptable 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). Additional information 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). Employer details Employer name North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust Address 20 PTS Senior Management Team Bolton BL1 5DD Employer's website https://www.nwas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)