Employer: 279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: UH Sussex- Cross Site - Worthing Hospital
Town: Worthing
Salary: £62,215 - £72,293 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 08/01/2025 23:59
Deputy Head of Microbiology
Band 8b
About our Trust
At UHSussex, we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, ambition, and values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Our hard-working, talented, and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to always put our Patient First. In fact, our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto, and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff, which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work-life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching, and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career, we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Job overview
The post holder, in conjunction with the Pathology Head of Operations, will provide operational leadership and management to the Microbiology & Infection specialty and its associated workforce and services across all Microbiology sites. The Microbiology and Infection service is based on three sites at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, and St Richards Hospital, Chichester. The Brighton laboratory is the UKHSA commissioned regional public health microbiology laboratory for the South East and links are established with BSMS Medical School. The laboratory holds UKAS accreditation for both the clinical and environmental services. A full range of clinical services including bacteriology, mycobacteriology, mycology, virology, and an extensive range of molecular tests are provided from the Brighton laboratory; water and environmental microbiology at the Haywards Heath laboratory, and a full range of clinical services including virus serology and some molecular tests at the Chichester laboratory. UHSussex is also part of Pathology Network South 7, along with East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust (ESHT). They will be involved in the drive to harmonise and centralise Pathology services across the network.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will act as Deputy to the Head of Microbiology & Infection and be responsible for operational activity within the specialty, which will include the business continuity processes and planning, and day-to-day management of staff, providing strong leadership, management, and communicating the strategic direction to the Pathology operational teams over all sites. With the Head of Microbiology & Infection, have responsibility for the successful implementation and ongoing delivery of a high-quality, cost-effective, and safe service within UHSussex Pathology.
Manage operational changes, ensuring a safe transition from individual Trust pathology services to the new integrated service and developing and fostering a new culture in line with the overarching objectives of the Sussex Pathology Network and its business case for change.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the detailed job description and person specification that has been included as part of this vacancy advert.
Person specification
Experience/Qualification
* Educated to master's level or equivalent level of experience working at a senior level in Pathology. Recognised professional postgraduate qualification in leadership and management or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master’s level or equivalent. Evidence of post-qualifying and continuing professional development. Evidence of leading and managing change in a complex environment. Robust negotiating and performance management skills. Evidence of meeting challenging operational and service objectives. Has worked at a senior level in an acute NHS hospital. Ability to translate complex systems, user requirements, and corporate priorities into robust implementation plans. Significant experience in working with confidential information and adherence with Caldicott (patient confidentiality), GDPR 2018.
* Understanding of the complex strategic environment and of the commissioning agenda.
Skills
* To be a part of, supervise and direct a team. Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills. Can present complex and sensitive information to large groups of staff at all levels (Trust level to Junior staff) including training and conference presentations. Excellent numeric and analytical skills to enable critique of reports, both financial and information-based. Highly developed problem-solving skills. Ability to capture, analyse, manipulate, and interpret complex data from a range of sources. Able to make sound judgements and decisions involving highly complex facts. Good budgetary management experience. High level of business, commercial, and financial acumen. Excellent organisational and prioritising skills. Capability to plan over short, medium, and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly. Able to contribute to commercial strategy. Professional credibility and gravitas and ambassadorial skills to represent the Trust and Microbiology both internally and externally. Able to respond to conflicting demands, work to tight and often challenging timescales and deadlines. Change management experience. Advanced IT skills for data entry and Trust IT Systems, spreadsheets, DATIX.
People Management & Development
* Highly developed leadership and influencing skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate, and engage individuals and teams. Experience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of the individuals. Able to manage own work programme and set prioritised deadlines for others. Experience of managing a team of professionals, including recruitment, appraisal, and development. Experience of developing the operational capability and effectiveness of others. Excellent organiser, influencer, and networker. Dealing with conflict.
Specific Requirements
* Lead the strategic direction for the service, identifying and developing service improvement and commercial opportunities that match the overall strategic objectives of the Trust, Network, and the department and which contribute to the delivery of improved patient care pathways and outcomes. Ensure the delivery of a highly specialist and safe clinical technical service to service users and their patients.
Freedom to Act
* Strategic thinking and ability to mitigate issues and act autonomously when required, on difficult issues. Able to work autonomously, liaise with and coordinate the specialty services on a day-to-day basis and to take appropriate action as necessary. Identify and adhere to best practice. Responsible for own professional actions and have sufficient autonomy for the delivery of the role. Able to interpret national and local guidance and develop local policies to reflect these standards.
Professional Registration
* Member of Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC), relative to Pathology registration.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
* Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
* Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.
Important information for applicants
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working, please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for those that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker.
Closing adverts early: Please apply as early as you're able for this role. In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications.
Further Information
For help with the application process for non-medical vacancies only, please contact the Resourcing Team by Email: uhsussex.non-medicalvacancies@nhs.net
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Name: Fearghal Tucker
Job title: Head of Microbiology
Email address: fearghal.tucker1@nhs.net
Telephone number: 07811150960
Additional information: Lorne Dye - Associate Director of Pathology
Email: lorne.dye1@nhs.net
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