University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for detailed job description of the role.
The Head of Strategic Networks providesleadership, strategic direction, and management of the commissioned Neurosciences and Trauma Network in the NHS South East England Region. They will develop the Strategic Network and ensure effective interface and alignment with National, Regional (Southeast (SE) and ICS (Integrated Care Systems) policy and stakeholders.The strategic network includes Major Trauma, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Neurorehab, SCI and Spinal Surgery Operational Delivery Networks.
The Strategic Networks are the link between providers and commissioners. Any recommendations given to both regional and ICB commissioners, must follow the triple aim. This includes consideration of health inequalities in relation to health and wellbeing, ensuring high quality services, and sustainable and efficient use of resources.
University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.
Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.
We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.
At UHSwe’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.
At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.
The post holder will provide leadership and strategic direction for the commissioned Network within NHSE Regions, ensuring alignment with National, Regional (SE), and ICS policies. It acts as a bridge between providers and commissioners, focusing on the triple aim of addressing health inequalities, ensuring high-quality services, and efficient resource use. The role maintains national, regional, and local standards, fosters partnerships with Commissioning Leads, Tertiary Centres, Secondary Care, and ICSs, and supports mutual aid processes. It leverages strong data and digital technologies, ensures robust governance and risk management, and reports to NHSE Specialised Commissioning and the Strategic Oversight Board.
Success indicators for the post holder included improved and equitable access, facilitating care closer to home, reducing variation and improved outcomes of care by ensuring quality improvement, increased productivity and involving patients and public voice in workstreams.
The post holder will ensure that the Strategic Networks activities are based on strong data, and where possible maximise the use of digital technologies. The Head is responsible for ensuring strong governance systems are in place in the Strategic Networks and that there are effective risk management arrangements
Strategic Leadership and Planning:
· Develop, lead, and manage defined components of Network strategies and plans, ensuring meaningful and timely engagement on strategic issues with partners, patients, and stakeholders.
· Provide line management responsibility for the department.
· Hold leadership responsibility for the department, managing own staff
· Collaborate with the Network Clinical Director to develop service-specific plans for key aspects of the Network strategy, supported by appropriate financial and activity modelling, with clinical leadership and support.
· Support the delivery of major Network initiatives, including troubleshooting major service developments or other issues, ensuring effective project delivery and implementation processes.
· Lead project teams as appropriate to deliver strategic priorities, applying project management methodology where required.
· Increase the level of integration within the Network and with external partners, particularly in relation to integrated care organizations and the NHS Long Term Plan.
· Work with the Oversight Board, executive directors, senior managers, clinicians, and operational staff to ensure wide communication of strategic developments, ensuring understanding, commitment, and participation in development and network-wide ownership.
· Participate in the identification, development, and implementation of joint ventures and strategic partnerships, and collaborate to deliver new services.
· Ensure alignment of Network activities to ICS partner organizations, generating collaborative opportunities and identifying risks as they arise.
· Represent the Network in senior-level external meetings, articulating the Network’s position on complex strategy issues.
· Monitor the policy and strategic environment, assessing potential impacts and implications of external changes for the Network, and produce briefings on key national and local developments.
· Work in partnership with the Strategic Network Clinical Director to ensure the appropriate arrangements for clinical and service governance for the Strategic Network are established.
· Collaborate with other networks to refresh strategies and plans annually, informing the annual planning process, budget setting, transformation, and value-for-money programs.
Policy and Service Development:
· Interpret National Health and Social Care Policy as it applies to the Network, advising the Oversight Boards and NHSE/ICBs, ensuring early dialogue with Commissioners regarding implications for delivery.
· Work with Network Managers, Lead nurses/AHPs/Clinical Scientists, Clinical Director, and Clinical leads to develop a system for Peer review against national commissioning standards across the network.
· Work with Network members to develop service improvement programmes, policies, and implementation strategies.
· Support the National Clinical Reference Group by implementing national service specifications and dashboards throughout the network.
· Work collaboratively with other regional Networks to agree and achieve national goals.
· Foster a culture of collaboration across the Strategic Network to support the development and implementation of network protocols, policies, and guidelines.
· Develop business plans and provide expert strategic and policy advice and guidance on all areas of the Operations and Delivery within the portfolio.
· Lead on the development of an annual work programme with the strategic network, which reflects standards set out in the Network framework.
· Work with Clinical Director, Clinical leads, Network Managers, and Nurse/Education Leads to identify, plan, and deliver improvement projects.
· Hold responsibility for policy implementation and development
· Lead the development of policies and procedures within the specific strategic network
· Contribute to and ensure compliance with corporate policies
Budget Management:
· Accountable for the Strategic Network (which will include multiple programmes across Trauma and Neuroscience) income and expenditure targets, ensuring robust monetary management in line with the Host Trust requirements.
· Strive for value for money and efficiency in the use of financial resources.
· Provide financial reports quarterly to the Oversight Board.
· Adhere to Standing Financial Orders and Instructions.
· Identify opportunities to support income generation for the Strategic Network (e.g., educational events).
Information Management:
· Ensure all elements of the Strategic Network practices are based on rigorous data and evidence.
· Establish information flows with systems and processes to identify triggers for intervention.
· Analyse and interpret complex and often distressing data relating to the Strategic Network, including morbidity and mortality data.
· Update information systems to develop performance management reports and hold responsibility for this.
Communication:
· Develop and maintain effective communication arrangements for the ODN, enabling efficient and effective two-way information transfer both internally and externally.
· Present complex, sensitive, and contentious information to a wide range of stakeholders, using highly developed negotiation, persuasion, reassurance, and motivational communication skills.
· Nurture key relationships with senior and high-profile individuals, including national directors and key leaders in professional organizations.
· Develop and maintain key partnerships with NHS England, Area Teams, Strategic Clinical Networks, Integrated Care Boards, NHS Trusts, Local Authorities, Health and Wellbeing Boards, Academic Health Science Networks, and the third sector.
· Facilitate regular, productive, and open communication with the Strategic Network Team.
· Document an annual report for the Strategic Network.
Clinical Governance and Risk:
· Ensure appropriate arrangements for clinical and service governance for the Strategic Network, ensuring quality standards are delivered and assurance is provided.
· Accountable for clinical governance systems in the Strategic Network, ensuring effective systems are in place to report incidents, serious incidents, and safety issues.
· Proactively manage key risks and issues associated with the delivery of Strategic Network objectives, ensuring appropriate actions are taken to mitigate or respond to risks and issues, and escalate risks to the Strategic Oversight Board.
Research and Audit:
· Develop a research strategy and audit programme in partnership with the Clinical Director, ensuring relevant data is collected, analysed, and shared to inform care outcomes.
· Work closely with service provider audit teams to ensure relevant data collection and analysis.
Patient Care and Experience:
· Ensure pathways of care are in place where care crosses organisational boundaries, achieving good outcomes for patients and their carers/families.
· Ensure patient and carer/family voices are heard and represented at all key forums.
· Investigate any care pathways resulting in poor experience or outcomes, making necessary changes to improve care.
Learning and Development:
· Attend mandatory training updates as required.
· Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process.
· Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.
· Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager.
· Participate in the Trust’s appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to patients and support service changes.
This advert closes on Sunday 16 Mar 2025