18-week RTT Team Leader

Job overview

We are seeking a motivated and organised 18-week RTT Team Leader to support the delivery of elective care standards across the Trust. This is an important role within the Elective Care team, providing day-to-day leadership to the corporate RTT Validation Team and helping ensure patient pathways are accurately maintained in line with national Referral to Treatment rules and the Trust Elective Access Policy.

The post holder will oversee waiting list validation activity, support the management of Patient Tracking Lists, and work closely with clinical and operational teams to improve data quality, reduce pathway risks and support delivery against elective access standards. The role requires strong organisational skills, attention to detail, confidence in using information systems and the ability to support and guide a team working in a busy operational environment.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with NHS administrative or operational experience who is looking to develop their leadership skills and contribute to improving patient access, pathway accuracy and elective care performance.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide day-to-day leadership to the corporate 18-week RTT Validation Team, ensuring patient pathways are accurately validated and managed in line with national RTT rules and the Trust Elective Access Policy.

Key duties will include:

• Managing and prioritising the daily work of the RTT Validation Team.
• Supporting accurate and timely validation of Patient Tracking Lists across the Trust.
• Ensuring patients are managed appropriately against 18-week Referral to Treatment standards.
• Working closely with clinical service managers, operational teams and team leaders to support effective pathway management.
• Identifying and escalating data quality issues, potential breaches and training needs.
• Producing and analysing reports to support validation, forecasting and service improvement.
• Supporting the delivery of elective care targets by helping maintain accurate waiting lists.
• Providing line management, supervision, training and development support to team members.
• Attending relevant meetings and providing updates on validation progress, risks and actions.
• Promoting high standards of administration, data quality, confidentiality and patient-focused working.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The 18-week RTT Team Leader will provide day-to-day leadership and coordination of the corporate RTT Validation Team, supporting the Trust to deliver accurate, timely and effective management of Referral to Treatment pathways. The post holder will work closely with the Elective Access Manager, 18-Week Lead, clinical service managers and operational teams to ensure waiting lists and Patient Tracking Lists are validated in line with national RTT rules and the Trust Elective Access Policy.

The post holder will be responsible for prioritising validation activity, supporting pathway accuracy, identifying data quality risks and ensuring appropriate escalation of potential breaches or issues that may affect delivery of elective care standards. They will provide assurance that validation processes are robust, consistent and aligned to best practice across the organisation.

Main responsibilities will include:

• Providing day-to-day line management, supervision and support to the corporate RTT Validation Team.
• Planning, coordinating and prioritising validation work across RTT cohorts, with a focus on chronological pathway management and risk reduction.
• Ensuring patients are managed in accordance with national RTT rules, local access policies and agreed operating procedures.
• Supporting the accurate and timely validation of Patient Tracking Lists across outpatient and inpatient pathways.
• Working with clinical and operational teams to resolve pathway queries, improve data quality and support effective waiting list management.
• Identifying, escalating and supporting the resolution of data quality issues, potential breaches, operational risks and training needs.
• Producing, interpreting and presenting validation reports, pathway information and performance data to support planning, forecasting and service improvement.
• Supporting the Elective Access Manager and 18-Week Lead in monitoring validation progress, elective care risks and delivery against access standards.
• Developing and implementing validation plans to reduce data quality-related breaches and improve pathway accuracy.
• Providing training, guidance and support to staff on RTT rules, validation processes and Trust policy requirements.
• Attending relevant operational and performance meetings, providing updates on validation progress, risks, actions and areas requiring support.
• Supporting capacity and demand discussions where validation data informs operational planning.
• Promoting high standards of administration, confidentiality, information governance and patient-focused working.
• Ensuring team members are appraised, supported and developed in line with Trust policies and good management practice.
• Providing appropriate cover within the team during periods of leave, vacancy or absence.