Assistant Director Diagnostics and Cancer Services Band 8C

Job details

• Branch: Southern HSC Trust area (SHSCT)
• Location: Craigavon Area Hosp-Main Building
• Directorate: Surgery & Clinical Services
• Salary: Band 8c (£76,965 - £88,682)
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Opening Date: 01/10/26
• Closes: Thu, 15 October 2026 @ 4:00 PM
• Interview Dates: TBC

Notes

If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage. A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week. Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE

Assistant Director of Diagnostics & Cancer Services

BAND

8C

DIRECTORATE

Surgery and Clinical Services

LOCATION

Craigavon Area Hospital initially / Trustwide

REPORTS TO

Director of Surgery and Clinical Services

ACCOUNTABLE TO

Director of Adult, Community and Acute Operations

JOB SUMMARY

The jobholder will be responsible to the Director of Surgery and Clinical Services for the delivery of high-quality care to patients in the Trust’s Cancer and Clinical Service Division. The Trust is committed to a collective approach to leadership at all levels. She/he will play a key strategic role in leading and managing the services within their portfolio, in line with the principles and regional strategic direction for surgical services within health and social care, and the Trusts strategic objectives.

As an Assistant Director, the jobholder will be a member of the Directorate’s Senior Leadership team and will therefore contribute to policy development in the directorate and the achievement of its overall objectives. She/he will work alongside Divisional Medical Directors, Clinical Directors, Assistant Directors & Director colleagues both within and outside the Directorate and regionally, to contribute to a cohesive, multidisciplinary and dynamic senior team, as well as upholding the Trust’s values and provide exemplary and visible leadership.

She/he will be responsible for the operational management of all specialities in the division. This will incorporate Radiology and Diagnostic services, Laboratory services, Acute Allied Health Professionals, and Cancer services across the Trust, which may be subject to addition/amendment in future strategic moves. She/he will collaborate closely with senior clinicians and other disciplines to implement the objectives of the Trust’s Corporate Plan and ensure effective multidisciplinary working in the spirit of collective leadership. She/he will provide clear leadership to all staff in the division and will be responsible for effective financial management and the efficient use of all resources.

The jobholder will also support the Director with long term planning and transformation, and service reform initiatives both locally and regionally. The jobholder will collaborate with strategic partners to drive forward regional and Trust change and improvement in line will regional strategies. She/he will be crucial in leading in the planning and implementation of change, with a collaborative approach.

KEY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

Service Delivery

Provide strong strategic and operational collective leadership and management to all clinical and non-clinical services and staff across the Division with a clear focus on patient safety and experience, clinical governance and person-centred care.

Lead multidisciplinary teams and oversee the co-ordination of all processes to ensure the delivery of high quality and equitable care of patients in the Trust’s medicine division.

Ensure the successful implementation of all DOH and Strategic Partnership Planning Group (SPPG) commissioning priorities and targets in the division with a particular emphasis on those relating to waiting times and the establishment of agreed treatment schedules.

Work closely with senior clinicians and other senior managers in the Trust to secure an appropriate flow across the Trust services ensuring timely access to diagnostics.

Lead to the development of robust clinical and professional networks within the division and across the Trust.

Exercise judgement in respect of complex facts, data and situations that require analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options.

Ensure reports are provided to Executive level strategic fora and provide advice to Senior Leadership Team in respect of the services within the Division.

Contribute to the operation of the Control Room, providing managerial leadership, planning, leading and managing flow activity and capacity.

Contribute to on-call rotas.

Contribute to the operation of the Control Room, providing managerial leadership, planning, leading and managing flow activity and capacity

Quality and Governance

As Assistant Director, drive and ensure excellent standards of governance in the Division to include compliance with all relevant professional requirements and standards, safeguarding policies and procedures, clinical audits, the assessment and management of risk and the implementation of all relevant learning and best practice from Inquiries, Royal Colleges, Standards and Guidelines etc.

Ensure that the needs of patients and their carers are at the core of how all specialties in the division deliver their services and are in accordance with DOH Quality Standards for Health and Social Care and other relevant requirements.

Ensure the division complies with all professional, regulatory and requisite standards as well as ensuring all recommendations from the RQIA, UKAS and other regulatory bodies are implemented within requisite timescales.

Ensure the division meets all targets for the prevention and control of healthcare associated infection and standards of environmental cleanliness.

Ensure the management of complaints within the division comply with DOH and Trust complaints procedures and are underpinned by transparency and a culture of continuous improvement.

Lead on the implementation of quality improvement methodologies, ensuring that the quality of the patient journey and experience is enhanced and improved.

Ensure the Public and Personal Involvement and Health and Wellbeing Strategies are implemented, to continually improve the quality of patient/client experience by involving users in shaping services and improving the health of the Trust’s clients/patients.

Provide an early intervention service in the management of potential patient/client complaints and dissatisfaction by advocating independently on behalf of the patient/client and enhancing experiential learning by interfacing with the Acute Service Governance system.

Service Planning and Development

Provide leadership to promote innovation and change to underpin the modernisation of the division’s services to ensure a response to strategic and cutting-edge issues so that the division is best placed to meet future challenges and need.

Support the Director in the identification and delivery of the necessary changes to culture and practice within the Division to support the strategic and transformational agenda and ensure the focus for transformation is understood, accepted and delivered.

Lead the development and implementation of workforce modernisation initiatives for the Division.

Assist the Director with the development of a strategic plan for the delivery of hospital care to the Trust’s population in line with regional strategies and priorities.

Work closely with commissioners and relevant stakeholders to secure their commitment and involvement in the development and implementation of planning initiatives and service reforms.

Liaise closely with senior planning staff on service and capital development initiatives and ensure adherence to targets set by the DOH and the Trust’s corporate and delivery plans.

Act as a member of the directorate’s senior management team and contributes to its policy development processes.

Represent the division and/or directorate in Trust and /or regional planning teams as appropriate.

Financial and Resource Management

Responsible for the management of the division’s budget and the meeting of all financial targets by each speciality.

Ensure the effective implementation of all trust financial policies and procedures in the division, which will include ensuring the safe custody of patients’ property and accounts and the use of endowments and gifts.

Participate in contract and service level negotiations with commissioners.

Ensure the effective management, use and maintenance of all physical assets in the division.

People management

As Assistant Director for the Division, provide exemplary and visible leadership and promote a strong positive model of valuing staff, effective communication and engagement so as to enable staff to perform to the best of their abilities to deliver high quality care, as well as enabling opportunities for teams to be involved in the transformation agenda.

Promote and maintain highly positive working relationships with trade union colleagues and ensure effective engagement with them in planning for and implementing service reforms and changes within the Surgical Division.

Provide clear leadership to staff within the division and ensure all specialities have a highly skilled, flexible and motivated workforce.

Delegate appropriate responsibility and authority to the level of staff within his/her control consistent with effective decision making, while retaining overall responsibility and accountability for results.

Work closely with senior human resources staff to take forward the development and implementation of workforce planning and modernisation initiatives.

Ensure that management structures and practices in the division support a culture of effective team working, continuous improvement and innovation.

Ensure the effective implementation of all Trust people management policies in the division and the achievement of all relevant targets such as relating to the management of sickness and absenteeism, turnover etc.

Ensure the effective management of staff health and safety and support in the division.

Be a visible example of the HSC values, displaying authentic leadership in line with these values and creating a culture within the Division and wider Directorate where these values are displayed by all staff.

Proactively implement the Trust’s People Framework and ensure the Division aligns with Framework’s key ambition of making the Southern HSC Trust a great place to work.

Provide and develop a positive environment and open culture, which fosters high morale and commitment amongst all staff and promotes their wellbeing, professional and personal development.

Participate in the Trust's Appraisal scheme and ensure appropriate action is taken to regularly review the performance of staff.

Information Management

Ensure the effective implementation of all Trust information management policies and procedures in the division.

Ensure the division’s systems and procedures for the management and storage of information meet internal and external reporting requirements.

Corporate Responsibility

Develop and maintain working relationships with other directorate colleagues to ensure achievement of Trust objectives.

Establish collaborative relationships and networks with external stakeholders in the public, private and voluntary sectors to ensure the Trust effectively discharges its functions.

Contribute to the Trust’s overall corporate governance processes to ensure the development of an integrated governance framework for the Trust that assures safe and effective care for patients and clients and complies with public sector values and codes of conduct, operations and accountability.

Adhere to the Trust’s Corporate Planning, Policy and decision-making processes as a member of the directorate’s senior management team and ensure the Trust’s objectives and decisions are effectively communicated.

Lead by example in practising the highest standards of conduct in accordance with the Code of Conduct for HSC Managers and professional codes of conduct.

Human Resource Management Responsibility

The Trust supports and promotes a culture of collective leadership where those who have responsibility for managing other staff:

Establish and promote a supportive, fair and open culture that encourages and enables all parts of the team to have clearly aligned goals and objectives, to meet the required performance standards and to achieve continuous improvement in the services they deliver.

Ensure access to skills and personal development through appropriate training and support.

Promote a culture of openness and honesty to enable shared learning.

Encourage and empower others in their team to achieve their goals and reach their full potential through regular supportive conversation and shared decision making.

Adhere to and promote Trust policy and procedure in all staffing matters, participating as appropriate in a way which underpins Trust values.

General Management and Personal & Public Involvement Responsibility

Lead on the development, testing and review of relevant emergency response and business continuity plans to ensure a state of emergency preparedness for the provision of a proportionate, effective response to emergency situations and business continuity issues.

Lead on and be responsible for the planning, implementation, reporting and all other aspects relevant to the Trust’s PPI Strategy within the Division and/or other sphere of responsibility. This will include ensuring robust arrangements are in place for active engagement with user groups and the voluntary and independent sectors in the design and delivery of services.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The post holder will be required to

Ensure the Trust’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.

Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.

Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example

Smoke Free policy

IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct

standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

All employees of the Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Trust including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the SHSCT policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

Represent the Trust’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE AND BAND Assistant Director of Diagnostics and Cancer Services 8C

DEPARTMENT / DIRECTORATE Surgery and Clinical Services.

HOURS 37.5

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Registration

Experience

Hold a university degree or recognised professional qualification or equivalent qualification in a relative subject2 AND have a minimum of 2 years’ experience in a senior management role3 in a major complex organisation4

OR

Have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a senior management role in a major complex organisation.

Have a minimum of 2 years’ experience in delivering against challenging performance management programmes meeting a full range of key targets and making significant improvements.

Having a minimum of 1 years’ experience working with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders in a role which has contributed to the successful implementation of a significant change initiative.

Have a minimum of 2 years’ experience in high level people management.

Have a minimum of 2 years’ experience in governance related activity.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment.

This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities

Have an ability to provide effective leadership to enable transformation of services on a large-scale level.

Demonstrate evidence of highly effective planning and organisational skills.

Demonstrate a commitment to the provision of high quality and safe services with an ability to drive a culture of continuous improvement.

Demonstrate effective communication skills to meet the needs of the post in full.

Have an ability to effectively manage an extensive budget to maximise utilisation of available resources.

Interview / Test

1This will be defined as one of the following organisations in Northern Ireland – the Regional HSC Board; the Regional Agency for Public Health & Social Well-being ; the Regional Business Services organisation; HSC Trusts, Special Agencies, the Patient Client Council, the RQIA, the NI Practice & Education Council and the NI Social Care Council

2 ‘relevant subject’ will be interpreted to mean any business, administrative, corporate function or health related qualification

3 ‘senior management’ is defined as experience gained at Head of Service level or equivalent or above in a major complex organisation

4 ‘major complex organisation’ is defined as one with at least 200 staff or an annual budget of at least £50 million and involving having to meet a wide range of objectives requiring a high degree of co-ordination with a range of stakeholders.

5 ‘significant’ is defined as contributing directly to key Directorate level objectives of the organisation concerned.

6 This criterion will be waived in the case of a suitable applicant who has a disability which prohibits from driving but who is able to organise suitable alternative arrangements in order to meet the requirements of the post in full.

7 ‘Major Complex Organisation’ will be interpreted as per essential criteria 2.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted

Experience in the management of care services within a health and / or social care setting.

Experience of Financial Flows in a major complex organisation

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required competencies to be effective in this demanding leadership role. The competencies concerned are set out in the NHS Healthcare Leadership Model, details of which can be found at

http://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/resources/healthcare-leadership-model.

Particular attention will be given to the following dimensions

Inspiring shared purpose

Leading with care

Evaluating information

Connecting our service

Sharing the vision

Engaging the team

Holding to account

Developing capability

Influencing for results.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

Successful applicants

may be required to attend for a Health Assessment

can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.

are able to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance.

THE TRUST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times