Head of Community Beds and Discharge

Job overview

Are you an experienced and ambitious leader with a passion for transforming community health services?

We are looking for a dynamic operational leader who is passionate about service transformation, system working and improving outcomes for patients to join us as Head of Community Beds and Discharge for a 10 month secondment.

This is a high-profile leadership role where you will drive service transformation, improve patient flow, lead system-wide partnerships and support the development of innovative models of care that improve outcomes for our communities. Working closely with the Clinical Director and senior leaders, you will lead high-performing multidisciplinary teams, deliver operational excellence and help shape the future of community healthcare.

At EEC, our mission is to deliver great health and care services in our local communities and achieve our vision of transforming lives and building healthier communities together. Our work is grounded in our values of:

• Integrity
• Compassion
• Inclusion
• Ambition

Main duties of the job

As Head of Community Beds and Discharge you will:

• Provide visible operational leadership across community beds and system operations, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and person-centered care.
• Lead service transformation and performance improvement programmes, driving innovation and supporting the development of integrated models of care across the health and care system.
• Work collaboratively with clinical, operational and system leaders to improve patient flow, maximise bed utilisation and deliver sustainable improvements in patient outcomes and experience.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams, creating a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, inclusion and excellence.
• Build strong partnerships with commissioners, primary care, acute providers, local authorities and wider system partners to support integrated service delivery and transformation.
• Provide strategic leadership for workforce planning, operational performance, quality, governance and financial sustainability across your portfolio of services.

You will join an ambitious and forward-thinking leadership team at a time of significant opportunity for community services, with the chance to shape how care is delivered across Norfolk and make a meaningful difference for patients, staff and partners.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Head of Community Beds and Discharge is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership across community beds, discharge and a portfolio of community services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe, effective and financially sustainable care. The post holder will lead patient flow, service performance, workforce management, and system operational delivery, ensuring services consistently meet contractual, quality, financial and organisational requirements.

Working closely with the Director, the post holder will support the development and implementation of strategic priorities, service improvement programmes, cost improvement plans (CIPs) and transformation initiatives. They will drive performance improvement across their portfolio, identify opportunities for service growth, innovation and income generation, and support the achievement of organisational objectives.

The role requires strong partnership working across the health and social care system, fostering effective relationships with commissioners, acute providers, primary care networks, local authorities, mental health services, independent sector providers and other key stakeholders. The post holder will create and maintain collaborative networks that support integrated service delivery, improve patient flow across community inpatient units and the wider system, and contribute to the ongoing development of services to meet population health needs.

The post holder will be accountable for leading and developing multidisciplinary teams, ensuring effective recruitment, performance management, professional development and appraisal processes are in place, whilst promoting a culture of excellence, innovation and continuous improvement. They will provide visible leadership across services, ensuring high-quality, cost-effective care is delivered and that national and local priorities are successfully embedded into operational practice.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.