# Head of Patient Flow

> NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

## Canonical URLs

- **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/head-of-patient-flow/702befee-2b5b-43df-ad13-64a7576cc9fb
- **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/head-of-patient-flow/702befee-2b5b-43df-ad13-64a7576cc9fb.md

## Summary

- **Status:** Live
- **Employer:** Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- **Location:** Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital
- **Workplace type:** onsite
- **Profession:** Head of service
- **Grade:** Band 8
- **Salary:** £79,504 - £91,609 per annum
- **Contract type:** Permanent
- **Employment type:** Full time, Flexible working, 37.5 hours per week
- **Closing date:** 2026-10-15T22:59:00.000Z
- **Posted:** 2026-10-02T10:48:03.477Z
- **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Tyne_Wear/Cramlington/Northumbria_Healthcare_NHCT_Northumbria_Healthcare_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Management/Management-v8318441
- **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8318441?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002
- **Employer website:** https://www.northumbria.nhs.uk

## Job Content

### Job overview

Are you an experienced, forward-thinking operational leader ready to shape the future of patient flow across Northumbria?

Medicine and Emergency Care Business Unit are seeking an exceptional Head of Patient Flow to provide strategic and operational leadership across Northumbria Healthcare, driving improvements in patient pathways, discharge and capacity management across the whole system.

Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the closing date once the required number of suitable applications have been received.

### Main duties of the job

Working across organisational boundaries, you will collaborate with clinical teams, operational leaders, community services and local authority partners to deliver integrated, sustainable solutions that improve patient experience and system resilience.

### Detailed job description and main responsibilities

- Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of patient flow, discharge and bed utilisation
- Lead end-to-end patient flow improvement across acute, community and partner services
- Drive delivery of national targets, including urgent and emergency care standards and ambulance handover times
- Use data and insight to identify risks, trends and opportunities for transformation
- Lead major change and service redesign programmes to improve flow and reduce delays
- Ensure effective escalation management and system resilience, including winter planning
- Develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and accountability
- Build strong partnerships across the wider health and care system

### Applicant requirements

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.

## Person Specification

### Qualifications

**Essential**

- Management degree or equivalent or able to demonstrate significant level of equivalent experience.
- Formal post graduate qualification ideally in management or equivalent senior level experience.
- Relevant management experience within the NHS with specialist training to masters level.

### Experience and Knowledge

**Essential**

- Experience of working in both acute and community setting with strong background in patient flow/discharge.
- Experience of service redesign and development
- Experience of leading, coordinating and organising teams
- Experience of project management
- A proven success in implementation of strategic plans
- A proven success in managing operational change while maintaining high standards of care
- Presentation skills gained through experience

**Desirable**

- Knowledge of or experience in coaching and mentoring practices and tools
- Knowledge of or experience in Quality improvement tools, techniques and methods

## Documents

- [trust compact (pdf, 515.6kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=3037)
- [guidance for applicants (pdf, 1.4mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2867)
- [northumbria privacy policy (pdf, 520.6kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=1899)
- [man0104 jd&ps head of patient flow (pdf, 340.8kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10648321)

## Agent Notes

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