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Job summary

Main area
.
Grade
8b
Contract
Fixed term: 12 months (or secondment)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
374-SRCG3826
Employer
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
eastbourne
Town
Eastbourne
Salary
£66,582 - £77,368 per annum, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
25/09/2026 23:59

Employer heading

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust logo

Head of Care Group

8b

We are proud to provide ‘Outstanding’ care and be a great place to work.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area. 


We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £700 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex. 


Our extensive health services are provided by over 8,000+ dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people’s own homes. 


The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Outstanding’ for being Caring and Effective. The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and our Community Services were rated ‘Outstanding’ and Eastbourne DGH was rated ‘Good’ Our two acute hospitals have Emergency Departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services. 

 

Job overview

We are looking to recruit to our professional leadership positions within the Clinical Divisions at ESHT.

The Head of Care Group is a senior member responsible for the strategic, professional and operational leadership across a portfolio of services. 

Main duties of the job

Working in partnership with the Clinical Director and Assistant Director/Head of Nursing & Clinical Professions and the divisional triumvirate to deliver operational performance in line with the national and local performance standards and targets.


The postholder will play a pivotal part in shaping efficient and productive clinical services, driving performance and embedding a culture of continuous improvement. The postholder will act as a visible and accessible leader, championing the Trust’s values and supporting the delivery of divisional and organisational priorities and objectives.


The Head of Care Group will promote the vision and values of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, leading by example and ensuring that they demonstrate those values in their leadership behaviours and how we support our teams and deliver our services.


Participation in the Silver out of hours on call rota.

Working for our organisation

A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year. 

There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.

Statement on the Use of AI

We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.

Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.

We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description.

 

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach out.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Masters level qualification/training relevant to role or equivalent knowledge acquired through extensive experience and training
  • Evidence of continuous professional and personal development relevant to role to demonstrate expert management and leadership skills
  • Leadership/management qualification or training
  • Project Management and Quality Improvement qualification or training

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience working in a leadership position including contributing to operational management of services.
  • Experience in management of health services
  • Strategic planning Service delivery Quality/Service improvement and leading change Operational management and performance People Management – performance, appraisal, sickness, development, retention Managing budgets Monitoring, analysing and assessing performance across complex services Management of risk across services Managing multi-disciplinary teams

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge and skills and understanding of: Leadership skills that inspire, engage and motivate a workforce Knowledge of constitutional standards and developments/initiatives within NHS and impact on service delivery Change management skills and ability to analyse complex data and drive service improvements Workforce planning and managing complex HR issues, multidisciplinary team working Financial management skills, including the ability to analyse complex financial information Quality improvement initiatives, setting and monitoring standards and performance across a range of clinical services and able to agree clear performance goals, hold to account and offer constructive feedback. Assessment and management of complex operational and risks and knowledge of clinical and operational governance frameworks. Excellent team and project management, prioritisation and organisational skills and ability to manage and deliver to agreed deadlines with competing demands and frequent interruptions. Excellent communication skills, able to engage, negotiate and influence stakeholders, present information, report writing skills, write business cases, recovery and service plans. Managing distressing, emotional circumstances with staff, service users and carers. Working as part of a team, adopting a coaching style to drive individual and organisational performance. Experience of out of hours operational management and on call training/skills.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderImproving working livesCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality MarkGold Award 2026 - Wellbeing at Work - East Sussex

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Nadia Cruddis
Job title
Director of Operations
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07817462109
Additional information

xxx

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