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Job summary

Main area
Head of Service Development
Grade
Band 8b
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
222-SF-676
Employer
West London NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
St Bernard's
Town
Southall
Salary
£70,396 - £80,837 Per Annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
14/09/2025 23:59

Employer heading

West London NHS Trust logo

Head of Service Development

Band 8b

West London NHS Trust  provides a full range of mental health, community  and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.

We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.

Job overview

We are looking for a candidate with the capability, enthusiasm and vision to lead Service Development in our service line in West London Forensic and Specialist Services.

The post-holder will be responsible for the leadership and delivery of service development. This will include providing leadership and delivery of service evaluation, transformation and quality improvement, through all elements of project management and advice and support on successfully initiating and embedding positive change. The post-holder will support the WLFS Senior Management Team and all Staff and work flexibly as needs change according to any areas of concern or special focus. There will be a close working relationship with the WLFS QI and Patient Safety Leads and the Trust QI and Governance teams, as well as members of the WLFS SMT. 

The role will be based on site four days a week. Initially this will be on site at the Cassel Hospital two days a week and on site at St Bernard’s Hospital two days a week, with one day either on site or working from home according to the preference of the post-holder. This may change as the needs of the service change over time. If the post-holder chooses to have a work from home day, which day this is would be flexible week by week according to the needs of the service.

Main duties of the job

The role will involve the recording, analysis and presentation of data to follow key measures and communicate key facts effectively. An understanding of learning science, including the Human Factors approach, will be helpful, and an understanding of QI methodology is essential. The role will include being the service line subject matter expert in QI and project management and delivery and will contribute to a culture of continuous quality improvement and the addressing of any barriers to this. The post-holder will utilize process improvement methodologies (e.g., LEAN Six-Sigma) where appropriate to support project and process improvements. They will need to keep up to date with relevant policy, legislation, guidance, and professional developments.

 

The post-holder will need to take a whole-systems approach to identify opportunities to improve services, then organize, plan, and deliver these, through developing and implementing appropriate project management systems. They will apply expert project management knowledge, managing projects using principles of project management (e.g., MSP, PRINCE2) tailored to the specific needs of the project including, where applicable, full project plans, Project Initiation and Business Case documentation, RAID (Risks, Assumptions, Issues and Dependencies) management, Highlight and Exception reporting, Lessons learned and Benefits Realization

Working for our organisation

 

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and   Hammersmith & Fulham).  We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

 

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to masters level or equivalent relevant experience
  • Recognised Project Management qualification or postgraduate qualification in quality improvement methodology or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in forensic and/or Complex Emotional Needs mental health services

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge and experience of delivering programmes of change within a highly complex service environment
  • Experience of supporting and / or leading projects which are recognised as successful
  • Experience of communicating complex project information to managers at all levels and large groups
  • Experience of managing and motivating a team (particularly where there is no direct line management)

Knowledge/skills

Essential criteria
  • Advanced knowledge of all MS Office applications (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and where possible Project, and Visio)
  • Able to analyse highly complex data, reports and interpret statistical data to draw conclusions.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with team and wider Trust Ability to prepare and produce formal communications for a broad range of stakeholders as required
  • Excellent use of project management applications and information systems to produce and maintain formal detailed project plans and timelines
  • Ability to engage with stakeholders to promote the rationale for change and achieve buy in by creating shared goals
  • Able to manage competing demands and priorities in a changing, complex environment

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Fair Train work experience quality standard - gold standardNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleJob share policyInvestors in PeopleDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeArmed Forces Covenant

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Catherine Penny
Job title
Management / Admin (WLFS Central Services)
Email address
[email protected]
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