North Central London Cancer Alliance (NCLCA) is looking for two Cancer Improvement Managers to join our growing team in improving cancer outcomes for the population of North Central London. The post holder will be embedded at the North Middlesex University Hospital Trust or Whittington Hospital working alongside their Cancer Performance Teams.

As the Cancer Improvement Manager, you will be responsible for identifying and leading on improvement projects across cancer services at North Middlesex University Hospital or Whittington Hospital to improve performance, patient outcomes and/or patient experience.

NCLCA is a collaboration of NHS and other bodies, hosted by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We work to promote early diagnosis, optimise pathways, reduce variation, provide personalised support for patients, and build service resilience. Patients and carers are at the heart of what we do.

The purpose of these embedded posts is to work with clinical and operational teams to deliver improvements to services, pathways, patient experience. Post-holders will be exposed to a mix of project management and operational challenges in the context of a well-resourced strategy for cancer across NCL.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work in collaboration with the Operational Delivery Lead in the Alliance Team, and with clinical and managerial colleagues at North Middlesex University Hospital or Whittington Hospital. They will provide an interface between the acute provider where the postholder is embedded and the Cancer Alliance, and act as a key expert and contact for clinical and operational teams in relation to joint initiatives.

The main duties of the Cancer Improvement Manager are:

• Clinical engagement - To establish effective working relationships with, among others, consultants and clinical nurse specialists, and to promote collaboration across professional and departmental boundaries,
• Change management - To facilitate the development of improved patient pathways, through the application of best practice and service improvement methods,
• Project management and delivery - To develop and implement projects with clinical and operational teams,
• Communications - To actively engage, inform and influence key stakeholders.

Experience in operational management and knowledge of cancer pathways and performance is essential. Experience of using project management tools and principles and their application in a health setting is desired.

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

At UCLH, we have a real 'One Team' ethos, and our values - safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This is an exciting time to join the Alliance, as we seek to drive forward an ambitious strategy, in collaboration with the NCL Integrated Care System.We work in partnership with multiple NHS providers across primary and secondary care and with local authorities in North Central London.

The North Central London Cancer Alliance (NCLCA) is a team of over 30 people with expert clinical support and guidance from a range of clinical leads.

We are a diverse, dynamic, cohesive and ambitious team, committed to upholding the UCLH values of kindness, teamwork, safety and improving.

We have received a significant uplift in our annual budget for the next two years, and are growing our team so as to respond to an expanded programme of work.

The NCLCA team is based in an office on Wimpole Street, central London. Hybrid working is the norm, with the expectation that all staff will come into the office at least once a week. This role will be based with an NCL acute provider, though may be required to work from any of the NCL ICS stakeholder offices at any time.

Please see the full job description.

The Cancer Improvement Manager role is an exciting position for an individual who brings excellent stakeholder engagement skills and service improvement skills as well as a sound understanding of the NHS and cancer, and of the issues affecting patients with cancer.

We are seeking someone with enthusiasm and skills in developing and supporting others which make you a compassionate and empowering team member. You will bring dynamism, positivity, and a collaborative attitude to the NCL Cancer Alliance and either North Middlesex University Hospital or The Whittington Hospital team.

You should have experience of operational management of cancer services, and strong relationship building qualities so you are able to engage with and influence multiple stakeholders across cancer services in North Central London. Experience of building effective cross-functional working relationships is essential. Experience of successful project/service improvement delivery is desired. The ability to understand cancer pathways and processes and how best to improve these is essential. You will bring strong analytical skills, with the capability to analyse, review and make sense of complex information across a diverse range of subjects related to cancer. You will be highly competent in managing risks, anticipating issues and creating solutions to problems.

You will need highly developed communication skills, both verbal and written, and be adept at working with both qualitative and quantitative data.

This would be an excellent role for an operational manager seeking strategic, system and/or programme experience. You will possess excellent interpersonal skills and will gain the trust of colleagues at all levels across multiple partner organisations. If this role fits your profile, we would love to have you as part of our team.

If you would like to discuss the role further, please contact Jade OConnell, NCL Cancer Alliance Operational Delivery Lead, jade.oconnell@nhs.net

Person Specification

Knowledge & Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to a higher degree or significant equivalent experience
• Knowledge and understanding of a range of issues in cancer care / services
• Knowledge and understanding of cancer pathways and performance
• Management qualification or significant equivalent experience

Desirable

• Project-management qualification or significant equivalent experience

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working in the NHS in a junior management position
• Successful record of managing and implementing substantial service transformation and organisational change project
• Experience of managing a cancer PTL and/or cancer service
• Significant experience of working with partners and stakeholders in delivering sensitive changes to services.
• Experience of working closely with stakeholders to inform and implement initiatives
• A proven success in business planning and in the development and effective implementation of strategic plans

Desirable

• Experience of effective financial management
• Experience of completing demand and capacity analysis
• Experience of running projects/ programmes in a large, complex organisation or network/system

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of multidisciplinary issues and commitment to multidisciplinary working
• Excellent communication skills, including negotiation, with the proven ability to liaise effectively within a multidisciplinary team based environment
• Ability to meet deadlines and complete tasks within agreed time scales.
• Service improvement and/or project management skills
• Understanding of cancer waiting times guidance

Other Requirements

Essential

• Demonstrate a commitment to professional development of self and others
• An ability to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of current thinking and policy affecting health and public sector.
• Knowledge of equalities issues and strong commitment to the promotion of equality in employment.
• Able to work flexibly across projects are required and deal with inheriting and managing ambiguity
• Commitment to team working and to the development, empowerment and engagement of staff
• Resilient in dealing with a challenging environment and in the face of conflict.
• Adaptable to change and constantly striving to improve and deliver high quality and safe services

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Evidence of political awareness and sensitivity to the high profile of relevant organisations
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of multidisciplinary issues and commitment to multidisciplinary working
• Able to build relationships with clinicians and be at ease in a clinical environment
• Clear evidence of leadership potential, and the ability to inspire and motivate a team including without executive authority

Employer details

Employer name

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

North Central London Cancer Alliance

47 Wimpole Street

London

W1G 8SE

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

309-UCLH-2886-A