Chief Operating Officer

About the Role

This is a pivotal opportunity to join Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust at a significant time. With a new five-year strategic plan, strong regional partnerships, and a dedicated focus on delivering safe, high-quality patient care, the incoming Chief Operating Officer will be instrumental in shaping service delivery for our communities. This position offers the chance to exert influence at organizational, system, and regional levels within a clinically-led, values-driven organization that boasts a dedicated, compassionate, and skilled workforce. If you are passionate about safe, compassionate, and high-quality care and are eager to contribute to the future of Gateshead Health, we encourage you to apply.

Gateshead Health, based in the North East of England, provides a comprehensive range of hospital and community health services from state-of-the-art facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre, and Bensham Hospital. Established in 2005 as one of the UK's first foundation trusts, we have consistently maintained high standards of patient care. We currently employ approximately 4,800 staff and operate 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead area.

Our core values, encapsulated by the acronym ICORE (Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement), are fundamental to all our operations and define our organizational identity. We foster an inclusive environment with active staff networks, including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network, and Women’s Network, which serve as vital resources for continuous improvement. The health and well-being of our staff are paramount, supported by our 'Balance' program, which offers a variety of initiatives to cater to our diverse workforce and ensure a positive and healthy working experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide visible, credible, and compassionate operational leadership across hospital, community, and diagnostic services.
• Lead the delivery of safe, high-quality, and effective services, with a strong emphasis on patient experience and timely access to care.
• Spearhead operational performance, improvement initiatives, and transformation efforts within urgent and emergency care, elective care, and community pathways.
• Collaborate with clinical and corporate teams to enhance productivity, ensure financial sustainability, and optimize resource utilization.
• Cultivate robust relationships with staff, patients, partners, and system colleagues to enhance services and mitigate health inequalities.
• Act as a key contributor to the executive team, offering sound judgment, operational acumen, and constructive challenge.
• Demonstrate ambition for Gateshead, its people, and the communities it serves.

Additional Information

Application Timeline:

• Closing Date: Thursday 18 June, midnight
• Shortlisting: Friday 19 June
• Interviews: Friday 26 June

Contact for Inquiries:

For further details or informal visits, please contact Dr. Sean Fenwick, Chief Executive, via Kirsty Forster at Kirsty.forster@nhs.net or call 0191 445 6044.