Dear Prospective Candidate

NHS Orkney is transforming how we deliver services to improve the quality of care delivered to our patients with the overarching aim of being the safest health and care system in Scotland. As a key player in our new QI Hub we are seeking a highly motivated experienced clinician with a proven track record in the field of quality improvement and assurance. You will be expected to lead on the implementation and further development of our Transforming Quality Assurance and Improvement Framework and in doing so ensure that we have robust clinical and care governance embedded in all of our services. You will have a proven track record of working well with people from a range of backgrounds and have an ability to enthuse and motivate colleagues. You will also have excellent problem solving and presentation skills.

You will report to the Medical Director and will be expected to work across NHS Orkney providing clinical leadership to all areas of Quality Assurance and Improvement including Patient Safety, Risk Management, Clinical Quality and Research and Development. You will be responsible for ensuring that there is a fully integrated Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme in place across all clinical services and will support the ongoing development of an effective Quality Improvement infrastructure to create a workforce focused on continuous quality improvement.

This is a pivotal role in ensuring high quality care for patients in Orkney. If you are attracted to the challenge please contact Mr. Marthinus Roos, Medical Director on 01856 888204/email: and/or Christina Bichan, Head of Transformational Change & Improvement on 01856 888002 /email: .

Yours sincerely

Cathie Cowan

Chief Executive

Job Description

job Title / Associate medical director
grade
location / garden house, kirkwall
reporting to / medical director
hours / 5 sessions

Job Purpose

As a key player in our new Quality Improvement (QI) Hub the postholderwill be responsible for the implementation and further development of our Transforming Quality Assurance and Improvement Framework and in doing so ensure that we have robust clinical and care governance embedded in all of our services.
The post holder will report to the Medical Director and will work across NHS Orkney providing clinical leadership to all areas of Quality Assurance and Improvement including Patient Safety, Risk Management, Clinical Quality and Research and Development. The postholderwill be responsible for ensuring that there is a fully integrated Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme in place across all clinical services and will support the ongoing development of an effective Quality Improvement infrastructure to create a workforce focused on continuous quality improvement.
In addition, the postholder will support the Medical Director (as required) to fulfil his corporate and professional MD role. This will include acting his/her deputy as required.
Dimensions
NHS Orkney is the smallest territorial health board in Scotland and is responsible for the health care of the population of Orkney, which is made up of approximately 21,500 people spanning 17 inhabited islands. NHS Orkney employs around 620 staff and provides a comprehensive range of primary, community-based and acute hospital services.
Organisational Chart – Office of Medical Director
(The relationship of this post - with the QI Hub is attached at Appendix 1)

Role of Medical Directorate Function
The Medical Director is responsible for developing effective policies and strategies to improve the health of people in Orkney through safe and effective care.
The Directorate also provides expert advice on clinical and healthcare scientist matters to the NHS Board.
The Directorate is responsible for ensuring that all doctors, indicating an intention to practice medicine in Orkney are suitably revalidated. The Directorate’s Director of Medical Education leads on medical workforce planning and the inter-relationships between undergraduate education and postgraduate training.
The Directorate, together with the Directorate of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals leads the clinical governance, arrangements linking with risk management for NHS Orkney, particularly the delivery of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme and fostering the delivery of continuous quality improvement through the application of reliability science to individual patient care.
Key Result Areas
  • Leadership
Support the Medical Director in the delivery of his/her corporate and professional responsibilities
Provide clinical QI advice to SMT, Assurance Committees of Board and NHS Board as required / when requested
Play a key leadership role in primary care quality cluster work to align QI activities with safe and effective care delivery
Deputise for the Medical Director and support him/her deliver the safe and effective
  • Service Delivery
Support the delivery of safe and effective clinical services
Provide medical leadership and support to NHS Orkney’s strategic change agenda
Direct and oversee the implementation of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme across NNS Orkney
  • Performance
Ensure that there is a fully integrated Quality Assurance and Improvement Programme in place across all clinical services
Direct and oversee the management of clinical incidents
Ensure clinical engagement and involvement in the planning, implementation and performance management of health services provided by NHS Orkney and work alongside the Head of Transformational Change and Improvement as part of the Quality Improvement Hub
  • Workforce
Support the ongoing development of an effective Quality Improvement infrastructure to create a workforce focused on continuous quality improvement.
Provide professional leadership to medical staffworking in NHS Orkney on quality assurance, improvement and clinical governance
Champion putting quality assurance and improvement into practice. This responsibility is demonstrated through:
  • Professional Codes of Practice
  • Continuous professional development
  • Appraisal
  • Revalidation
  • Improvement activity and measurement
Contribute to the development of NHS Orkney as a learning organisation
1.
Assignment and Review of Work
The Associate Medical Director is accountable to the Medical Director. Performance is assessed by the Medical Director through the annual appraisal and objective setting process led by the Medical Director. Formal appraisal is annual but informal reviews will take place at regular intervals.
Communications and Working Relationships
The post-holder will communicate with a wide range of senior clinical and non-clinical staff in NHS Orkney, the wider NHS in Scotland and beyond, and with senior officials of external organisations. Excellent communication skills are required in order to persuade others and negotiate the implementation of change. Strong presentational skills are required as is the ability to express views convincingly and coherently using a variety of media.
Excluding the post-holder’s immediate manager and his/her subordinates within NHS Orkney, the following are key working relationships with examples of the purposes of these contacts:
  • With members of the Board, Senior Management Team and in particular members of the Clinical and Care Governance Group (CCGG) and reporting groups to this Board Assurance Committee. The relationship with the CCGG requires the postholderto ensure the provision of information and support to enable non executive Directors to effectively fulfil their roles as Board members particularly in relation to corporate and health and clinical governance, quality improvement (including patient safety), and modernisation/redesign of services.
  • With Medical Director/Associate Medical Directors of neighbouring NHS systems to network on clinical governance issues.
  • On behalf of Medical Director with representatives of local government, voluntary and independent sector agencies to ensure NHS Orkney representation in discussions in relation to clinical issues arising from a joint service provision.
  • On behalf of Medical Director with MPs/MSPs/local health council chairs/public pressure groups/patient representatives/ etc. in order to impart information about or respond to questions or concerns about clinical issues within NHS Orkney and to support patient/public engagement.
  • With the media in order to respond to media questions about matters pertaining to clinical governance matters in NHS Orkney.
  • With national and local representatives of staff side organisations and Partnership Fora.

Most Challenging Part of the Job
Creating a strong quality assurance and improvement culture, embedding it within the organisation. Ensure the workforce is engaged in doing so.
Qualifications and/or Experience Specified for the Post by the Employing Authority
Qualifications
  • MBChB Degree with specialist postgraduate qualification
  • Active on the General Medical Council register (GP or Specialty Register) and with a current Licence to Practice
  • Fellowship of a Royal College
  • Appropriate management and leadership education
Experience, Competencies and Personal Skills
  • At least 5 years post qualification experience
  • Extensive management experience in the NHS
  • An individual who demonstrates a high level of competence in the leadership behaviours
  • Evidence of the British Association of Medical Managers Fit to Lead Programme attainment to Advanced Medical Leader level would be desirable
  • Detailed understanding of medical best practice, regulation and government policy.
  • Demonstrated credibility within the profession
  • Experience of working within a corporate team is desirable
  • Demonstrable experience of managing major change and experience of staff management/development and multi-disciplinary working at peer level
  • Evidence of successful partnership working

PERSON SPECIFICATION
POST/GRADE: Associate Medical Director
LOCATION: Garden House, Kirkwall
DEPARTMENT: Medical Directorate
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Factor /

Essential

/

Desirable

Qualifications / MBChB Degree with specialist postgraduate qualification
Active on the General Medical Council register (GP or Specialty Register) and with a current Licence to Practice / Appropriate management
and leadership education
Evidence appropriate medical leadership development
Fellowship of a Royal College
Post-graduate study in a relevant area, eg improvement , science, research
Experience / At least 5 years post qualification experience
Extensive Management experience in the NHS
Sound understanding of patient safety agenda / Improvement experience.
Education experience
Leading projects and project management
Sound understanding of patient safety agenda in NHS Scotland
Motivation / Passionate about patient safety and improvement
Personality / Able to form collaborative and productive relationships
Skills / Engaging leader with sound management experience, well organised and able to network and delegate Conflict handling / Influencing.
Data handling
Use of relevant IT systems
Networking
Communication / Approachable with impactful presentation skills both orally and using multi-media.
Engaging / Able to win hearts and minds and take people along
Able to take messages to all parts of organisation and to partners

Appendix 1

Relationship with QI Hub

QI HUB