Job Description
Job Title:Chief Executive Officer,Healthwatch Brighton and Hove (HWB&H), a Community Interest Company
Responsible to:HWB&H Chair on behalf of Board of Directors
Responsible for:A small team of staff and volunteers
Hours of work:28-35 Hours per week (negotiable),
including evening and occasional weekends
Length of contract: Up to one year, in the first instance
Salary: £40,000+ 5% pension contribution
Hours:28-35 per week; negotiable
Holidays:28 days + bank holidays
Location:Based at HWBH officesat Community Base,
113 Queens Road,BN1 3XG, Brighton.
Main Purpose of Job/Context
Healthwatch Brighton and Hove (HWB&H) is 3 years old and became an independent Community Interest Company in April 2015. As the most senior member of staff the CEO will work with the Board of Directors to develop and lead its business and strategic approaches to ensure sustainability, credibility and impact. The emphasis of the role is around transformational change both inside and outside the organisation to deliver tangible improvement for patients and public using health and social care services in Brighton and Hove.
Main duties:
Strategic Development
•Working with the Board, provide strategic support, leadership and management to the design and implementation of an effective, inclusive and high profile HWB&H.
•Fully understand and navigate local government and NHS policies, structures, processes and commissioning plans and advise Board on appropriate issues and content.
•With the Board, create, monitor and deliver the organisation’s Business Plan working towards a 3 year plan for re-commissioning and sustainability.
•Facilitate and promote HWB&H to influence and improve health and social care services using Healthwatch statutory powers to challenge and/or enter services where necessary.
•Act as an ambassador for HWB&H and ensure high standards of professional competence across the organisation.
Governance
•Develop and ensure activities are underpinned by robust governance arrangements and principles of accountability, openness, honesty and integrity.
•Support the HWBH Board to work with the public, service users, and the city’s communities to design, develop and performance manage HWBH’s governance structures and services.
•Support the Board in the recruitment of the Chair, HWBH Board Directors, staff and volunteers, and ensure an inclusive and robust working approach within the organisation.
•Embed public and community empowerment principles in all programmes and operations and ensure accountability of HWB&H to the wider population.
•Oversee and maintain systems, processes, policies and procedures for all HWBH services, including managing risk.
•Work with the Chair to plan and execute Board and all relevant sub group meetings.
•Act as Company Secretary and ensure the Community Interest Company operates within appropriate Company legislation.
Relationship Building
•Initiate and maintain excellent working relationships with commissioners, key health and social care providers, strategic and operational partnerships, Boards, and act as a conduit for HWBH as appropriate.
•Develop a positive and constructive working relationship with Healthwatch England, the Care Quality Commission and other relevant national and regional bodies.
•Develop close working relationships and collaboration with the local voluntary and community sector.
•Engage with the public, service users and the city’s communities and ensure they have a voice in influencing their health and social care, particularly ensuring the involvement of those that are most isolated.
•Building relationships and work with partner Healthwatch organisations.
Strategies, work plans, and reporting
•Work within HWBH’s governance and operational structures to develop, implement and report to the HWBH Chair and Board of Directors regarding business and work plans.
•Oversee the development of an effective research and intelligence programme – to include evidence collection, research, analysis and report writing according to the agreed HWBH work plan.
•Oversee Enter and View processes and reports, as well as other publications and materials relating to HWB&H work.
•Present reports to strategic partnerships, the Health and Wellbeing Board, Healthwatch England, the Care Quality Commission and other relevant local, regional and national bodies.
•Report on HWBH’s impact and achievements to local residents and stakeholders on a regular basis, including providing an annual report on activities.
•Oversee the development and implementation of an effective communication and engagement programme according to the HWBH work plan.
Finance and Contract Management
•In collaboration with the Finance Director, oversee budget development, monitoring and reporting against performance criteria to comply with all contractual requirements and subcontracting arrangements and ensuring appropriate audit and controls.
•Ensure required quarterly and annual reports for all internal and external stakeholders are produced within deadlines and in required formats.
•Report to the HWBH Board on developing and monitoring project expenditure
•Undertake contract negotiation, delivery and management arrangements with Brighton and Hove City Council and other funders as these grow.
•Identify new income streams and scope for expanding the work of HWBH to ensure longer term sustainability.
People Management
•Recruit, induct, support and line manage a staff team in line with HWBH staff management policies, and ensure the team is strong, effective, and motivated with personal and team work plans and performance objectives.
•Ensure all staff and volunteers receive the training and support required to enable them to understand their role and carry out their duties.
•Develop and implement a volunteer and work placement programme and strategy and ensure it is properly resourced, follows HWBH procedures and good practice in working with volunteers, particularly those with extra support needs
•Manage and support staff to ensure efficient and effective delivery of statutory, contractual and organisational responsibilities.
•Ensure all relevant Human Resource (HR) policies, procedures and processes are in place and adhered to, including maintaining appropriate personnel records.
Communications and Information
•Oversee internal and external communications and take lead responsibility for building relationships with and working with the Media.
•Support all involved in HWBH in developing and using local branding and information effectively.
•Ensure HWBH has a robust information management system which deals with different sources and types of information and utilises existing methods and packages effectively.
•Ensure appropriate management and use of HWB&H data, information and record keeping systems, and comply with relevant policies and procedures including Data Protection.
•Produce presentations, reports and information for a wide range of audiences.
•Promote and raise the profile of HWB&H to ensure it is well known amongst the public and key stakeholders.
Other duties
•Use ICT for general administrative duties, including work processing, spreadsheets, email, databases, and social media platforms.
•Ensure that HWBH understands legislation and best practice in relation to work with children and vulnerable adults.
•Carry out any other duties as appropriate to the role and responsibilities of the post.
Person Specification
To be addressed on the application from and to be assessed through the application and interview processes.
Specification / Essential/Highly Desirable
Track record of transformational change management. / Essential
Strong leadership skills, political acumen, and personal qualities that will inspire staff, volunteers, partners and the public. / Essential
Knowledge and experience of working in, and the workings of, health and social care and ability to demonstrate how this expertise can be used to improve the experience of health and social care for the people of Brighton and Hove / Essential
Proven experience of managing and motivating staff and volunteers, providing guidance, direction and supervision, as well as dealing with day to day HR issues, to build an effective team and ensure achievement of performance targets. / Essential
Able to operate at both strategic and operational levels, translate operational issues into strategic action, and develop and deliver projects and work programmes in line with HWBH business plan and priorities. / Essential
Previous experience of working collaboratively with a Chair and Board and implementing good governance arrangements, as well as advising a Board and writing effective papers and reports. / Essential
Excellent communications skills, at an interpersonal level and in public meetings with an ability to tailor messages to specific audiences e.g. public, service users or organisations; and to promote and market the work of HWBH both orally and in writing. / Essential
Ability to gain credibility quickly and influence and inspire, making sound judgements; diplomatic, but able to challenge when appropriate and resolve differences and conflicts through negotiation. / Essential
Experience in delivering to contracts and targets and maintaining and developing appropriate systems to demonstrate outcomes. / Essential
An understanding of empowerment, engagement and involvement of excluded groups and tackling discrimination and inequality; and using consultation and feedback to engage such groups in the wellbeing and empowerment agenda, to help set priorities for HWBH and other agencies. / Essential
Experience and commitment to working in partnership across organisational boundaries with colleagues in public, voluntary and other agencies, including other Healthwatch organisations, Healthwatch England, and the Care Quality Commission, to improve health and wellbeing and service delivery. / Essential
Ability to use, understand and analyse data, intelligence and other forms of information to provide evidence for interventions and other programmes of work. / Essential
Track record of sound budget management and experience in securing new funding streams to sustain and grow a small voluntary organisation. / Essential
Demonstration of a proactive self-management approach with the ability to respond to complex and changing agendas. This should include time management skills as well as flexibility to act quickly when necessary. Occasional weekend and evening work required. / Essential