• Job Description

  Req#: C9265-26-0094?language=en&page=327&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Deputy Chief People Officer - Culture & Safety (Band 9)

  Are you a senior people leader ready to lead a Trust-wide culture improvement strategy -- shaping a workplace where everyone feels they belong, can speak up, and can deliver outstanding care?

  Working closely with the Chief People Officer, you will provide visible, values-led leadership across organisation development, inclusion, people development and health and wellbeing. You will lead strategic programmes that strengthen engagement, embed just and compassionate leadership, and place safety, equality and belonging at the heart of how we work.

  This is a high-impact senior leadership role for someone who:

  • Has a strong track record of leading culture change and improvement in complex organisations
  • Is credible at Board and system level, and confident influencing senior leaders
  • Can translate values into practical, measurable improvements for colleagues and patients
  • Leads with authenticity, courage and compassion

  If you are motivated by building a culture where people thrive -- and where safety, inclusion and continuous improvement are everyone's business -- we'd love to hear from you.

  Informal conversation about the role is welcome, please contact: Paula.kirkpatrick@nhs.net

  Main duties of the job

  The Deputy Chief People Officer is a key member of the senior People team and plays a key role in leading the delivery of the UHN People strategy.

  The Deputy Chief People Officer will act as a role model in terms of organisational values and behaviours and support the Chief People Officer in their responsibilities covering all aspects of leadership and people management across UHN. The post holder will support the Chief People Officer in providing a comprehensive workforce service, providing leadership for the People Plan, annual business plan, Care Quality Commission standards and other workforce related governance and compliance requirements.

  The post holder will lead initiatives to develop high levels of workforce engagement and performance to support delivery of the organisation's strategic and performance goals and improvement priorities.

  The Deputy Chief People Officer has a wide-ranging and extensive portfolio including strategy and policy and major change programmes. With the Chief People Officer, the post holder will ensure that the people directorate's structure and functions - and the capacity and capability of people that work in the directorate - are fit for purpose and designed to support business needs, whilst maintaining the highest professional standards.

  About us

  Please submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close adverts once we have received sufficient applications

  Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is on an exciting journey with all of our divisions committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered a Group Model with neighbouring Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN). As part of this collaborative approach, there may be a requirement for you to work across both the Kettering and Northampton hospital sites, depending on the needs of the service.

  Our Excellence Values

  • Compassion
  • Accountability
  • Respect
  • Integrity
  • Courage

  We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across UHN and help to unleash everyone's full potential.

  UHN encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.

  We recognise the valuable contribution that the Armed Forces community make to our organisation. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Silver Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme.

  We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for UHN.

  Details

  Date posted

  11 February 2026

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 9

  Salary

  £109,179 to £125,637 a year £109,179.00 - £125,637.00 per annum

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

  Reference number

  265-7781264-COR

  Job locations

  University Hospitals of Northamptonshire

  Cliftonville

  Northampton

  NN1 5BD

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Leadership and Management

  In partnership with the Chief People Officer, have corporate responsibility to lead the development and delivery of the Trust People Plan and any associated strategies and service developments and contribute to its ongoing development and monitoring, developing and monitoring key people related metrics and performance measures.

  To lead People Plan pledge service functions, measuring the service impact with quantitative and qualitative information.

  Proactively contribute to the development and delivery of workforce plans ensuring they are consistent with corporate workforce priorities and that there is alignment between workforce, finance, and service strategies.

  Actively engage in the annual planning process, advising on workforce strategies and the impact of any planned service developments and cost improvements.

  Oversee improvements within the functions which promote operational excellence through standardising, simplifying and streamlining processes, whilst keeping customer need and experience at the heart of the enhancements and ensuring maximising operational and cost efficiency

  To support the use of technology in developing a modern workforce service

  Develop KPIs and performance dashboards to measure and report on the effectiveness and impact of the services. Take a lead, with the Chief People Officer in the implementation of the UHN People Plan to support the organisations operational andstrategic business plans.

  Set up and maintain effective governance at System, Trust, programme and project level to enable successful delivery of people related programmes, including clear risk management and benefits realisation. Hold leads to account for delivery of action plans, ensuring that meaningful key performance indicators (KPIs) are identified and routinely reported.

  Ensure the development and delivery of national priorities and targets and demonstrate achievement of these as a part of national and regional reporting for the hospitals e.g. National NHS Staff Survey

  Working in partnership with the Communications and Engagement team, develop and maintain workforce communication processes which actively inform and engage colleagues in the delivery of our UHN vision

  Manage budgets to meet strategic and operational business plans

  Act as a change agent, providing leadership and support particularly at senior management levels.

  Promote a positive image of UHN with appropriate external professional/ NHS/ Government and other organisations.

  Represent the Chief People Officer at internal and external meetings, attending executive and board meetings as needed.

  Participate in the on-call rota

  Governance

  Lead on all employment governance ensuring that all people related risks and systems to manage them are managed and mitigated i.e.

  • DBS
  • Right to Work
  • Professional Registration
  • Fixed Terms Contracts
  • Safeguarding

  Regularly report on the status of workforce related risks to ensure the status of all is known and where remedial action is required.

  Ensure risk reporting mechanisms are regularly updated and where incidents occur these are investigated in a comprehensive and timely manner. Work with the Governance teams to ensure that Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements are met and in the event of inspections - data requests are responded to in a timely and comprehensive manner.

  Ensure all workforce and resourcing services meet the requirements of legislation, Internal Audit, Care Quality Commission and the NHSLA standards for Trusts.

  For Full details and responsibilities of the role, please see attached job description and person specification

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Leadership and Management

  In partnership with the Chief People Officer, have corporate responsibility to lead the development and delivery of the Trust People Plan and any associated strategies and service developments and contribute to its ongoing development and monitoring, developing and monitoring key people related metrics and performance measures.

  To lead People Plan pledge service functions, measuring the service impact with quantitative and qualitative information.

  Proactively contribute to the development and delivery of workforce plans ensuring they are consistent with corporate workforce priorities and that there is alignment between workforce, finance, and service strategies.

  Actively engage in the annual planning process, advising on workforce strategies and the impact of any planned service developments and cost improvements.

  Oversee improvements within the functions which promote operational excellence through standardising, simplifying and streamlining processes, whilst keeping customer need and experience at the heart of the enhancements and ensuring maximising operational and cost efficiency

  To support the use of technology in developing a modern workforce service

  Develop KPIs and performance dashboards to measure and report on the effectiveness and impact of the services. Take a lead, with the Chief People Officer in the implementation of the UHN People Plan to support the organisations operational andstrategic business plans.

  Set up and maintain effective governance at System, Trust, programme and project level to enable successful delivery of people related programmes, including clear risk management and benefits realisation. Hold leads to account for delivery of action plans, ensuring that meaningful key performance indicators (KPIs) are identified and routinely reported.

  Ensure the development and delivery of national priorities and targets and demonstrate achievement of these as a part of national and regional reporting for the hospitals e.g. National NHS Staff Survey

  Working in partnership with the Communications and Engagement team, develop and maintain workforce communication processes which actively inform and engage colleagues in the delivery of our UHN vision

  Manage budgets to meet strategic and operational business plans

  Act as a change agent, providing leadership and support particularly at senior management levels.

  Promote a positive image of UHN with appropriate external professional/ NHS/ Government and other organisations.

  Represent the Chief People Officer at internal and external meetings, attending executive and board meetings as needed.

  Participate in the on-call rota

  Governance

  Lead on all employment governance ensuring that all people related risks and systems to manage them are managed and mitigated i.e.

  • DBS
  • Right to Work
  • Professional Registration
  • Fixed Terms Contracts
  • Safeguarding

  Regularly report on the status of workforce related risks to ensure the status of all is known and where remedial action is required.

  Ensure risk reporting mechanisms are regularly updated and where incidents occur these are investigated in a comprehensive and timely manner. Work with the Governance teams to ensure that Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements are met and in the event of inspections - data requests are responded to in a timely and comprehensive manner.

  Ensure all workforce and resourcing services meet the requirements of legislation, Internal Audit, Care Quality Commission and the NHSLA standards for Trusts.

  For Full details and responsibilities of the role, please see attached job description and person specification

  Person Specification

  Education,Training and Qualifications

  Essential

  • Educated to Masters level with a degree or equivalent experience and competencies or extensive relevant senior experience.
  • Evidence of continuing professional development including management studies to Masters level or above or equivalent experience
  • Membership of an appropriate professional body - FCIPD Knowledge / experience

  Desirable

  • Qualified at practitioner level of a recognised programme/project management methodology

  Knowledge and Experience

  Essential

  • Experience of senior complex leadership in Human Resources practice ideally in the Public or not for Profit Sector
  • Experience of providing strategic and technical HR&OD advice to the NHS or comparable organisations
  • Track record of delivery at Director/Senior management level, including exposure at Board
  • Track record of delivering large scale change and knowledge of quality improvement methodologies and evidence
  • Tactical understanding of employment law issues
  • Experience of large budget management
  • Experience of making relationships with national bodies, higher educational institutions and system partners and a track record of gaining support and investment

  Desirable

  • Track record of delivering large scale change and knowledge of quality improvement methodologies and evidence
  • People systems procurement experience e.g. rostering

  Skills

  Essential

  • Able to interpret extremely complex and multifaceted data and information to inform decision making at Executive leve
  • Able to take difficult and challenging decisions that support strategic aims and long-term vision
  • Lead a team successfully
  • Experience of building staff capacity and capability
  • Ability to maintain personal resilience and exhibit high levels of emotional intelligence
  • Demonstrate and role model the Group values at all times, even when under pressure
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the delivery of this role
  • Team player with a 'can do' Attitude

  Desirable

  • Examples of positive use of disruptive innovation to deliver sustainable change

  Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes

  Essential

  • Maintain and positive 'can do' sense of confidence
  • A high degree of self-awareness of own emotions, the impact on the emotions and behaviours of others and being sensitive to the needs, values and beliefs of others in personal interactions
  • Desire to make a real difference to people's health and to the working lives of staff so they can contribute to and/or deliver an excellent patient experience.

  Person Specification

  Education,Training and Qualifications

  Essential

  • Educated to Masters level with a degree or equivalent experience and competencies or extensive relevant senior experience.
  • Evidence of continuing professional development including management studies to Masters level or above or equivalent experience
  • Membership of an appropriate professional body - FCIPD Knowledge / experience

  Desirable

  • Qualified at practitioner level of a recognised programme/project management methodology

  Knowledge and Experience

  Essential

  • Experience of senior complex leadership in Human Resources practice ideally in the Public or not for Profit Sector
  • Experience of providing strategic and technical HR&OD advice to the NHS or comparable organisations
  • Track record of delivery at Director/Senior management level, including exposure at Board
  • Track record of delivering large scale change and knowledge of quality improvement methodologies and evidence
  • Tactical understanding of employment law issues
  • Experience of large budget management
  • Experience of making relationships with national bodies, higher educational institutions and system partners and a track record of gaining support and investment

  Desirable

  • Track record of delivering large scale change and knowledge of quality improvement methodologies and evidence
  • People systems procurement experience e.g. rostering

  Skills

  Essential

  • Able to interpret extremely complex and multifaceted data and information to inform decision making at Executive leve
  • Able to take difficult and challenging decisions that support strategic aims and long-term vision
  • Lead a team successfully
  • Experience of building staff capacity and capability
  • Ability to maintain personal resilience and exhibit high levels of emotional intelligence
  • Demonstrate and role model the Group values at all times, even when under pressure
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the delivery of this role
  • Team player with a 'can do' Attitude

  Desirable

  • Examples of positive use of disruptive innovation to deliver sustainable change

  Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes

  Essential

  • Maintain and positive 'can do' sense of confidence
  • A high degree of self-awareness of own emotions, the impact on the emotions and behaviours of others and being sensitive to the needs, values and beliefs of others in personal interactions
  • Desire to make a real difference to people's health and to the working lives of staff so they can contribute to and/or deliver an excellent patient experience.

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

  From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Additional information

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

  From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Northampton General Hospital

  Address

  University Hospitals of Northamptonshire

  Cliftonville

  Northampton

  NN1 5BD

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Northampton General Hospital

  Address

  University Hospitals of Northamptonshire

  Cliftonville

  Northampton

  NN1 5BD

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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