Job vacancy: Performance Lead, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust, Durham

Job summary

Main area: Performance
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 346-CORP-081-25-A

Employer: Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Tarncroft, Lanchester Road Hospital
Town: Durham
Salary: £38,682 - £46,580 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 19/11/2025 23:59

Performance Lead

NHS AfC: Band 6

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

Patient/client care

Patient contact will be an incidental part of this post and will generally occur when patients are involved or observed by the post holder as part of a service development/improvement event.

Responsibility for information

The post holder will support the implementation and management of corporate performance systems, supported by ICT, which increases the effectiveness of the performance management framework.
The post holder may be required to take on the role of Information Asset Administrator, or to deputise for the holder of this role.

Policy Development

The post holder will be expected to provide advice on the interpretation of national policy and health related assessments to identify performance management implications for the Trust, ensuring they are communicated effectively to the Senior Performance Manager.
The post holder will also be expected to comment on policies and procedures which may include representing Strategy and Transformation Directorate on corporate groups developing or being consulted on such development.

Service Development Responsibilities

The post holder will be expected to undertake complex analysis of performance data to identify benchmarked performance and trends, assessing where service improvement activity is required. The preparation of complex performance information can involve simultaneously achieving conflicting deadlines. This frequently means multi tasking over periods of intense and prolonged concentration.
The post holder will be capable of making judgements involving complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options.
The post holder will provide support for service reviews, service redesign and service improvement projects where required. This includes identifying specialist performance management tools and techniques that actively promote a range of improvement tools, including benchmarking, to promote a culture of excellence.
The post holder is also responsible for designing and/or taking part in Strategy and Transformation process/service improvement activity, including the monitoring of progress against milestones and outcomes.

Responsibility for financial resources

The post holder must observe personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources used in the course of their work.

Responsibility for physical resources

The post holder will be responsible for safeguarding equipment issued to them to enable them to perform their role, such as laptops and ironkeys.

People management, training and development

The post holder will be responsible for influencing individuals and groups of clinical and non clinical managers by facilitating discussions and presenting on complex, sensitive and often contentious information with a view to overcoming through negotiation, persuasion and reassurance significant barriers to acceptance and understanding.
The post holder will provide support and development to increase the ability of individuals and teams to access, interpret and use performance management information. This also includes the provision of training both formally and informally to staff across the organisation to increase their knowledge and awareness of the performance management agenda.

Research, Audit & Governance

· The post holder will provide support and guidance on the use of qualitative research for performance reporting and providing analysis from a variety of sources including survey results.

· The post holder will engage and work with the Clinical Audit Team to ensure they can support the Trust’s performance requirements including the delivery of relevant performance information.

Freedom to Act

The post holder will be guided by general health, organisational or broad occupational policies, but in most situations the post holder will need to establish the way in which these should be interpreted.

The post holder will work to objectives set by the Senior Performance Manager, but have regard to the operational requirements of Strategy and Transformation Directorate. The post holder is expected to negotiate deadlines that allow them to satisfy both the objectives of the Corporate Performance Team and the wider Directorate but where this is not possible to alert those post holders in an appropriate and informed way to allow for negotiations around conflicting priorities to take place.

· The post holder will be expected to plan their own day-to-day work, allocating time in an efficient and effective way to ensure that deadlines are met. This includes effectively prioritising work through forward planning and discussions with the Senior Performance Manager to resolve capacity and scheduling issues. Electronic diaries will be used to facilitate this, and the post holder is also responsible for communicating their work priorities, issues and locations to the Senior Performance Manager and others within the Strategy and Transformation Directorate.

Communication

The post holder will be required to communicate to a high standard using written reports and verbal presentations (including the use of electronic and non-electronic visual aids) providing clear explanations and transmitting factual information. They will need to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, including Directors, Clinicians and managers at all levels.
The post holder’s communication must be able to effectively persuade others to take action that they would not otherwise have taken. This includes using negotiation skills effectively, such as seeking win-win agreements (which in turn requires understanding and empathy with other’s positions, views and needs), and taking the Trust values and compact into account in communication. The post holder must be able to deal with situations of conflict in a calm and professional manner, while continuing to state the needs of the organisation as a whole and the evidence behind their views.
The post holder will also deliver training to operational staff and so must be able to deliver training in a confident and engaging manner, using a mix of tools that takes different learning styles successfully into account

Other requirements

The post holder may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the role and/or band as required by business need, not specified in the job description.
The post holder may be required to work in locations other than those specified in the job description as required by business need.
There may be a requirement to change the job description in light of developing service needs.
The post holder will be expected to:

Ø Act professionally in emotionally charged environments, for example, when imparting information, either welcome or unwelcome, at all levels of the Trust and our partner organizations;

Ø Maintain confidentiality of information at all times;

Ø Act at all times in the best interest of patients/clients.

Person specification

Essential

Essential criteria

Educated to degree level (or significant experience coupled with achievement that indicates degree-level ability) in a performance management role

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience in a performance management role
Experience of performance management frameworks and processes in a large complex organisation
Experience with Microsoft applications
Experience of influencing people who were not directly line managed to take action

Desirable criteria

Previous NHS experience
Experience of developing performance management systems
Experience with Statistical Process Control Charts

Skills and Knowledge

Essential criteria

Specialist knowledge of performance management frameworks, processes and improvement tools
Highly developed analytical skills to analyse a range of complex performance issues and results which require interpretation and comparison
Ability to make judgements on whether performance appears reasonable in order to determine whether further action or intervention is required to achieve targets
Excellent IT skills, particularly in relation to creating, formatting and manipulating databases and spreadsheets
Excellent numeric skills
Excellent communication skills including the ability to present performance information both verbally and in writing

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of the NHS performance agenda
Knowledge of regulatory bodies and their requirements, e.g. Care Quality Commission
Awareness of the environment in which a Foundation Trust operates
Understanding of statistical concepts

Personal Attributes

Essential criteria

Ability to work either in a team or under ones own initiative
Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to maintain good relationships
Motivation and enthusiasm for the role
Reliable and Flexible
Able to work within and model the Trust’s values / behaviours and compact
Demonstrating personal responsibility and sound personal organisation, able to prioritise and collaborate at appropriate times
Able to work independently with minimal direction and supervision, within a set framework / boundaries
Innovative, with a desire to maximise opportunities for developing the efficiency and effectiveness of the individual, the team, the directorate, and the Trust
Able to face varying demands – frequently requiring intense concentration and effort to deliver multiple objectives / conflicting priorities
Able to challenge poor performance in a constructive way - to act as a critical friend

Desirable criteria

Able to think strategically and balance “big picture” requirements against more urgent and detailed operational detail
Evidence of commitment to self-development

Other

Essential criteria

Mentally able to regularly concentrate for prolonged periods of time when checking and analysing data including physically able to work most of the day at a computer workstation.
Ability to travel independently in accordance with Trust policies and service need (this is likely to involve travel to sites across the whole area served by TEWV, but other destinations may also be necessary)

Desirable criteria

Able to work from home

Right to Work in the UK

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Browse: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.

Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead, subject to role meeting the required conditions.

We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your Right to Work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.

AI in Recruitment

We are aware that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is increasingly being used to generate responses for application forms. Applications for this role should be written by the applicant and if, during shortlisting, a Recruiting Manager believes AI has been used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Fixed Term Posts

If the contract type on the vacancy states 'Fixed Term' this would mean the vacancy is being advertised to address a temporary need for the duration stipulated on the advert, however, in the event that permanent funding is secured for the post the successful applicant will be confirmed in post on a permanent basis.

Internal applicants must ensure that prior to applying they have agreement from their current line manager that they can be released on a secondment basis.

Support with applications

We have computers facilities available in our libraries (Durham, Middlesbrough, and Darlington) to support applicants. If you would like to access to a laptop for your application, please contact the library team to arrange a time to visit, please email: [email protected] . We will always endeavour to make this available however we cannot guarantee that we will be able accommodate this before the vacancy closes.

Trust Welcome Day

Here at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation NHS Trust, we want you to have a positive experience when you start your new role with us. To ensure you have great welcome, for all new starters joining the Trust, we offer two start dates per month on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of that month.

On your start date, you will be invited to our in person Trust Welcome Day at our Flatts Lane Centre, Middlesbrough. Your first day will be engaging and informative, it will allow you to meet and network with a range of Trust staff, learn more about us and what we offer. For certain clinical roles, your Welcome Day may then be followed up with additional mandatory/statutory clinical training.

Applying for this post

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from individuals who have experience of mental ill health or learning disabilities. Our service users and carers tell us our staff should be consistently concerned with maintaining and improving care with pride, empathy and compassion.

This job advert may close as soon as sufficient suitable applications have been received. If interested please apply for this post as soon as possible.

In order for your application to be successfully processed we will require references from your current and previous employer(s) which must cover a minimum period of three years. Please ensure that the reference section of your application is completed appropriately giving the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current and previous line manager(s). If this section is not fully completed your application may not be processed.

If your application is successful, the information you give on your application form will be used to create and be retained on your electronic staff record and to provide access to core Trust systems.

Please note that if the post you are applying for requires a DBS check, you will be required to also subscribe to the DBS Update Service, if successful, and thereafter renew your subscription each year. The Trust will reimburse the subscription fee.

After applying via the NHS Jobs link, you will be taken to our preferred Third party recruitment system so submit your application. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, that as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.

Additional Information

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the protection of staff, service users and visitors to the Trust from second hand smoke and currently operates a no smoking policy which ensures all buildings and grounds are smoke free.