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Job summary

Main area
Operations
Grade
Band 9
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (The role has some flexibility in terms of working from home and working hours.)
Job ref
339-OD8891-EGJ
Employer
North Bristol NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Trust Head Quarters
Town
Bristol
Salary
£112,782 - £129,783 pa, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
21/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

North Bristol NHS Trust logo

Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Band 9

 

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Job overview

The Deputy Chief Operating Officer (DCOO) supports the COO in delivery of the Trust’s operational plan, with delegated responsibility for managing delivery of services across the organisation. 

Working with Divisional and Corporate teams, the DCOO has day to day oversight of operations and is responsible for ensuring services are fit for purpose and compliant with standards.  This includes ensuring that robust service planning is in place across the organisation.  The DCOO will be expected to work with divisions to ensure services are coordinated and Trust-wide issues resolved, with responsibility to make decisions on whether to escalate issues to COO and other Execs.

The DCOO will work with the COO, wider Executive team and partners within Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) to implement improvement and transformation at Trust and system-levels, ensuring that NBT can realise the opportunities which come from working across the wider health system.

The DCOO will deputise for the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Trust, system national levels.

Main duties of the job

The Deputy Chief Operating Officer (DCOO) is a core member of Chief Operating Officers team and the role is to deliver against the performance portfolio.

 

Working in partnership with Divisional and Corporate teams, the DCOO has day to day oversight of operations and is responsible for ensuring services are safe, fit for purpose and compliant with standards.

 

The DCOO is accountable to the COO for the delivery of national access standards related to:

Urgent and Emergency Care Standards.

Planned care (i.e. Referral to Treatment Times, Cancer Waiting Times, Diagnostic Waiting Times standards).

Efficiency/and productivity improvements in theatres and outpatients.

Performance reporting and assurance.

Trust-wide capacity planning to support delivery of timely care.

Working for our organisation

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead.  We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered. 

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Working in partnership with Divisional and Corporate teams, the DCOO has day to day oversight of operations and is responsible for ensuring services are safe, fit for purpose and compliant with standards.

 

The DCOO is accountable to the COO for the delivery of national access standards related to:

§  Urgent and Emergency Care Standards

§  Planned care (i.e. Referral to Treatment Times, Cancer Waiting Times, Diagnostic Waiting Times standards),

§  efficiency/and productivity improvements in theatres and outpatients,

§  performance reporting and assurance

§  Trust-wide capacity planning to support delivery of timely care

The DCOO is responsible for ensuring all access policies are compliant and updated in line with national guidance and that training is provided to all staff on a regular basis.

The DCOO is responsible for ensuring that consistent and robust waiting list systems and processes are in place across the Trust, for Elective and Emergency waiting times, and that these are actively and appropriately managed.

Lead on the implementation of the Trust’s Bed model, based on strategic plans for efficiencies and improvements in patient flow.

The DCOO is responsible for leading the Trust’s Cancer Management work, implementing the Trust’s Cancer Strategy and the annual peer review cycle and ensuring that national standards are met.

The DCOO has Trust-wide responsibility for the effective service delivery of the Senior Manager on-call rota including development of standard operating procedures and training for on-call directors and managers, ensuring they are fully equipped to manage operational risks and contingency plans.

With the COO, the DCOO is responsible for the delivery of savings for the Operations Directorate and for supporting processes which improve financial information and budgetary control.

Person specification

Education

Essential criteria
  • Master's Level Education or equivalent relevant experience.
  • Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development

Work Experience

Essential criteria
  • Substantial recent experience in a management/lead role in optimising flow within complex planned and unplanned care pathways.
  • Demonstratable experience of leading multiple stakeholders to deliver a performance objective and ensure that this is sustainable
  • Experience of effective partnership working with internal and external stakeholders.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Extensive leadership and operational management experience in a medium/large acute healthcare provider setting
  • A high level of operational planning/organisational skill and experience, with a track record of delivery.
  • Strong communication and relationship skills, including proven ability to build relationships with senior leaders and partners within the organisation and externally and ability to deliver complex, sensitive and sometimes contentious corporate messages.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Care quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerBECHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Application numbers

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Nicholas Smith
Job title
Chief Operating Officer
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07967829797
Additional information

Please contact my PA to co-ordinate any further information or contact relating to the role.  [email protected]

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