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Job summary

Main area
Managerial
Grade
Band 8b
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
246-COR7806093
Employer
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
County Hall
Town
Norwich
Salary
£64,455 - £74,896 gross per annum/pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
Today at 23:59

Employer heading

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust logo

Health Equities Senior Manager

Band 8b

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams.  We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience

Job overview

In 2025, the Trust appointed a Chief Patient Experience Officer to lead a new Patient Experience Directorate focused on improving service user and carer experience and strengthening our approach to reducing health inequalities. Working with system partners and five clinical localities, the directorate supports genuine partnership working and addresses the drivers of inequality.

To deliver this ambition, the Trust has invested in a dedicated Health Equity Team, including a Senior Manager for Health Equity and, for the first time, a substantive Public Health Consultant.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate leader to drive strategic programmes that promote health equity, inclusion and service improvement. The role will lead development and delivery of the Health Equity Strategy, the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework, population health programmes and the Suicide Prevention Plan.

The postholder will provide strategic oversight of Recovery College and Chaplaincy services, ensuring high-quality, co-produced support for service users and carers. They will champion inclusion, strengthen community partnerships and help reduce health inequalities across our population.

The role also requires using data and quality improvement methods to inform practice, embed learning, support staff development, manage resources effectively and foster a culture of continuous improvement, shaping meaningful change and improved outcomes for our communities.

Main duties of the job

This Band 8b role provides strategic leadership in health equity, suicide prevention, recovery-focused learning, and inclusive service development to improve experience and outcomes for service users. 

You will communicate complex and sensitive information to internal and external stakeholders, provide specialist advice, and represent the Trust to promote best practice and partnership working.
Key responsibilities include planning inclusive events, analysing feedback and data to inform service improvements, and supporting locality teams with co-production initiatives. You will lead training programmes, develop policies, and embed cultural change around participation and involvement.

The role also involves building partnerships with academic and community networks, leading research-informed strategies, and mentoring staff in quality improvement. You will ensure compliance with national standards, lead on data submissions and audits, and act as an escalation point for complex experience-related issues, ensuring resolution aligns with Trust values and statutory duties.

Working for our organisation

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming, you’ll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We’re an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We welcome applicants to join a developing, high-profile team with strong system relationships and growing influence. You will work closely with the Chief Patient Experience Officer & Deputy CEO, becoming a key leader in an ambitious, values‑driven programme. This is a unique and influential opportunity to shape and accelerate our work to reduce health inequalities across Norfolk and Suffolk.

 

Improving Health is one of NSFT’s four strategic goals, underpinned by a major two‑year large‑scale change programme focused on Health Equity. Our aim is clear: to reduce avoidable inequalities in access, experience, and outcomes across all Trust activities.

We have launched our first Health Equity Strategy, centred on three priorities, Prevention and population health, Delivering equitable services within neighbourhoods and Suicide prevention. 

 

Our dedicated Health Equity Team has been established to coordinate work on multiple projects including, the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF), Suicide prevention An Population health management. Our aim is to ensure underserved communities receive culturally competent, person-centred support. The team works collaboratively with system partners and our five clinical localities to strengthen partnership working and reduce inequalities.

 

Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY!

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to master’s degree level in a relevant subject (e.g. health, social care, psychology, social sciences) or equivalent level of knowledge and experience
  • Evidence of relevant continued professional development (e.g. quality improvement)
Desirable criteria
  • Post graduate qualification or equivalent in a related subject

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of managing multi-disciplinary teams, budgets, and service planning functions
  • Experience of developing and implementing strategies at a senior level
Desirable criteria
  • Leading large-scale engagement or co-production projects across clinical or operational services

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Effective financial and resource management skills, including budgeting, planning and delivering efficiency savings
Desirable criteria
  • Effective conflict resolution skills, with the ability to manage sensitive situations, mediate differing perspectives, and support positive outcomes in complex or emotionally charged environments.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • In-depth understanding of the wider determinants of health inequalities, including social, economic, and environmental factors, and their impact on access, experience, and outcomes for diverse populations.
  • Knowledge of the CQC self-assessment and improvement framework for providers
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of inpatient and community services and pathways.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality MarkHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingWomens Staff NetworkCycle to Work

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Cath Byford
Job title
Chief Patient Experience Officer
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

Katie Hayes - Executive Assistant to Cath Byford  

[email protected]

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