What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief of Staff position at NHS England?

Job summary

As Chief of Staff for the South West, you will lead a team to ensure seamless business planning, effective governance, and proactive problem-solving for the Region. This role requires expert advisory skills, dynamic relationship management, and the ability to adapt to emerging challenges, supporting the Regional Director and Senior Leadership Team.

Key duties include overseeing corporate services, coordinating stakeholder engagement, and fostering a culture of innovation and high standards. This impactful role offers the chance to shape regional healthcare delivery. Some on-call responsibilities apply.

Main duties of the job

Provision of specialist advice and expert handling support on key areas of work ensuring delivery of organisational priorities through :

co-ordination and delivery of business planning and business cycle for the Region.
horizon scanning and identification of emerging policy and operational challenges and opportunities through stakeholder management and insight.
effective and creative problem-solving.
scoping and delivering bespoke projects to respond agilely and flexibly to new or emerging asks.
relationship management (national-regional-local) and professional leadership
acting relative to accountabilities to the Executive Group, Board, government and Parliament.
lead the Region in setting behavioural and organisational cultural standards.
co-ordination of operational and business management activities across the Region.
regional governance
oversight and delivery of business management, business continuity planning and governance.
alignment of HR & OD processes including HR Recruitment Panels and processes.
co-ordination point for corporate services, including HR, estates, IT, governance ensuring the Region is able to work effectively.
risk management, assurance and audit.
supporting the Regional Director to lead their SLT and oversee all informal and formal HR&OD issues in the Directorate, supported by HR&OD.

About us

The NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by :

Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.

Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.

Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care

Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation

Delivering value for money.

If you would like to know more or require further information, please visit

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.

NHS England hold a Sponsor Licence; this means that we may be able to sponsor you providing the Home Office requirements are met. To be eligible for sponsorship through the Skilled Worker route you'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £38,700 per year, or the 'going rate' for your job, whichever is higher. You can find more information on the Government website.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Alignment across the South West to meet the needs of the Region and support ICBs and NHS England to deliver their priorities, including :

relationship management for senior internal and external stakeholders.

co-ordination point of contact for organisation-wide commissions, briefings, projects and change management working with the Communications team and SL

Relationships (External)

Senior leaders and their teams throughout the South West including ICSs / ICBs, OHID, UKHSA, NHS providers, local authorities, other stakeholder and arms length bodies.

Key Relationships (Internal)

SW Senior Leadership Team and Wider Leadership Team

SW Business Managers

HR & OD and Communications teams

Chiefs of Staff across seven Regional teams, and COO.

On Call

This role may also include being part of an On Call Rota for NHS England.

This may include being on call for 7 days, one week or part thereof, 24 hours per day. Bank holidays may be split into less days or specific days over those periods.

Any person who is on call accepts the roles & responsibilities laid out in the NHS England On Call Guidance.

Terms and conditions for remuneration for staff undertaking on-call activities are governed by Agenda for Change (AFC) and the ESM contract as appropriate.

You can find further details about the job in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Person Specification

Education, Training, and Qualifications

Essential

Educated to Masters level in a relevant area or equivalent experience at a commensurate band.

Evidence of continuing professional development.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

Proven experience of leading and delivering complex change and strategy development programmes in a politically sensitive and complex environment.

In-depth knowledge of good governance practices and experience in providing assurance to board members.

Experience of liaising and working with government departments on healthcare issues at a senior level.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

Leadership, vision, strategic thinking, and planning with highly developed political skills.

High-level analytical skills with the ability to draw qualitative and quantitative data from diverse sources and present it clearly.

Ability to work on own initiative, organise workload, and make autonomous decisions on complex issues when needed.

Interpersonal Skills

Essential

Highly developed communication skills, with the ability to present complex and sensitive information effectively to diverse audiences.

Demonstrable commitment to partnership working with a range of external organisations.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

Commitment to equality of opportunity and fostering good working relationships, understanding the importance of diversity in healthcare.

Salary : $38,700

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