Chief Operating Officer in Great Marton, Blackpool

Chief Operating Officer – Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

From 134th to good. Lead the turnaround.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals is ranked 134th of 134 trusts in the National Oversight Framework. Everyone in the NHS knows it, and the Trust does not pretend otherwise. What it is looking for now is a Chief Operating Officer who wants to change that, and to build a career reputation on one of the most significant turnarounds in the NHS.

Seymour John is delighted to be supporting the Trust with this appointment.

A bigger role than most COO posts

You will lead hospital and community services across three clinical divisions, each run by a Divisional Managing Director with real authority. You will also be the executive lead for the Trust's relationships at Place and System level, including the Place Partnership and the Lancashire & South Cumbria Provider Collaborative. Expect to spend a significant part of your time beyond the Trust, shaping how and where care is delivered for one of the most deprived populations in England.

In your first year you will:

• lead admission and attendance avoidance at scale, with primary care, councils and the voluntary sector
• restore theatre and outpatient productivity to the levels the Trust has delivered before
• transform outpatients, moving care into the community and releasing space for urgent and same-day emergency care
• recover performance against the constitutional standards and keep patients safe through winter

Why now

The turnaround has started. The Trust is focusing on fewer things, using its improvement system and making good practice the standard every day. Its staff are loyal, committed and local, and want to be proud of their hospital again. You will join at the start of the rebuild, help appoint two of your three Divisional Managing Directors, and have the backing of a supportive Board and real autonomy to lead.

Who we are looking for

An operational leader with a track record of measurable improvement, the resilience and courage to challenge what is not good enough, and the warmth to bring people with them. You may be a sitting COO or an outstanding deputy ready to step up, from an acute, community, mental health or commissioning background. The Trust is looking for a fresh perspective as much as a familiar CV.

Find out more

For a confidential conversation, contact Jonathan Phillips, Director at Seymour John. 

 A candidate information pack is available on request and on NHS Jobs.

Apply with a CV and covering letter through NHS Jobs.