Head of the North of England

Job Introduction

We are looking for a highly motivated, engaged, focused and experienced individual, who can lead our team in the North of England and work in partnership with a variety of stakeholders to deliver better care for people living with or at risk of diabetes.

You will need to be a strong manager, with an extensive track record of influencing change in the health service or a similar complex system. In addition, you will need to demonstrate a passion and commitment to improving the lives of people living with diabetes and be able to build and sustain productive relationships with policy and decision makers.

This post comes at a time of major change within the Northern Health Service and offers the successful candidate an opportunity to influence and lead this change in partnership with the other health agencies.

Role Responsibility

• Implement the Diabetes UK 5 year strategy in the North of England and contribute the development of the revised strategy in 2019 to ensure it fits with local needs.
• Lead the development and delivery of plans for Diabetes UK to scale up our reach and impact in the North of England.
• Influence and deliver change in policy and practice both regionally and locally so that people with diabetes have better health and quality of life outcomes.  This includes strategically deploying a full range of influencing tools: campaigning, media, lobbying of local political and healthcare bodies, empowering service users and local campaigners, partnerships, public engagement and quiet diplomacy.
• Develop and deliver the Diabetes UK strategy for the North of England so that it is in line with the organisational priorities but also responsive to local needs and issues
• Promote Diabetes UK’s recommendations for care and facilitate the monitoring of these standards.
• Develop in conjunction with the central HCP team, the strategy for engaging with local HCP’s and their representative organisations so that we support, educate and challenge HCPs to deliver high quality care for people living with diabetes.
• Build sustainable partnerships with other players in the region so that we extend our reach and impact for people living with diabetes, working well within DUK so that we are coherent in external dealings.
• Raise awareness of diabetes within the North of England so that people are aware of the condition and can take appropriate action and so that people in influence make appropriate policies.
• Guide and support the strategy for volunteer growth in the North of England so that groups and individual volunteers are mobilised to actively engage with Diabetes UK and support our work locally and nationally.
• Manage the day to day running of local Diabetes resources including, staff and buildings, sustaining a high performance team, and managing the annual budget for the North of England.
• Integrate the team in the North of England into the wider organisation working in partnership with other heads of teams and departments so that all teams benefit from the collective skills and experience of the whole organisation and so that the local context is well understood and supported by all.
• Liaise with and support the work of the fundraising team in the North of England.
• Develop a small but relevant local service portfolio as appropriate in line with the central services team
• Be accountable for the implementation of core compliance policies for Diabetes UK in the North of England including health and safety, safeguarding, data protection etc.
• Input into the strategic direction of the organisation and play a key role in the Operations Leadership Team, Leadership Forum, Nations and Regions Committees etc.
• Be the public face of Diabetes UK in the North of England representing the charity at meetings, conferences and events with key stakeholders including people with diabetes, healthcare professionals, media, Local politicians, NHS England and other third sector organisations.

The Ideal Candidate

The best person for this job will be able to:

• Demonstrate strong personal credibility and excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build productive relationships and to communicate in a compelling way with a wide range of people
• Manage people and develop strong relationships with our various partners and stakeholders including, staff, volunteers, people living with diabetes, NHS, politicians, potential supporters.
• Work well with other senior managers and teams to have an influence on the wider organisation to build a high performing culture.
• Be results focused in order to maintain an emphasis on defining, monitoring and achieving results in line with strategic priorities.
• Demonstrate strong programme and project management skills able to set collective objectives, set plans, track progress through KPIs and reframe plans as needed; Strong at prioritising and at seeking critical information
• Demonstrate a commitment to, and understanding of equal opportunities and diversity, of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and of the need to show leadership to ensure compliance to key policies.
• Demonstrate an ability to learn from the team of staff/volunteers/people with diabetes, understand their needs and aspirations, and truly become the voice of the diabetes community in the North of England.
• Work some evenings and weekends and to travel both in the North of England frequently and across the UK regularly.

The best person for this job will have experience in:

• Providing strong leadership skills and have proven experience of building and sustaining high performing teams
• Strategic planning and influencing at both a national and at a local level with evidence of making change happen
• Understanding and navigating health and social care integration across all the localities in England
• Deciding influencing targets and in driving strong planning, delivery and measurement of impact
• Bringing in resources through effective cross team working and through external engagement; and proven track record of  managing budgets and resources effectively
• Excellent stakeholder management, building strong partnerships that delivering change
• Knowledge of diabetes and related issues
• Knowledge of the English Health Service and voluntary sector
• Dealing with the media

The best person for this job will be:

• Educated to degree level or have equivalent relevant experience

Package Description

What we can offer you: 

• Generous annual leave starting at 25 days plus bank holidays 
• A Cash Healthcare Plan (giving you up to £1,600 towards a range of out of pocket health expenses like new glasses, dentist, chiropractor or osteopath appointments) 
• Early finish Friday and flexible working 
• Discounts on gym membership and days out 
• Employee assistance programme to give you support on any issues that come up in life  
• Annual Season ticket loan 
• Very active social scene including sport teams, gardening and other activities 
• Generous pension provision, life assurance and permanent health insurance 
• £3,000 car allowance

About the Company

Diabetes is the most potentially devastating – and fastest growing – health crisis of our time, requiring ongoing high-quality care and support. There are currently 4.5 million people in the UK living with diabetes, and 11.9 million more at increased risk of getting Type 2 diabetes. Those diagnosed face the risk of life-changing, and life-limiting, complications, unless they are given the very best care and the support they need to manage their condition well. As a society we need to work together now – and take action now – to fund critical research, improve healthcare and treatment, and prevent yet more people developing this potentially life-threatening condition. 

Diabetes UK is a forward thinking and commercially focused organisation, and is the leading charity for the 4.5 million people with the condition in the UK.

As we continue to improve our processes, through continual development and change, this is an exciting time to join us. With established funding streams and following on from the success of our previous five-year plan, we are in a strong position to continue developing and responding to changing environments.

We rely heavily upon the expertise and motivation of our staff in order to work towards our many aims and meet objectives. We aim to be an equal opportunity employer; the organisation recognises and respects the value and diversity of all. We gladly make the adjustments required for people with disabilities to join us. Our diverse functions mean that we can offer you a wide range of rewarding career opportunities.

Under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, as amended in particular by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 this post is subject to pre-employment criminal records checks through the Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS), Disclosure Scotland, Access NI.  

Diabetes UK recognises and respects the value and diversity of all. 

We have a vision of a world where diabetes can do no harm – if you’d like to be part of that, why not join us? 

To Learn more about the work we do - Click here

Diabetes UK