Head of Community Beds and Discharge

Job summaryAre you an experienced and ambitious leader with a passion for transforming community health services?We are looking for a dynamic operational leader who is passionate about service transformation, system working and improving outcomes for patients to join us as Head of Community Beds and Discharge for a 10 month secondment.This is a high-profile leadership role where you will drive service transformation, improve patient flow, lead system-wide partnerships and support the development of innovative models of care that improve outcomes for our communities. Working closely with the Clinical Director and senior leaders, you will lead high-performing multidisciplinary teams, deliver operational excellence and help shape the future of community healthcare.At EEC, our mission isto deliver great health and care services in our local communitiesandachieve our vision oftransforming lives and building healthier communities together.Our work is grounded in our values of:IntegrityCompassionInclusionAmbitionMain duties of the jobAs Head of Community Beds and Discharge you will:Provide visible operational leadership across community beds and system operations, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and person-centered care.Lead service transformation and performance improvement programmes, driving innovation and supporting the development of integrated models of care across the health and care system.Work collaboratively with clinical, operational and system leaders to improve patient flow, maximise bed utilisation and deliver sustainable improvements in patient outcomes and experience.Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams, creating a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, inclusion and excellence.Build strong partnerships with commissioners, primary care, acute providers, local authorities and wider system partners to support integrated service delivery and transformation.Provide strategic leadership for workforce planning, operational performance, quality, governance and financial sustainability across your portfolio of services.You will join an ambitious and forward-thinking leadership team at a time of significant opportunity for community services, with the chance to shape how care is delivered across Norfolk and make a meaningful difference for patients, staff and partners.About usPlease be aware that East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust will never ask applicants to pay fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. All recruitment communications and job applications should only be made through our official careers website and published contact details.If you receive a suspicious job offer or recruitment-related communication, do not make any payments, share personal information, or provide identity documents. We encourage you to report the matter to your local police or relevant law enforcement agency. Any concerns relating to potential recruitment fraud should also be reported to our Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) as soon as possible.DetailsDate posted16 September 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 8bSalary
66,582 to 77,368 a year
per annum
ContractSecondmentWorking pattern

Full-time

Reference number -RBJob locationsNorwich Community HospitalBowthorpe RoadNorwichNR2 3TUUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesThe Head of Community Beds and Discharge is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership across community beds, discharge and a portfolio of community services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe, effective and financially sustainable care. The post holder will lead patient flow, service performance, workforce management, and system operational delivery, ensuring services consistently meet contractual, quality, financial and organisational requirements.Working closely with the Director, the post holder will support the development and implementation of strategic priorities, service improvement programmes, cost improvement plans (CIPs) and transformation initiatives. They will drive performance improvement across their portfolio, identify opportunities for service growth, innovation and income generation, and support the achievement of organisational objectives.The role requires strong partnership working across the health and social care system, fostering effective relationships with commissioners, acute providers, primary care networks, local authorities, mental health services, independent sector providers and other key stakeholders. The post holder will create and maintain collaborative networks that support integrated service delivery, improve patient flow across community inpatient units and the wider system, and contribute to the ongoing development of services to meet population health needs.The post holder will be accountable for leading and developing multidisciplinary teams, ensuring effective recruitment, performance management, professional development and appraisal processes are in place, whilst promoting a culture of excellence, innovation and continuous improvement. They will provide visible leadership across services, ensuring high-quality, cost-effective care is delivered and that national and local priorities are successfully embedded into operational practice.
Job description
Job responsibilitiesThe Head of Community Beds and Discharge is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership across community beds, discharge and a portfolio of community services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe, effective and financially sustainable care. The post holder will lead patient flow, service performance, workforce management, and system operational delivery, ensuring services consistently meet contractual, quality, financial and organisational requirements.Working closely with the Director, the post holder will support the development and implementation of strategic priorities, service improvement programmes, cost improvement plans (CIPs) and transformation initiatives. They will drive performance improvement across their portfolio, identify opportunities for service growth, innovation and income generation, and support the achievement of organisational objectives.The role requires strong partnership working across the health and social care system, fostering effective relationships with commissioners, acute providers, primary care networks, local authorities, mental health services, independent sector providers and other key stakeholders. The post holder will create and maintain collaborative networks that support integrated service delivery, improve patient flow across community inpatient units and the wider system, and contribute to the ongoing development of services to meet population health needs.The post holder will be accountable for leading and developing multidisciplinary teams, ensuring effective recruitment, performance management, professional development and appraisal processes are in place, whilst promoting a culture of excellence, innovation and continuous improvement. They will provide visible leadership across services, ensuring high-quality, cost-effective care is delivered and that national and local priorities are successfully embedded into operational practice.Person Specification
Essential Qualifications:
EssentialCurrent registrationProfessional clinical qualificationsMasters level qualification or equivalent experience relevant to the role and evidence of training in leadership.Educated to first degree level
Experience
EssentialExperience of leading a multiagency teamExperience of multi-disciplinary team working
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
EssentialExperience of managing services and people in a health setting (NHS or other)Engagement with commissioners of servicesExperience of developing and implementing policies and procedures service wideManaging budgets and HR staffing issuesExperience of delivering a major service changeEvidence of service improvements with positive patient outcomesEvidence of building effective partnerships across organisational boundariesShow understanding of leadership and influencing skills with demonstrable application where line management responsibilitiesDesirableContract management/negotiation/commission ning
Communication
EssentialHigh level of communication skills, negotiating and influencing skillExcellent written and verbal communication skillsAbility to assess and make effective decisions under pressureAble to deal with complex , sensitive and potentially emotive communication topics
Personal and People Development
EssentialEvidence of continued professional development
Personal Attributes / Behaviours
EssentialHigh level of motivation and enthusiasmAble to work flexibly to meet the requirements of the role
other
EssentialThe ability to travel independently to multiple Trust sitesStandard keyboard skillsAble to communicate effectively in written and verbal English Language
Person Specification

Essential Qualifications:
EssentialCurrent registrationProfessional clinical qualificationsMasters level qualification or equivalent experience relevant to the role and evidence of training in leadership.Educated to first degree level
Experience
EssentialExperience of leading a multiagency teamExperience of multi-disciplinary team working
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
EssentialExperience of managing services and people in a health setting (NHS or other)Engagement with commissioners of servicesExperience of developing and implementing policies and procedures service wideManaging budgets and HR staffing issuesExperience of delivering a major service changeEvidence of service improvements with positive patient outcomesEvidence of building effective partnerships across organisational boundariesShow understanding of leadership and influencing skills with demonstrable application where line management responsibilitiesDesirableContract management/negotiation/commission ning
Communication
EssentialHigh level of communication skills, negotiating and influencing skillExcellent written and verbal communication skillsAbility to assess and make effective decisions under pressureAble to deal with complex , sensitive and potentially emotive communication topics
Personal and People Development
EssentialEvidence of continued professional development
Personal Attributes / Behaviours
EssentialHigh level of motivation and enthusiasmAble to work flexibly to meet the requirements of the role
other
EssentialThe ability to travel independently to multiple Trust sitesStandard keyboard skillsAble to communicate effectively in written and verbal English LanguageDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameEast of England Community Health and Care NHS TrustAddressNorwich Community HospitalBowthorpe RoadNorwichNR2 3TUUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameEast of England Community Health and Care NHS TrustAddressNorwich Community HospitalBowthorpe RoadNorwichNR2 3TUUnited KingdomEmployer's website