Director of People

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) is seeking an exceptional Director of People to join our Executive Team at a pivotal time for both the organisation and the wider NHS. This is a high-profile Board-level leadership role, reporting directly to the Chief Executive and playing a central part in shaping the future workforce, culture and organisational development strategy of the Trust. As a key Executive Director, you will help lead an organisation serving over one million people across Cheshire and Merseyside through community physical health, mental health, learning disability and specialist services. Using your strategic workforce expertise and compassionate leadership style, you will lead the delivery of an ambitious People agenda focused on workforce transformation, staff wellbeing, inclusion, leadership development and organisational culture. You will work collaboratively across the Trust and wider health and care system to ensure CWP continues to attract, retain and develop a skilled, engaged and motivated workforce capable of delivering excellent patient care. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced and values-driven People leader looking to make a meaningful impact within a progressive and ambitious NHS organisation.Main duties of the job You will provide visible and credible leadership across the full People portfolio, ensuring the Trust has high quality, modern and responsive People services that support operational delivery and long-term organisational sustainability. Working closely with Executive colleagues, Board members, staff networks and trade union partners, you will lead the development and implementation of the Trust's People Plan, workforce strategy and organisational development priorities. You will oversee workforce transformation, recruitment and retention, employee relations, leadership development, talent management, equality, diversity and inclusion, staff wellbeing and workforce planning. As Executive Lead for the Board's People Committee, you will provide expert advice and assurance on all workforce-related matters, supporting effective governance and organisational performance. You will also play a key system leadership role across Cheshire and Merseyside, contributing to collaborative workforce solutions and supporting delivery of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and wider system reform agenda., As a senior leader within CWP, you will join an ambitious and supportive Executive Team committed to continuous improvement, innovation and collaboration across the wider health and care system. This is an opportunity to help shape the future direction of workforce strategy and organisational culture within a highly respected NHS Foundation Trust., The Director of People is a key member of the Trust Board and Executive leadership team and will contribute fully to the overall strategic direction of the organisation. The role includes responsibility for:

• Strategic leadership of the People Services Directorate
• Delivery of the Trust's People Plan and workforce strategy
• Workforce transformation and organisational development
• Staff health and wellbeing
• Recruitment, retention and workforce planning
• Leadership development, talent management and succession planning
• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Employee relations and partnership working
• Workforce governance, assurance and risk management
• System leadership across Cheshire and Merseyside
The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues across the Trust and wider Integrated Care System to support service transformation, workforce sustainability and improved patient outcomes.


• Chartered Fellow or Member of the CIPD
• Educated to Master's degree level or equivalent senior leadership experience
• Evidence of continuing professional development, Extensive senior leadership experience within a large and complex organisation, ideally within the NHS or wider health and care sector
• Proven track record of leading workforce strategy, organisational development and cultural transformation
• Significant experience of operating effectively at Board level
• Experience of leading large People functions and delivering high quality HR and OD services
• Strong understanding of NHS workforce priorities, employee relations and employment legislation
• Experience of partnership working across organisations and systems, Compassionate, inclusive and engaging leadership style
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills
• Strong strategic and operational leadership capability
• Ability to lead organisational change and continuous improvement
• Political awareness and sound judgement
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
• Ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams, Chartered Fellow or Member of the CIPD
• Educated to Master's degree or equivalent senior level experience
• Evidence of continuous professional development, Extensive experience of working at a very senior level in a large complex organisation likely to be the NHS or other health or social care environment
• Experience of leading major organizational change and development programs including management of the OD function to provide excellent support to clinical and support services
• Evidence of successful development, implementation and delivery of People strategies and operational plans
• Proven experience of leading and managing multiple teams to deliver excellent people services and systems
• Expert understanding and leadership of the NHS equality diversity and inclusion improvement program
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of the NHS Long Term People Plan and related strategies
• Detailed understanding of employee relations and relevant legislation
• Evidence of building successful People services using continuous improvement methodology
• Experience of successful partnership working and collaboration at local and regional level
• Operating at Board level within a large complex organization
• Experience of dealing with sensitive and complex issues with a range of internal and external stakeholders, Compassionate, inclusive and engaging style of leadership with the ability to engage and inspire people at all levels
• Ability to build effective relationships
• In depth understanding of employee relations and employment law
• Knowledge and understanding of the wider NHS and social care infrastructure and government policy
• Excellent judgement, political awareness, influencing, negotiation and conflict management skills
• Ability to work as a member of multiple teams and on own initiative
• Good understanding of all aspects of operational human resource management and organisational development and successful change management
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of Equality, Inclusion and Diversity issues and a commitment to improving access to employment opportunities
• Credible leader with the ability to engage and inspire people at all levels
• Ability to understand and translate complex NHS policy, HR and financial information
• Personal resilience and the ability to meet deadlines
• Commitment to own and team members learning and development
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
  
  Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides community physical health, mental health, learning disability and specialist services across Cheshire and Merseyside, serving a population of more than one million people.
Employing over 5,000 colleagues across more than 70 sites, CWP is committed to improving the lives of everyone in our communities through compassionate, person-centred care and strong partnership working. Our values of Care, Compassion, Communication, Competence, Courage and Commitment are at the heart of everything we do and shape the culture we continue to build across the organisation.