Head of Patient Flow (Band 8b)

This is an exciting opportunity to join Airedale NHS Foundation Trust as Head of Patient Flow, a pivotal leadership role within our urgent and emergency care system. You will lead the daily and forward planning of patient flow, discharge and complex discharge arrangements across the Trust’s bed base, working with clinical, nursing, operational and system partners to ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

We are seeking an experienced, resilient and inspiring leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, works confidently and autonomously, and brings a practical approach to complex operational challenges. You will provide compassionate and authoritative leadership to the Site Management, Flow and Hospital at Night teams, supporting continuous improvement and high performance.

You will shape operational plans, improve pathways, support national and local performance standards, and strengthen capacity, demand and discharge management across organisational boundaries. You will also contribute to strategic planning, governance, risk management and financial sustainability. At Airedale, you will join a supportive, collaborative and forward-thinking organisation with strong partnerships across West Yorkshire.

If you have significant acute hospital operational management experience, strong knowledge of patient flow and discharge, and the ability to build trusted relationships, we would welcome your application.

The Head of Patient Flow will provide visible, authoritative leadership for patient flow across Airedale NHS Foundation Trust’s bed base, 24/7. The postholder will lead day-to-day and forward planning for flow, capacity, demand, discharge and complex discharge, working with multidisciplinary and system partners to ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

Working independently, they will interpret and implement national guidance, Trust policies and escalation processes, and develop operational policies and procedures. They will be responsible for the site and bed management teams and Hospital at Night teams, including recruitment, appraisal, development and performance management.

In partnership with operational, nursing and clinical leaders, they will foster an engaged culture and ensure national and local quality, performance and financial targets are achieved, developing action plans where performance varies. The role includes operational and strategic responsibility for pathway management across divisions, optimising flow and reducing waste.

The postholder will contribute to Trust policy development and hold delegated responsibility for budgets, physical resources, equipment maintenance and quality assurance, in line with Standing Financial Instructions.

We are delighted to offer a wide range of benefits to employees including:

• Cycle to Work
• Travel Scheme
• Childcare Vouchers with Salary Sacrifice
• Onsite Nursery
• Buying and Selling Annual Leave
• Car Leasing
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee Health and Wellbeing
• Extensive Reward Scheme
• Counselling Service
• Financial packages including Vivup and Wagestream
• Staff Networks, Enable, Rainbow, Gender, Race Equality Ecoaware & Admin Network.

Our Values

We understand that it’s down to the hard work, effort and dedication of our staff that makes a difference for our patients. Our people really do make our Airedale experience – we take pride in fostering a friendly, effective and caring work environment. Our values are part of our DNA, which are:

• Committed to Quality of Care
• Compassion
• Working together for patients
• Improving Lives
• Everyone Counts
• Respect and Dignity

Got questions before you apply, please contact the recruiting manager to find out more.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Awais Habib Job title: Operations Director - Medicine, Community and Therapy Email address: awais.habib1@nhs.net Telephone number: 01535 294011