Interim Head of Supportive Care
Job Description
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to lead and transform a diverse portfolio of supportive care services, ensuring that people living with life-limiting illness, and those important to them, receive outstanding, person-centred support that enables them to live well until the end of life.
Reporting to the Director of Care, you will provide strategic, operational and professional leadership across a broad range of services.
As a key member of the Hospice leadership team, you will lead the development and delivery of our supportive care strategy in line with the Hospice Strategy 20262031. You will drive service transformation, develop innovative models of care, strengthen community partnerships, expand volunteer-led services, reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes for patients, families and carers.
You will work collaboratively across the Hospice, the North East London Integrated Care System, voluntary sector partners and local communities to ensure our services remain accessible, responsive and sustainable.
A significant aspect of the role is leading engagement with diverse communities, increasing awareness of hospice services, developing strategic partnerships and supporting the ambitions of compassionate communities across East London.
The post holder will also act as the Hospice's Designated Safeguarding Lead for Adults and Children, providing organisational leadership and assurance on safeguarding practice and governance.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for an experienced senior leader who can demonstrate:
- Professional registration within a health or social care profession.
- Significant senior leadership experience within palliative care, community health, supportive care or social care services.
- Experience of leading large multidisciplinary teams and complex services.
- Strong strategic planning, operational management and service transformation skills.
- Experience of partnership working across health, social care, community and voluntary sector organisations.
- A strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, governance, quality improvement and regulatory requirements.
- Experience of budget management, workforce planning and service development.
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills.
- A commitment to inclusion, reducing health inequalities and improving access to care for underserved communities.
- A leadership style that reflects the values of compassion, advocacy, justice, quality and respect for human dignity.
About us
Founded in 1905 by the Sisters of Charity, St Joseph's Hospice provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care for the diverse communities of East London. We are committed to delivering outstanding care and creating a culture where patients, families, volunteers and staff feel valued, supported and empowered.
Our mission is to help people live as fully as possible, for as long as possible, when facing life-limiting illness.
Why Join Us?
- 27 days holiday plus public holidays, increasing up to 33 days with service
- Subsidised cafe and early access to retail sale events
- Season ticket loan
- Continuation of NHS Pension Scheme or an excellent salary-exchange pension scheme
- Santander cycles discount and cycle to work scheme
- Health Cash Plan and access to the EAP services
Join St Josephs team and find out more!
Interview date: 8th or 9th October
Job responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Lead the development and delivery of the Supportive Care Services Departmental Plan in line with the Hospice Strategy 2026 - 2031.
Develop innovative approaches to supportive and rehabilitative palliative care that increase reach, accessibility and impact.
Contribute to organisational planning, governance, quality improvement and business development initiatives.
Ensure services support the Hospice vision that everyone with a life-limiting illness is supported to live well until the end of life.
Champion the Hospice values of compassion, advocacy, justice, quality and respect for human dignity.
Service Development and Community Engagement
Lead the development and transformation of integrated supportive care services across inpatient, outpatient, and community, virtual and volunteer-led settings.
Drive innovation, service redesign and the expansion of supportive care, rehabilitation and wellbeing services to improve access, outcomes and sustainability.
Ensure services are responsive to the needs of diverse and underserved communities, reducing health inequalities and improving equitable access to hospice care.
Develop strategic partnerships with healthcare providers, commissioners, community and voluntary sector organisations to strengthen service delivery and community engagement.
Lead initiatives that raise awareness of hospice services and support the co-production of services with patients, carers, volunteers and community stakeholders.
Provide strategic leadership for volunteer services, expanding volunteer-led programmes and demonstrating their impact through measurable outcomes.
Identify opportunities for service growth, research, external funding and new models of care that extend the reach and impact of hospice services.
Represent the Hospice at local, regional and national forums, promoting excellence in supportive and rehabilitative palliative care.
Safeguarding
Act as the Hospices Designated Safeguarding Lead for adults and children.
Provide strategic leadership and expert advice on safeguarding across all Hospice services.
Lead the development and implementation of safeguarding policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
Ensure effective management of safeguarding concerns, working closely with statutory and partner agencies.
Promote a culture of safeguarding, dignity and inclusion across the organisation.
Monitor safeguarding compliance, training, audits and organisational learning, providing assurance to senior leadership and the board.
Ensure safeguarding practice supports the Hospices commitment to quality, equity of access and protecting vulnerable people.
Research, Education and Innovation
Provide strategic and operational leadership for supportive care services, ensuring safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality care.
Lead and develop managers, multidisciplinary teams and volunteers, promoting a positive, inclusive and values-driven culture.
Lead workforce planning, recruitment, succession planning, staff development and wellbeing to ensure services are sustainable and responsive to future needs.
Promote continuous learning, innovation, quality improvement and reflective practice.
Ensure effective governance, safeguarding, risk management, quality assurance and regulatory compliance across all services.
Monitor performance, outcomes and key indicators, using data, audit and feedback to drive improvement and demonstrate impact.
Manage budgets, resources and workforce utilisation effectively, ensuring value for money and financial sustainability.
Lead the development of volunteer contributions across supportive care services, maximising engagement and impact.
Produce assurance and performance reports for the Senior Management Team, Committees and Board.
Participate in the Hospice Manager On-Call rota and contribute to organisational leadership and strategic development.
Management and Workforce Development
Promote evidence-based practice across supportive care services.
Support research, innovation and service evaluation activities.
Develop partnerships with education providers and clinical networks.
Ensure learning from research and best practice is embedded across services
Participate in the hospice education programme.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant senior leadership experience within palliative, community or social care services
- Experience of partnership working across health, social care and voluntary sector organisations
- Experience of leading large multidisciplinary teams
- Able to conduct oneself in accordance with the Core Values and of St. Josephs Hospice
- Significant knowledge of adult and childrens safeguarding legislation & procedures
- Experience of budget management and resource planning
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional registration in a health or social care profession
- Masters degree in a relevant subject or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Leadership or management qualification
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such ...
