About this role
Job summary
The UEC & Flow Commissioning Director will provide senior strategic leadership for the design, commissioning and delivery of an integrated urgent and emergency care pathway across Kent and Medway.
You will lead the transition from commissioning a collection of individual services to commissioning acoordinated pathway focused on preventing avoidable emergency department attendance and hospital admission, improving flow and ensuring residents receive the right care in the right setting first time.
The Director will lead the UEC and Flow Commissioning Multidisciplinary Team, shape system-wide relationships with local government and NHS partners, and ensure services are safe, effective, financially sustainable and aligned with statutory duties, national policy and local population need, including the needs of children.
As a senior leader within the ICB, the post holder will deputise for the Deputy Chief Commissioning Officer and Chief Commissioning Officer as required.
Main duties of the job
Lead the development and delivery of the urgent and emergency care elements of the ICB's five-year strategy, commissioning intentions and planning processes, including implementation of the integrated pathway commissioning model. Lead the multi disciplinary team responsible for UEC and flow commissioning, ensuring population needs are met through delivery against the strategic commissioning framework and commissioning policies (including for children). Own and lead strategic relationships with local government partners on the social care interface, shaping and delivering a joint commissioning strategy for UEC and flow. Lead the 2026/27 review of urgent treatment centres to clarify their future role within the integrated pathway and ensure that provision is targeted to genuinely urgent presentations and population need. Commission and mobilise, an integrated Kent and Medway Single Point of Access and Clinical Assessment Service providing clinically led assessment, navigation and coordination across urgent care services. Rebalance commissioned activity away from emergency departments, wherever clinically appropriate, by strengthening neighbourhood health, multi-neighbourhood care, community services (UCR and Virtual Ward) and proactive management of high-intensity users. Hold and manage the budget and contracts for UEC and Flow services, ensuring PSR compliance, value for money and effective provider performance management.
About us
We are committed to a culture that supports all staff at NHS Kent and Medway to be the best version of themselves.
Our ability to improve outcomes for our population depends on how effectively clinical, operational, financial and strategic professionals work together to make informed commissioning decisions. That's why our workforce works a minimum of two days-a-week on-site, with the expectation that all one-to-ones are held face-to-face and that colleagues will regularly visit the services we are commissioning to understand more about them.
We believe regular on-site working supports stronger collaboration, faster problem-solving, peer learning, visible leadership and the integration of colleagues into our organisation. We also know that culture is built through shared experiences and day-to-day interactions.
We are a flexible working friendly organisation; we aim to support you to work flexibly in a way that will suit you and us.
We work with staff to agree objectives through regular supervision, annual appraisal and access to training opportunities.
We are committed to equal opportunities and diversity. In order to reflect the diversity of our population, we positively encourage applications from all areas of the community regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age or sexual orientation.
Job description Job responsibilities
The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this.
Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.
We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.
If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know so they can help you with this.
All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.
Person Specification
Senior Leadership Essential
Extensive senior leadership experience within commissioning, urgent and emergency care, system flow, discharge or a related strategic health system role
Desirable
Experience interpreting and applying national policy, legislation and NHS guidance to local commissioning strategies.
Experience Essential
Proven experience leading large, complex, multi agency programmes across health and social care.
Collaborative working Essential
Strong track record of working with local government, acute, community, mental health and ambulance providers to deliver integrated system outcomes.
Service Improvement/Redesign Essential
Experience leading service redesign, transformation and pathway development at scale.
Working at Board level Essential
Experience working at or influencing Board level, including presenting complex information and shaping strategic decisions.
Desirable
Postgraduate qualification in health management, public health, commissioning, leadership or a related field.
Managing Budgets Essential
Demonstrable experience managing significant commissioning budgets and high value contracts, ensuring value for money and regulatory compliance.
Desirable
Experience working within an Integrated Care System or similar system wide governance environment.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This 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 Sponsorship Applications 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).
Employer details Employer name NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board
Address Gail House
Maidstone
ME15 6NB
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)