About this role
Job summary
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Job Title: Project Officer ApprenticeContract Type: Fixed-TermPurpose for Fixed Term: Apprenticeship
Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications.
Main duties of the job
The purpose of this role is to support the delivery of UHS's strategic and Always Improving objectives by contributing to the successful delivery of service improvement, transformation and quality improvement projects across the Trust. Working alongside clinical and non-clinical teams, the post holder will help design, implement and sustain changes that improve patient care, staff experience, service efficiency and organisational performance.
This is primarily a development role, designed to build the next generation of improvement and project professionals within UHS. The successful candidate will undertake the Improvement Practitioner Apprenticeship, gaining formal qualifications, practical experience and exposure to a wide range of improvement methodologies, project management tools and transformation programmes. Through a combination of structured learning, coaching and hands-on project delivery, the role provides a clear development pathway into a Project Officer position upon successful completion of the apprenticeship and achievement of the required competencies.
About us
As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated 'Good' by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.
We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.
Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.
We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is a development role, and we are looking for a motivated individual with a genuine interest in service improvement, project management, quality improvement or organisational transformation, with a willingness to undertake and complete the Improvement Practitioner Apprenticeship.
The successful candidate will be able to build positive relationships with a wide range of clinical and non-clinical colleagues, using strong communication, influencing and interpersonal skills to support change and improvement.
They will be organised and proactive, with the ability to manage competing priorities, work independently using their own initiative and support projects to meet agreed objectives, timescales and deliverables.
They will be comfortable working with information and data, analysing findings and presenting information clearly to support decision-making and service improvement.
Role and responsibilities
Support the planning, delivery and monitoring of improvement and transformation projects that contribute to UHS's strategic objectives and Always Improving programme.
Work with multidisciplinary teams across divisions and care groups to identify opportunities for improvement, support implementation of change and ensure benefits are achieved and sustained.
Use project management, service improvement and quality improvement tools and techniques to support project delivery, performance monitoring and service evaluation.
Coach, support and empower colleagues to develop local improvement capability, helping to embed a culture of continuous improvement across UHS.
Other important information
This role is offered as a structured development opportunity, with the successful candidate enrolled on the Improvement Practitioner Apprenticeship, providing formal training, mentoring and practical experience in improvement and project management.
On successful completion of the apprenticeship and achievement of the required competencies, the post holder will have the opportunity to progress to a Project Officer role within the team.
The post holder will work across multiple divisions and services and must be able to travel to meetings and events across UHS sites as required.
The role is primarily office-based with hybrid working opportunities where service needs allow, and occasional attendance at improvement events, workshops and training sessions may be required.
The successful candidate will be expected to undertake ongoing learning and development to maintain and enhance their knowledge of improvement methodologies and best practice.
In supporting UHS's objectives, the role will work with multidisciplinary teams across divisions and care groups to deliver patient-centred improvements, analyse performance data, support change implementation and build local improvement capability. The post holder will also help develop a culture of continuous improvement by coaching and influencing colleagues, challenging existing ways of working and empowering teams to identify and implement sustainable improvements themselves.
By combining practical project support with significant personal and professional development opportunities, this role contributes not only to the delivery of current improvement programmes but also to strengthening UHS's future improvement and transformation capability.
Person Specification
Qualifications, knowledge and experience
Essential
- First Degree or equivalent experience/diplomas
- Knowledge and application of a recognised service improvement technique or relevant experience
- Evidence of further training/study/courses
- Evidence of leading and implementing change, influencing behaviour, collaborative working with others
- Experience at a junior level in industry or healthcare sector
- A self-starter, able to work with minimal direction, and take the lead in situations
- Project management experience
- Facilitation of meetings / groups
- Evidence of leadership qualities
- Literate, with report writing skills and experience
- Evidence of structured project management skills and experience
- Demonstrate the ability to analyse and interpret information and present this to a variety of audiences.
- Ability to analyse problems and develop practical and workable solutions to address them
- Ability to work with project teams to effect change in rapidly changing environments, to achieve agreed goals
Desirable
- QSIR practitioner
- Project or change management training
- Evidence of further training/study/coursesWorking knowledge of more than one improvement methodology
- Previous experience in healthcare setting
- Previous experience of quality / service improvement
- Working knowledge of more than one improvement methodology
- Evidence of some project management support experience
- Experience at junior management level
- Action learning set experience
- Coaching experience
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
University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust
Address
Southampton General Hospital
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)