About this role
Job summary
Come and join one of the UKs largest providers in complex care.
Lead the transformation. Shape the future. Build something exceptional.
We have an amazing opportunity for a Service Director to lead theWoodlands Neurological Rehabilitation Centre, a 27 bed specialist service dedicated to delivering outstanding care and life-changing outcomes for our patients.
Main duties of the job
As Service Director, you will provide the strategic and operational leadership required to take Woodlands through this next chapter. As part of this journey you yourself will transition from service director to hospital director while in role.
You will work closely with clinical, operational, commercial and estates colleagues to develop a compelling vision for the service and turn that vision into reality.
A key part of your role will be preparing the organisation for the journey towards CQC hospital registration, ensuring that governance, quality, operational systems, workforce, patient pathways and the physical environment are all designed to meet the standards expected of an outstanding modern healthcare provider.
You will also have the opportunity to influence the design and development of our future estate, helping to shape a purpose-built extension that could include:
- A new state-of-the-art rehabilitation gym
- A swimming pool and enhanced rehabilitation facilities
- Purpose-built step down flats
- Expanded therapy and clinical spaces
- A modern environment designed around patient experience, rehabilitation and independence
You will therefore be joining at a pivotal moment with the opportunity to take an existing service with strong foundations and lead its evolution into something genuinely exceptional.
About us
About Woodlands
Woodlands Neurological Rehabilitation Centre is a 27-bed specialist service providing complex neurorehabilitation, including specialist spinal care, alongside inpatient and outpatient services.
We are now embarking on an exciting period of transformation.
Our vision is to build on the strengths of the existing service and take Woodlands to the next level, strengthening our governance, developing our clinical pathways, expanding our private healthcare offering and progressing towards hospital registration with the CQC.
Alongside this, we have an exciting opportunity to co-design and develop a new purpose-built extension to the existing site, incorporating facilities such as a new rehabilitation gym, swimming pool and residential accommodation.
This is not simply a role overseeing an established service. It is an opportunity to shape what comes next.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As Service Director, you will
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for Woodlands Neurological Rehabilitation Centre.
- Lead the service through its transformation and development journey towards CQC hospital registration.
- Ensure the highest standards of clinical quality, patient safety, governance and regulatory compliance.
- Develop and embed robust quality assurance and outcome measurement frameworks.
- Lead continuous improvement across clinical pathways, operational processes and patient experience.
- Oversee complex neurorehabilitation pathways, including specialist spinal care and tracheostomy services.
- Build strong relationships with clinicians, commissioners, ICBs, insurers, case managers, solicitors and other key stakeholders.
- Develop and grow Woodlands' private inpatient and outpatient proposition.
- Strengthen referral pathways and build new commercial and professional relationships.
- Lead, inspire and develop a highly skilled multidisciplinary team.
- Work collaboratively with clinical and business leadership to create a culture of accountability, innovation and excellence.
- Help shape the future estate strategy, including the design and development of the proposed purpose-built extension.
- Ensure that the physical environment supports modern rehabilitation, patient independence and an outstanding patient experience.
- Champion innovation, digital technology and assistive technology to improve patient outcomes.
- Create a culture where people are proud to work, patients feel empowered and excellence is the expectation.
At Woodlands, you will have the opportunity to:
- Take an existing service and transform it.
- Help lead its journey towards hospital registration.
- Shape the future clinical and commercial strategy.
- Influence the design of a new purpose-built healthcare environment.
- Build and develop a high-performing leadership culture.
And ultimately, leave a lasting legacy in a service that will make a difference to patients and their families for years to come.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience as a CQC Registered Manager and/or Nominated Individual.
- Ideally coming from a clinical background i.e. Nursing, Allied Health, Medical.
- Proven experience in leading complex healthcare services within specialist care environments. Ideally in a private environment.
- A strong track record of leading complex healthcare operations and delivering measurable improvements in quality, safety and performance.
- Experience of working within, or leading towards, CQC registration or significant regulatory change.
- A sophisticated understanding of clinical governance, quality assurance, risk management and patient safety.
- Successfully led multidisciplinary teams in complex healthcare environments.
- Experience of developing and growing private healthcare services, including relationships with insurers, case managers, solicitors and other referrers.
- Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to balance exceptional patient outcomes with sustainable service growth.
- Experience of working collaboratively with estates, capital development and other stakeholders to improve or develop healthcare environments.
- The vision, credibility and leadership presence to inspire clinicians, operational teams and external stakeholders around a shared ambition.
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Active Care Group
Address
Woodlands Neurological Rehabilitation Centre
120 Thief Lane
York
Yorkshire
YO10 3HU
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://activecaregroup.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)