About this role
Job summary As Head of Referrals and Engagement, you will own and optimise CHEC's national patient referral performance, ensuring referral volumes align with NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) contracts, organisational capacity, and our ambitious growth plans. You will lead a team of Community Partners, implement data-driven referral strategies, and build influential relationships with key stakeholders across primary care, including Primary Care Networks, GP practices, Local Optical Committees, Single Point of Access providers, and other healthcare partners. Working closely with colleagues, you will play a pivotal role in shaping how CHEC engages with referral partners and delivers exceptional patient access and experience.
Main duties of the job Develop and implement CHEC's national primary care referral strategy. Drive referral performance across NHS and private services, ensuring delivery against growth targets and contractual commitments. Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team of Community Partners. Build strategic relationships with senior decision-makers and influencers across primary care and NHS organisations. Establish robust performance reporting, forecasting and referral management frameworks. Chair cross-functional referral review meetings to optimise patient flow and service utilisation. Identify opportunities to improve referral pathways and remove barriers to patient access. Lead turnaround plans for underperforming sites and territories. Represent CHEC at key NHS, healthcare and industry events.
About us CHEC is one of the UK's leading providers of community healthcare services, delivering high-quality NHS and private patient care closer to home. As we continue to grow, we are seeking an ambitious and commercially focused Head of Referrals and Engagement to lead our national patient referral strategy and ensure patients can access the care they need, when they need it. This is a brand new role role responsible for driving referral growth across our NHS and private services, building strategic relationships across primary care, and leading a talented team focused on improving patient access and outcomes nationwide.
Job description Job responsibilities
About You We're looking for an experienced healthcare commercial leader who combines strategic thinking with operational excellence and a passion for improving patient outcomes. Essential Experience Significant experience in NHS primary care engagement, referral management, community healthcare business development or related healthcare commercial roles. Strong understanding of primary care structures, including PCNs, GP practices, LOCs, commissioning processes and referral pathways. Proven experience leading and developing field-based or geographically dispersed teams. Demonstrable success in building senior stakeholder relationships and influencing key decision-makers. Strong commercial and analytical skills, with experience using data to drive performance and decision-making. Excellent communication, presentation and relationship-building skills. Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience. Desirable Experience within Ophthalmology, Gastroenterology, Dermatology or ENT services. Existing network across primary care and referral partner organisations. Experience using CRM systems and commercial reporting tools (such as HubSpot). Experience producing executive or board-level performance reports. Why Join CHEC? You'll have the opportunity to make a genuine impact on healthcare access across the UK while working within a dynamic, fast-growing organisation that values innovation, collaboration and excellence. 25 days holidays plus bank holidays Buy and sell annual leave scheme Annual company bonus scheme Refer a friend scheme Company pension Company sick pay scheme Life assurance scheme MediCash Bluelight Card- 100s of discount and cashback options Performance review with a training and development plan Employee discounts portal Gym membership discounts Cycle to work scheme Tech scheme
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Significant experience in NHS primary care engagement, referral management, community healthcare business development or related healthcare commercial roles. Strong understanding of primary care structures, including PCNs, GP practices, LOCs, commissioning processes and referral pathways. Proven experience leading and developing field-based or geographically dispersed teams. Demonstrable success in building senior stakeholder relationships and influencing key decision-makers. Strong commercial and analytical skills, with experience using data to drive performance and decision-making. Excellent communication, presentation and relationship-building skills. Degree-level education or equivalent professional 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.
Employer details Employer name CHEC
Address 1-6 Star Building
Olivers Place
Preston
Lancashire
PR2 9WT
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.communityhealthservices.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)