Job Description  

Priorities and responsibilities  

Executive Leadership  

As the organisation’s executive lead for the People function and a member of the ICB Board, the CPO will: 

• Lead the ICB’s People Directorate, to ensure that it provides outstanding services to all our colleagues.  

• Be responsible for workforce development, redesign and transformation, as well as operational HR services and have responsibility for professional leadership and practice in relation to the Board’s responsibilities as an employer.  

• Be responsible for equality, diversity and inclusion and organisational development functions 

• Have executive lead for the development and delivery of the ICB’s people strategy. 

• Ensure the strategic direction and delivery of the ICB’s statutory people duties and strategic objectives.  

• Ensure that the ICB fulfils its statutory reporting of WRES and WDES data 

• Lead the development of the staff survey action plan and work to year-on-year improvement in staff survey response rates 

• Ensure that the ICB has appropriate provisions for cost effective and efficient contracts for payroll, occupational health etc. 

• Provide expert advice to the ICB on HR matters to keep the organisation lawful and reduce risk in terms of employment law  

• Ensure the  delivery of the  priority actions set out in the national guidance on the ICS people function;  

• Ensure the delivery of the actions set out in the ‘Future of NHS HR and OD’ report 

• Ensure that there are appropriate processes in terms of Fit and Proper persons Tests , director level appraisal and performance management of the executive/ director team. 

• Provide visible leadership and work with teams to create the plan / lead the activities to build and enable the culture to develop through engaged staff and inspiring leaders. 

• Provide the right environment for succession planning and talent management , developing our future leaders 

System responsibilities 

• Influence the creation of   a consistent, compassionate and inclusive culture across Cheshire and Merseyside  

• Work with our ICB & ICS leaders to define the cultural ambition for the system.  

• Specifically in relation to identifying and enabling the strategic development of people across the ICS footprint, support the complex strategic transformation and improvement through collaboration and mature partnership working.  

• Lead the NHS People Plan and People Promise programmes and the  implementation of an enabling long-term people strategy for the ICB that supports delivery of the NHS People plan and holds the People Promise as its fundamental ethos 

• In partnership with North West NHS Leadership Academy and any identified higher education institutions, take a lead role in the development of leaders, leadership teams and next generation leaders across the ICS.  

• Be highly visible as a collaborative system leader and role model, actively engaging with colleagues and stakeholders across the whole system in the development and delivery of the ICS plan, and in promoting a culture of inclusive, supportive, values driven multi-professional leadership. • 

•  Take personal steps to ensure that health and care professional leaders are supported to perform their roles and given opportunities to develop, and that the talent management and development of clinical and care professional leaders is embedded at all levels of the system.  

• Coordinate the production of the system wide workforce plan as part of the operational planning process 

• Monitor the delivery of the workforce plan in line with system and regional requirements 

• Support the development of the Cheshire and Merseyside People Board and ensure that as a system there is an appropriate METIP plan. 

• Ensure the requirements of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan are met across Cheshire and Merseyside 

• Work in partnership with Skills for Care and the voluntary sector to develop system workforce strategies. 

 Strategy, recovery and transformation  

• As a leader the ICB CPO will contribute to and where appropriate lead in   

• Setting the vision, strategy, and clear objectives for the ICB in delivering on the four core purposes of the ICS and the ‘triple aim’ of improved population health; improved quality of care; and cost-control, specifically focusing on the contribution of our people and our workforce strategy in that respect.  

• Supporting the production and delivery of a five-year joint plan including partners across the ICS and key stakeholders within the local community. This will include interpretation and implementation of the provisions of the NHS Long-Term Plan, NICE quality standards and other national strategic priorities. 

• Influencing and supporting the maintenance of highly effective strategic collaboration with ICS partners and clinical and care leaders across all health and social care settings. 

•  Promoting dialogue and consensus with local government and broader partners, to ensure effective joint planning and delivery for system working and mutual accountability.  

• Advocating diversity, health equality and social justice to close the gap on health inequalities and achieve the service changes that are needed to improve population health
• Ensuring the ICB is responsive to the needs of people and communities and that public, patient and carer voices are embedded in all of the ICB’s plans and activities.

• The ICB has a lead responsibility for the performance oversight arrangements of provider organisations within the ICS. For people-related issues with each provider of NHS services within the ICS, the ICB CPO will:  

• Lead on the identification of performance risks and issues related to the ICS workforce and work with relevant providers and partners to develop impactful solutions.  

• Actively address poor performance, working with the ICB executive team to agree interventions, as required.  

• Provide professional leadership in overseeing senior-level recruitment and appointments within the ICS and provide scrutiny in all senior people function professional appointments.  

• Contribute to the people aspects of system Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response.  

• Work with ICB colleagues and ICS partners to identify and address underperformance in a timely manner and promote continuous quality improvement through learning, improvement methodologies, research, and innovation.  

• Support wider executive colleagues in influencing strategic change and collaborative initiatives which have a direct impact on population health outcomes, including key matters such as future workforce supply; workforce development and retention; quality and safety initiatives; and system-wide joint working at a strategic board level with system partners. 

• Engage with key system colleagues to collectively provide ICS leadership for the HR/People profession within health and social care.  

• Ensuring that purposeful arrangements are maintained for effective leadership of clinical and professional care throughout the ICB and the ICS.  

• Fostering a culture of research, innovation, learning and continuous improvement to support the delivery of high-quality services for all.  

• Ensuring the NHS plays its part in social and economic development and achieving environmental sustainability,  

• Establishing robust governance and assurance process, monitoring and reporting systems  

• Support a strong culture of public accountability, probity, and governance, ensuring that appropriate and compliant structures, systems, and process are in place to minimise risk and promote the freedom to speak up.  

• Collectively ensure that the ICB is compliant with its constitution and contractual obligations.  

• Ensure that the ICB operates to deliver its functions in line with all of its statutory duties, and that compliance with the expected standards of the regulatory bodies is maintained. 

• Work closely with the Director of Nursing and Care and Executive Medical Officer  to advise on the response to and management of any concerns arising relating to clinical or care professionals working within the ICS.  

Corporate Responsibilities  

In addition to specific CPO portfolio responsibilities, the CPO will:  

• Maintain budgetary control within areas of responsibility ensuring good value for money from all resources. 
• Act as an internal coach and critical eye to drive the cohesion and success of the top teams, being courageous and willing to challenge inappropriate behaviour even at the highest levels. 
• The post-holder will be expected to participate in the ICB ‘On-Call’ Rota. 

The postholder will be expected to adhere to the standards expected of public office holders and comply with and advocate the ‘Nolan Principles’  

The post holder will be required to travel within Cheshire and Merseyside engage with partners and fulfil the duties of the role.  

 Our commitment to Equality, Inclusion, and Diversity 

 We are committed to equality, inclusion and diversity and work hard to make sure all staff and service users have access to an environment that is open and a free from discrimination. We value the diversity of our staff and service users, and therefore recognise and appreciate that everyone associated with the organisation are different and so should be treated in ways that are consistent with their needs and preferences.  

In support of this all staff are required to be aware of the principles of Equality, Inclusion and Diversity and the commitments and responsibilities to:  

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act. 
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. We firmly believe that it makes good business sense to have a workforce representative of the communities we serve and so encourage applications from all sections of the community.

Person specification  

 Promoting the values of the NHS Constitution and modelling the behaviours. 

 Job Description 

Job Title: ICB Executive Director of Finance
Salary: VSM
Hours: Full Time
Location: No 1 Lakeside , Warrington with travel around Cheshire and Merseyside
Reporting to: ICB Chief Executive 

Priorities 

The Executive Director of Finance will be required to ensure that the integrated care board (ICB) meets the financial targets set for it by NHS England, including living within the overall revenue and capital allocation, and the administration costs limit.  

Jointly with other system partners, the Executive Director of Finance is
responsible for ensuring that the integrated care system (ICS) delivers its financial targets. 

The Executive Director of Finance will support the development and delivery of the long term plan of the ICB. They will ensure this reflects and integrates the strategies of all relevant partner organisations of the ICS, with a particular focus on developing a shared financial and resourcing strategy. 

As a member of the unitary board, each board director is jointly responsible for planning and allocating resources to meet the four core purposes of integrated care systems (ICSs);  

• to improve outcomes in population health and healthcare; 
• tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience, and access; 
• enhance productivity and value for money and 
• help the NHS support broader social and economic development. 

The Executive Director of Finance will be responsible for developing the funding strategy for the ICS to support the board in achieving these aims, including consideration of place-based budgets, and making use of benchmarking to make sure that funds are deployed as effectively as possible. 

3. Key Accountabilities 

The Executive Director of Finance reports directly to the ICB Chief Executive 
and is professionally accountable to the NHS England regional Finance
Director. 

As the strategic financial lead, the Executive Director of Finance is accountable for all matters, relating to the financial leadership and financial performance of the ICB. The Executive Director of Finance will also be responsible for ensuring that the ICB implements a robust financial strategy and for ensuring that system resources are effectively deployed and used to provide the best possible care for the population. 

The Executive Director of Finance is also responsible and accountable for a wider portfolio, including planning and performance and the ICB estates strategy. 

The Executive Director of Finance along with other executive members of the ICB will have an influential executive role and shared accountability for the development and delivery of the long-term financial strategy of the ICB, ensuring this reflects and integrates the strategies of all relevant partner organisations within the ICS. 

 The Executive Director of Finance will be responsible for building partnerships and collaborating with wider ICS system leaders including provider collaboratives, public health, primary care, local government, voluntary and community sector, other partners and local people to make real transformational differences for the population through local, regional and national forums. 

The Executive Director of Finance will provide financial leadership and influence across the ICS to ensure that opportunities to drive improvements in population outcomes which includes collaborating and providing financial leadership with key partners (across health, care and wider) to break down barriers, drive innovation and achieve agreed deliverables. 

Alongside other members of the ICB, you will ensure that population health management, innovation, and research, supports continuous improvements in health and well-being. You will influence and work collaboratively as part of a wider system to create opportunities to make sustainable long-term improvements to population health with key partners. This may include developing approaches which are nontraditional in nature, ambitious and wide reaching in areas which incorporate the wider determinants that have an impact on improving clinical outcomes, better life outcomes and reducing health inequalities for the population of the ICS. 

Alongside other members of the ICB the Executive Director of Finance will work to develop digitally enabled transformation (including financial outcome focused transformation) and the clinical and care elements of a sustainable People Plan for the ICS workforce. 

The Executive Director of Finance is professionally accountable to the NHS England regional finance director and may from time-to-time be formally requested to act on behalf of NHS England on key performance, monitoring and accountability matters. This will include the identification of key financial risks and issues related to robust financial performance and leadership and working with relevant providers and partners to enable solutions. 

As a qualified accountant, individuals in these roles will be accountable for their own practice and conduct in the role. 

4. Responsibilities

Key responsibilities will include: 

 Setting strategy and delivering long-term transformation 

• You will be responsible for influencing and contributing to the ICB plans and wider system strategies of the ICS, with the aim of driving innovation in clinical outcomes, reducing health inequalities and achieving better life outcomes across the ICS. This will include creating and influencing leadership relationships and wide scale system change to ensure that the ICB acts as an enabler to harness system development opportunities to improve the population health of the ICS. 

• You will ensure that the ICB influences and seeks input from wider ICS system leaders including provider collaboratives, public health, primary care, local government, voluntary and community sector, other partners and local people to make real transformational differences for the population through local, regional and national forums. 

• You will support the production and delivery of a five-year ICB plan with the key aim to produce a financial and resources strategy aimed at improving clinical outcomes, better life outcomes and reducing health inequalities, working with the chief executive officer, other board members, partners across the ICS and the local community. 

• This will include the interpretation and implementation of the NHS Long Term Plan, contracting and performance standards and other national strategic priorities. 

• You will ensure that there are effective mechanisms for anticipating, identifying, and responding to key financial risks (including risk sharing arrangements) that could impact on the successful delivery of the ICB strategy. 

• You will also establish appropriate governance structures (with NHS partners in the ICS) to deliver on the collective requirement of system financial balance and risk sharing. 

• You will also be responsible for developing the necessary financial and performance leadership and functions to ensure the delivery of the ICB financial strategy including leading and influencing the development of a diverse group of leaders to enhance the opportunities for collaboration across the ICS. 

• You will be accountable for the production and delivery of a robust supporting financial strategy that delivers effective use of system resources to deliver improvements in outcomes in population health and healthcare; tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience, and access; enhance productivity and value for money and help the NHS and ICS partners support broader social, economic, and environmentally sustainable development. 

• You will aim to influence system leaders to ensure that there are effective mechanisms for anticipating, identifying, and responding to key contracting, performance and wider organisational risks that could impact on the successful delivery of the ICS strategy. This will include engaging with system leaders from across the ICS to drive research, innovation, quality improvement, patient safety and population health outcomes from a risk based approach across the ICS footprint. 

Building trusted relationships with partners and communities 

• Success in this role is dependent upon the development,  implementation and performance monitoring of a robust financial strategy for the ICB including ensuring the effective use of system resources through strong collaborative system decision-making. 

• Ensuring and influencing strategic collaboration with ICS partners, clinical and care leaders across health and care at all levels of the system, this role will develop a collective strategic financial leadership approach for the ICB and place-based use of resources, through the effective and efficient use of ICB allocations and commissioning opportunities to meet the needs of the system population. 

Leading for social justice and health equality 

• Reducing health inequalities is a core objective of the ICB and the Executive Director of Finance will foster a culture in which equality, diversity, inclusion and allyship are actively promoted across the ICS. 

• To drive innovative, data evidenced, change on behalf of the ICB and on behalf of NHS England focusing on ensuring that inequalities across the system are addressed. 

• Promoting and enhancing strategic approaches to enhancing and/or further developing personalised care locally in so that the ICB achieves the best possible health and care for its communities. 

• Ensuring the population needs are met through the appropriate allocation of resources in a system role, utilising close working relationships with system partners to ensure investment and performance of resources is effective in assisting to reduce health inequalities across the ICS. 

Driving high quality, sustainable outcomes 

• You will work with other ICB executive colleagues and ICS partners to collectively oversee the quality of all health services including implementing a safer, just culture, safer systems, and safer care. 

• You will also work with other ICS colleagues to deliver high quality health and care services. 

• As a member of the ICB, you will collectively work to address underperformance in a timely manner and promote continuous quality improvement through learning, improvement methodologies, research, and innovation. This will include embedding and delivery of system wide transformation and efficiency programmes, and any related recovery programmes. 

• You will take a lead role on behalf of the ICB and where required NHS England to ensure that there are appropriate and effective financial and contracting monitoring and performance arrangements in place to ensure the delivery of effective health services. 

• You will positively engage with key system leaders to collectively provide ICS leadership for the finance profession within health and care. 

• Taking the role of a system leader to promote and lead data quality driven improvements which have a direct impact on the population health needs of the ICS. 

• You will support wider executive colleagues in influencing strategic change and collaborative initiatives which have a direct impact on population health outcomes including key matters such as collective financial and contracting opportunities, future workforce supply, quality and safety initiatives and system wide joint working at a strategic board level with system partners. 

• You will promote awareness and understanding of financial, value for money and commercial issues, including robust and considered challenge and ICB decision-making at all levels. 

• You will ensure that the ICB meets the required financial and governance arrangements as a statutory body. 

• You will promote continuous quality improvement through learning, improvement methodologies, research, innovation, and data driven improvement initiatives both at a strategic and operational level. 

• You will take action to ensure underperformance in any service commissioned by the ICB is addressed in a timely manner, working with the relevant providers and the NHS England regional team as required.

Providing robust governance and assurance 

• As Executive Director of Finance of an ICB you will be responsible for financial leadership of an NHS statutory body, compliance with all ICB business rules and ensuring that the internal finance team is appropriately resourced to deliver all statutory functions of the ICB. Specifically, this involves putting in place an adequate system of financial control, strategic planning, budget setting, financial reporting, and risk management.

• You will therefore ensure as the responsible officer that the ICB is positioned to produce its required monthly reporting, annual report, and accounts, as part of the setup of the new organisation. 

• You will liaise with external audit colleagues to ensure timely delivery of financial statements for audit and publication in accordance with statutory, regulatory, and professional requirements. 

• You will ensure the appropriate and effective financial control arrangements are in place for the ICB and that accepted internal and external auditrecommendations are actioned in a timely manner. In addition, you will lead allocations to organisation and place level for all revenue and capital. 

• To be the lead officer for the ICB’s Audit Committee, and Finance, resources and investment committee,  ensuring the ICB is managed in accordance with robust financial controls and good governance. 

• You will support a strong culture of public accountability, probity, and governance, ensuring that appropriate and compliant structures, systems, and process are in place to minimise risk and promote the freedom to speak up. 

• You will be accountable for managing the NHS budget across the ICB, ensuring financial balance for the NHS, good value for money for taxpayers and promoting and ensuring long term-financial health for the system. This will include ensuring the establishment of and compliance with standing financial instructions and standing orders and reporting arrangements for the ICB and wider partnership organisations across the system as necessary. 

• Where services are commissioned across ICBs you will oversee successful performance on the use of resources in line with the agreed system oversight framework for the ICS, ensuring appropriate escalation arrangements are in place and appropriate actions is taken as necessary. 

• You will work closely with system partners to ensure that financial and commissioning arrangements which support and promote integration and meeting the needs of the population are effective and transparent. This will include ensuring user/patient involvement in decision making relating to the use of resources and commissioning where appropriate. 

• You will lead on the identification of performance risks and issues related to financial and contracting performance and work with relevant providers and partners to enable solutions, including making recommendations for informal/formal intervention where appropriate. 

Creating a compassionate and inclusive culture 

• You will have responsibility for developing the finance function, delivering the five-year finance development programme and for ensuring that work on equality, diversity and inclusion is taken forward. To do this you will need to actively engage with the regional finance academy and the workstreams of the finance leadership council and be responsible for improving the diversity of senior finance leadership in the ICS. 

• You will create and promote a culture of inclusive, professional leadership. 
• You will be visible as a collaborative financial leader and role model, engaging health and care professionals across the whole system in the development and delivery of the ICB plan. This includes: 

               – Providing mentoring and support to other health and care professional leaders. 

               – Ensuring that health and care professional leaders are supported to perform their roles and given opportunities to develop. 

               – Ensuring that the talent management and development of health and care professional leaders (including finance and contracting staff) is embedded at all levels of the system. 

5. Key relationships 

• Executive Team 
• NHS England 
• Senior Managers and wider colleagues 
• NHS Trusts /Provider collaboratives 
• GP Portfolio leads 
• Primary Care Network Clinical Directors 
• Member GP practices and other practice staff 
• Local system stakeholders including healthcare providers and local authorities 
• ICS stakeholders including Health and Wellbeing Board members 
• Patients, carers and communities 
• Local professional committees (LMC, LPC, LOC, LDC) 
• Academic Health Science Networks and Centres 
• Voluntary Groups 
• Other local and national organisations as required, including Regulatory Bodies. 

6. Supplementary duties and responsibilities

Other Duties 

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the organisation.  

Mobility 

Employees may be required to work at any of the other sites within the organisation. 

Health and Safety 

Employees have a legal responsibility not to endanger themselves, fellow employees and others by their individual acts or omissions. The post holder is required to comply with the requirements of any policy or procedure issued in respect of minimising the risk of injury or disease. 

Data Protection and Confidentiality 

All employees are subject to the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GPDR) and must maintain strict confidentiality in respect of patient, client and staff records. 

Safeguarding Responsibilities  

The organisation takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing domestic violence very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by: 

• attending mandatory training on Safeguarding children and adults; 
• making sure they are familiar with their and the organisation’s requirements under relevant legislation; 
• adhering to all relevant national and local policies, procedures, practice guidance (e.g. LSCB Child Protection Procedures and Practice Guidance) and professional codes; 
• reporting any concerns to the appropriate authority. 

Smoking and Health 

The organisation has a no smoking policy throughout its premises, including buildings and grounds. 

Equality and Diversity 

The organisation is committed to promoting equal opportunities to achieve equity of access, experience and outcomes and to recognising and valuing people’s differences. This applies to all activities as a service provider, as an employer and as a commissioner. 

Information Management and Technology (IM&T) 

All staff are expected to utilise the relevant national and local IM&T systems necessary to undertake their role. 

Flexible Working 

The organisation is committed to offering flexible, modern employment practices, which recognise that all staff need to strike a sensible balance between home and work life. All requests to work flexibly will be considered. 

Clinical Supervision 

It is mandatory for all professionally qualified staff and clinical support staff to actively participate in clinical supervision as an integral part of their professional development for a minimum of four sessions per year. Clinical Supervision will be monitored via an annual Performance and Development Review (PDR). 

Reasonable Adjustments  

The organisation seeks to promote the employment of individuals with disabilities and will make any adjustments considered reasonable to the above duties under the terms of the Equality Act 2010 to accommodate a suitable disabled candidate. 

Person Specification 

 The organisation seeks to promote the employment of individuals with disabilities and will make any adjustments considered reasonable to the above duties under the terms of the Equality Act 2010 to accommodate a suitable disabled candidate.