Strategic Head of Education

Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust as our Strategic Head of Education Development, providing senior strategic and professional leadership for education, learning and workforce development across the organisation. Accountable to the Assistant Director of People Development, you will lead a diverse portfolio encompassing clinical and non-clinical education, apprenticeships, work-based learning, driver training, continuing professional development and commercial education.

Working across the Trust and with universities, NHS partners, professional bodies and external organisations, you will develop strong strategic partnerships, influence workforce development and represent NEAS at regional and national level.

We are looking for an experienced senior leader who combines significant education and management expertise with a strong clinical background. Current HCPC, NMC or other appropriate clinical professional registration is essential, alongside Master's-level education or equivalent relevant experience and an appropriate teaching qualification.

You will be able to demonstrate a proven record of leading education services, developing people and delivering improvement within a complex organisation, together with excellent strategic, communication and influencing skills.

Main duties of the job
To be accountable to the Deputy Director of People Development and deputise where appropriate.

lead on all aspects of the planning and development of learning and development activity across the whole organisation, including core training, Continuing Professional and Personal Development (CPPD), apprenticeship and commercial education as well as educational requirements as requested by the Deputy Director of People Development.

To manage, as the head of the department (of a clinical non-technical service) all of the day-to-day activities across all education streams including commercial, driver training, core and apprenticeships. This will require the leadership and management of a range of workforce services for the Trust including the Education, Learning and Development Team, comprising of Clinical and Non-Clinical Training, Driver Training, Work based learning, apprenticeship and Commercial Training. This requires a professional registration, up-to-date clinical practice and knowledge of legislative and regulatory event management requirements to interpret highly complex information to safeguard the organisation, the public and colleagues.

About us
We employ 3,500 staff in 63 locations and serve a population of 2,600,000 in Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham, and Tees over 3230 square miles.

Many people think the job of the ambulance service is to collect patients and take them to hospital, but we do much more!

Paramedic skills have developed hugely in recent years, meaning we carry out more treatment at the scene and en-route to hospital.

We have a dedicated clinical assessment service that allows us to provide patients with the most appropriate care from the beginning of the patient journey.

We have a specialised branch of the Trust called HART which deal with explosions or terrorist attacks.

Ultimately patients are the heart of everything that we do to support our mission of "safe, effective and responsive care for all".

We value and respect the diversity employees bring to our workplace. We recruit a workforce that reflects the community we serve, and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. To ensure we deliver on our aims in relation to diversity and inclusion we assess ourselves against a range of frameworks. We are ENEI Gold employer, Disability Confident Leader, Dementia Friendly, and part of Mind Blue Light programme and the Race at Work Charter from the Princes Responsible Business Network and are achieving across all objectives in NHS Equality Delivery System.

From 01/04/25 If your role needs a DBS you'll be subject to salary deduction totaling £49.50, spread over first and second pay.

Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description for full duties and responsibilities for the role of Strategic Head of Education Development.

Person Specification
EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING
Essential

• HCPC registered Paramedic or NMC registered nurse
• Educated to masters level (level 7) in relevant subject or equivalent relevant experience
• Senior leadership qualification or significant senior manager experience
• PGCE/Cert Ed/relevant teaching qualification (level 7)
• Enhanced CARe module / clinical skills or equivalent (level 6 minimum)
• Associate Lecturer status with relevant HEI's
• CAVA assessing qualification (or working towards)
• Accredited mentor qualification
• Safeguarding adults and children level 3

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of the urgent care clinical education agenda
• Knowledge and understanding of equality and diversity issues in relation to learning and development
• Experience of managing education processes and Apprenticeship delivery

KEY SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE
Essential

• Up-to-date significant experience in clinical practice as a HCPC registered paramedic / NMC registered nurse
• Significant understanding and experience of working within national qualification frameworks and standards
• Significant experience of the development of clinical simulation delivery.
• Significant proven experience and ability in the management of design, development and delivery of innovative education and training development
• Demonstrable track record of achievement
• Demonstrable planning and organisational skills
• Ability to clearly impart information and knowledge of complex theory and practical application to meet the learning outcomes expected.
• Understanding and experience of current education and development practices and statutory and regulatory requirements to seek and gain external accreditation.
• Budgetary management, Excellent strategic leadership / interpersonal skills to lead, manage and inspire others
• Experience of writing complex business cases and policies and also tenders for commercial business

Desirable

• An understanding of the key issues facing the NHS and ambulance services
• Knowledge and understanding of developments in the regulation of non-medical staff Knowledge of HEI frameworks and national apprenticeship standards

EXPERIENCE
Essential

• Evidence of a proactive approach to own CPD and development of professional practice
• Significant experience of leading, developing and managing education programmes
• Significant experience of working within apprenticeships/EFSA and OFSTED
• Experience of leading and managing projects and actively contributing to the achievement of strategic objectives
• Analysing workforce information to drive business changes

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP SKILLS
Essential

• Experience of contract/commercial management and event design/delivery
• Strong research skills with the ability to convert/complex information into succinct messages
• Experience of relationship management with external partners and generating income opportunities.
• Able to demonstrate a sound understanding of diversity issues and a commitment to promote equality within the organisation and externally to the public and patients

ANALYTICAL AND JUDGEMENTAL SKILLS
Essential

• Significant experience in analysing a range of complex facts or situations in relation to education needs, delivery and assessment.

PLANNING AND ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS
Essential

• Experience of planning education which impact across the organisation managing conflicting needs of different services or individuals.

POLICY, RESEARCH AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT SKILLS
Essential

• Experience of implementing and adhering to the policy and procedures for own work area.
• Experience of continual review of clinical practice and education delivery development to develop better ways of working and proposing changes which impact on the whole education

FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES SKILLS
Essential

• Significant experience of collating and compiling information for audit and governance structures. (Such as OFSTED/awarding bodies)
• Experience of using computer software such as Microsoft to regularly create reports and display data

HR SKILLS
Essential

• Responsible for the delivery of specialist training across the Trust.
• Able to deliver pre employment clinical and non clinical assessments and manage this process in line with the Trust workforce plan
• Experience of recruitment and workforce management

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.