Candidate brief for the position of

Director of Health Services

Island of Saint Helena

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in the role of Director of Health Services in Saint Helena.

I believe that this is an exceptional opportunity, offering the right individual a good quality of lifealongside a role of surprising complexity.

We seek a new Director of Health to take over from David Jenkins who is retiring at the end of his contract.This is a role with contemporary challenges: we have an ageing demographic and face the twin tasks of keeping our younger people and attracting new, younger residents as well as caring for our settled population.

We are an Overseas Territory of the UK and have a strong partnership with the UK Government. In early 2016 we will have an airport. This will lead to a host of new opportunities for St Helena as well as presenting a series of challenges to our public services as we work to develop our economy. Although a remote island, we do not operate in isolation from the rest of the world. We take considerable pride in our achievements on the island.

The ideal candidate for this role will bring a broad range of skills and experience. You will need todemonstrate strong and proven leadership skills and the ability to deliver effective health services. You will also be able to help formulate and deliver strategic plans for the health service in the context of the whole of Government services.

St Helena is an extraordinary place to live and work. You will find further information about the place and the role in this information pack and I would encourage you to talk to our HR Section if you have any questions. We look forward to reviewing your application.

Best wishes,

Mark Capes

Governor

The island of St Helena is an internally self-governing Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom located in the South Atlantic approximately 4,000 miles from the UK. The Government comprises a Governor (who is appointed by the Crown) an Executive Council, which has the general control and direction of Government, and a Legislative Council. The Governor retains responsibility for internal security, external affairs, defence, the public service, finance and shipping.

The island’s population is around 4,500 and it has a typical small island economy with a high import dependency, a narrow economic base, a large public sector (around 790 staff), and significant outward labour migration. Over half of its recurrent public expenditure and 90 percent of capital expenditure are funded by British budgetary aid as the UK has an obligation to ensure that the reasonable needs of the population are met. Economic development is constrained by St Helena’s extreme isolation, its small and, until recently, declining population, and a lack of significant natural resources.

The overall vision of the St Helena Government (SHG) is:

Strengthened community and family life through vibrant economic growth, with opportunities for all to participate, within a framework of effective government and law.

To support this vision there are three National Goals:

  • A vibrant economy providing opportunities for all to participate
  • Strong community and family life
  • Effective management of the environment

In November 2011 the UK Government agreed to fund an airport. A construction contract has been signed, and the airport will be operational from February 2016. We are more than half way through the construction stage and this major project has already had a significant impact on St Helena’s economic prospects and a dramatic impact on the island community, bringing a period of accelerated social and economic change. Unemployment stands at virtually zero and Government revenues are significantly increased.

Achievement of the SHG’s Goals and Strategic Objectives will require sound management and transformation of the public sector is designed to make it a professional, modern, and flexible organisation able to initiate and respond to change.

SHG is embedding a modernisation programme that will enable the Public Service to improve its delivery of the government’s developmental objectives. Central to this programme has been the re-structuring of Government functions and directorates. There are five directorates reporting to the Chief Secretary who is the Head of the Service: Education; Health; Safeguarding; Environment & Natural Resources and Corporate Services. The Police Service reports to the Governor. This structure remains under review.


Role Profile

Director of Health Services

Package in excess of £100k

Purpose

  • To be responsible for the strategic leadership and operational management of the Health Services in Saint Helena
  • To develop open and supportive relationships with elected members to shape and ensure the delivery of the vision, objectives and priorities of Saint Helena Government
  • To have overall accountability for the delivery of the Health Services Directorates aims and objectives and for leading the implementation of the structural and cultural change necessary to achieve this
  • To provide policy advice to the Chief Secretary and to the Elected Members to assist them in the discharge of their duties
  • To lead and coordinate engagement with external stakeholders, providing the lead in relation to the delivery of high standards of health care to improve the health status and well being of the population,
  • To promote healthy lifestyles and reduce the incidence of non-communicable diseases
  • The functions for which the Directorate is responsible include medical, dental and nursing care, both in the community, at the primary care and at the secondary care level; environmental health; pathology and microbiology services; pharmacy services; and administrative services dealing with staff recruitment, budgeting, procurement, divestment activities and overall support to other sections of the Directorate.
  • The role includes Safeguarding responsibilities for both Children and Vulnerable Adults
  • As part of the improvement strategy to support independent living through a person centred approach
  • To improve services for disabled people

Principal Accountabilities

  • To provide the leadership, vision andstrategic direction necessary to managethe interface between elected members andcivil and public servants and work closelywith them on strategic planning, developingactions and implementing policies which willmeet Saint Helena Government’s objectives
  • To work closely with Elected Members to

define the preferred organisational culture ofthe service and promote its core values.

  • To lead the health Service’s organisational changeprogrammes, driving, managing and sustaining cultural and transformationalchange
  • To ensure that appropriate governancearrangements and risk managementmeasures are in place
  • To lead the annual Health budget process

Principal Duties and tasks performed

Responsible to the Chief Secretary for providing leadership, policy advice and for strategic management, and delivery and continued development of an effective, efficient and high quality Health system on the Island. The Services includecommunity, primary and secondary care as well as public and environmental health and thereby contributing to the aims of SHG’s Sustainable Development Plan.

Strategic Management

  • Ensure the political agenda including capital, financial, legislative policy and planning is delivered satisfactorily across the organisation
  • To ensure effective communication of the Organisation’s vision, mission, priorities, objectives and processes effectively, both internally to staff and externally as appropriate
  • To lead by example by promoting at all timesbest practice and the highest standards ofthe public service and civil service ethos
  • To ensure the Health Services Directorate operates as aco-ordinated body maximising efficiency,achieving savings and ensuring value formoney by avoiding duplication of effort.

Service, Quality and PerformanceManagement

  • Manage and develop corporate and healthcare governance structures and cultures that ensures best practice, good governance, and assurance over the use of resources, effectively identifies and manages risks and opportunities and ensures that the organisation complies with relevant legal and other provisions
  • To ensure that a performance management culture, systems and processes are firmly embedded within the Directorate to secure quality services and their continuous improvement
  • To put in place and maintain effective arrangements for agreeing personal targets for all direct reports and undertake periodic performance reviews annually

Resource Management

  • Challenge established practices and develop innovative solutions ensuring the efficient and creative management of all resources (staff, finance, property and information), in support of agreed targets for service delivery and improvement including:
  • the implementation of effective practices to secure the best possible use of human

capital in pursuit of agreed objectives

  • the implementation of effective practices that delivers best value

Working Relationship and Communication

  • To provide inspirational leadership communicating key messages effectively in a manner that motivates staff
  • To manage the Directorate’s Senior Management Team ensuring effective and appropriate service delivery by departments
  • To develop a strong employer brand ensuring that the Directorate has both external and internal organisation communication strategies, highly engaged staff and strives to be an employer of choice

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Master’s level qualification in Health Services Management or related field or significant experience in Health Services Management
  • Clinical background (doctor, nurse or professions allied to health)

Desirable

  • Healthcare Governance qualification/experience
  • Project management qualification/experience
  • Risk Management qualification/experience

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • A minimum of 5 years recent experience in hospital and health service management
  • Experience of leading a team and managing people effectively to achieve required outcomes and results
  • Experience of financial management including budgetary control
  • Experience in managing health services in the community

Desirable

  • Previous experience in working environments that deal with a diverse range of services
  • Working experience in small island communities.
  • 10 years senior management experience

Competences

Planning and Delivery of work

  • Structures business or service unit to deliver key objectives and obtain and allocate resources.
  • Defines a balanced set of targets and measures aligned with delivery plans.

Analysis and use of information

  • Identifies trends from complex or conflicting data.
  • Takes steps to address the root causes of highly complex problems.
  • Develops new policy and procedures.

Communication

  • Promotes communication across the organisation.
  • Negotiates to reconcile individual competing priorities.
  • Communicates the organisation’s priorities.
  • Summarises complex information in an effective manner.

Influencing and persuading

  • Influences the organisation’s strategy by utilising internal and external resources.
  • Delivers influential advice and briefings.
  • Focuses on outcomes irrespective of the source of the challenge.
  • Sets strategies to support a diverse workforce.

Dealing with Change

  • Takes wide view of strategic needs.
  • Directs and drives organisational change.
  • Evaluates the impact of change on the organisation.
  • Initiates attitudinal change across the organisation.
  • Provides appropriate support mechanisms during a period of change.

Continuous Improvement

  • Keeps up to date with developments that affect SHG and anticipates what may affect it in the future.
  • Creates an environment which allows people to improve the way they work.
  • Creates an environment where employees and colleagues work to improve the way things are done.

Managing resources (including people and finances)

  • Ensures resources are allocated and used to meet key priorities.
  • Sets corporate directives and develops long-term strategies to achieve this.
  • Ensures that others buy in to corporate goals and functions.

How to Apply

We offer an extensive benefits package with 30 days leave per annum which will include a contributory pension plus generous income tax-free allowances for relocation, rent and utilities. An application form can be found at where further information can also be found, or you may contact KedellWorboys on 0203 170 8705 or email: .

Applications must be received by 27thNovember2014. Interviews will be held in London.

In order to apply, please complete the application form which can be found at Yourapplication should set out how you meet the requirementsoutlined in the person specification and principal duties and tasks performed sections.

Please include your contact details, current salary information and details of two referees. All information will be treated as strictly confidential and referees will not be contacted without permission.