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Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Head of Contracts

Swindon On-site 10+ yrs exp Hospitals and Health Care 1,851 employees
NHS ContractingContract NegotiationContract ManagementContract Performance ManagementContract Governance

Requirements

Applicants must be qualified accountants with knowledge of NHS contracting. NHS contracting or income accounting experience is desirable, as is experience understanding and reporting NHS income; strong analytical, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills are also sought.

Job Description

Job Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and strategic leader to join our Finance team as Head of Contracts.

This pivotal role will lead the Trust's contracting function, ensuring effective negotiation, management and performance of commissioning and provider contracts. Working closely with senior finance, operational and system leaders, you will maximise income, manage contractual and financial risk, and ensure compliance with national contracting frameworks and NHS Standard Contract requirements.

You will play a key role in supporting the Trust's financial sustainability, leading complex negotiations with commissioners, advising on national payment mechanisms and developing strong partnerships across the Integrated Care System (ICS) and BSW Group. The role offers an excellent opportunity to influence organisational strategy, support service transformation and drive continuous improvement within a high-performing team

Main duties of the job

As Head of Contracts, you will lead the development and delivery of the Trust's contracting strategy, ensuring contracts support organisational priorities, activity plans and financial objectives.

You will:


  • Lead complex contract negotiations with commissioners and system partners.
  • Oversee the management, performance and governance of NHS contracts.
  • Ensure robust income forecasting, reconciliation and income recovery processes.
  • Provide expert advice on contractual, commercial and financial risks and opportunities.
  • Lead contract performance reporting and assurance processes.
  • Support the implementation of national payment mechanisms and contracting reforms.
  • Develop strong collaborative relationships across the Trust, BSW Group and ICS partners.
  • Lead, motivate and develop the Contracts Team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.


We are looking for an experienced NHS contracting, commissioning or healthcare finance professional with excellent analytical, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, and the ability to influence at senior levels.

This role may require travel across sites and partner organisations and is subject to rotational opportunities.

About Us

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust (SFT) is part of the Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) Hospitals Group, alongside Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. Together, we are committed to delivering outstanding, sustainable healthcare through collaboration, innovation and excellent patient care.With a history spanning more than 250 years, SFT combines a proud heritage with a forward-looking approach to healthcare. We employ more than 4,000 staff, provide around 470 beds and deliver acute, specialist and regional services across Wiltshire and beyond.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive workplace where colleagues feel valued, developed and empowered to reach their potential. Flexible working helps colleagues balance work and personal commitments while meeting the needs of patients.We offer NHS benefits including the NHS Pension Scheme, generous annual leave, staff discounts and onsite facilities.

Salisbury offers an exceptional quality of life, combining a historic city with beautiful countryside, access to the south coast and excellent transport links. Find out more at Experience Salisbury

Job Description

Job responsibilities

Please find attached to the vacancy a detailed person specification and job description for further information about this role.

This role may require travel across sites and partner organisations and is subject to rotational opportunities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Qualifications Essential


  • Qualified Accountant
  • Knowledge of NHS Contracting


Desirable


  • Experience working in NHS Contracting or Income


Accounting Experience Essential


  • Understanding of Income within the NHS


Desirable


  • Experience reporting Income within the NHS


Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Education

Professional Certificate

Skills

NHS ContractingContract NegotiationContract ManagementContract Performance ManagementContract GovernanceIncome ForecastingIncome ReconciliationIncome RecoveryFinancial Risk ManagementFinancial AnalysisStakeholder ManagementCommissioningNational Payment MechanismsStrategic LeadershipTeam LeadershipContinuous Improvement

About Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top three Trusts to work for in the South West. We employ almost 5,500 staff and serve a population of over 750,000 across Wiltshire and neighbouring counties. Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides acute hospital services (at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon) and community health services across Wiltshire. These services include community hospitals, community nursing and therapy, and children's and young people's services.

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