A unique and exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and ambitious healthcare leader to join the senior leadership team at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital as Head of Operations and Business Development for Private Care.
Accountable to the Divisional Director of Operations, the post holder is a key member of the Private Care leadership team, working closely with the Clinical Director, General Manager and senior nursing leadership. The role combines operational accountability with a strong strategic and commercial focus, supporting both the delivery and growth of Private Care services across the Trust.
The post holder will be responsible for delivering high-quality, patient-centred services while achieving financial, performance, productivity and workforce objectives. They will also play a pivotal role in driving income growth through service development, innovation and market expansion, ensuring alignment with the Trust’s commercial strategy.
Working collaboratively with clinical leads, consultants and corporate teams, the post holder will lead operational and business development functions, ensuring efficient service delivery alongside the identification and execution of new opportunities.
The role requires strong stakeholder engagement with consultants, insurers and partners to grow activity and income. The post holder will work across all Trust sites, primarily based at Chelsea, supporting delivery of the Private Care business plan and sustainable growth.
In partnership with the Private Care operational team, General Manager, Clinical Director and Lead Nurse, the Head of Operations and Business Development will lead the delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centred care, ensuring excellence in quality, safety and patient experience.
The post holder will ensure robust clinical governance and full compliance with regulatory and Trust requirements, while overseeing operational planning and day-to-day service delivery to meet activity and performance targets.
They will drive strategy and service improvement, identifying opportunities for innovation, growth and enhanced patient pathways, alongside accountability for performance management across quality, activity and financial metrics.
The role includes responsibility for the effective management of financial and physical resources, ensuring optimal use of capacity and strong budgetary control.
The post holder will lead strategic planning and complex change programmes, including new service development and commercial initiatives, while providing visible leadership, workforce management and fostering a high-performing, inclusive team culture.
Private Care at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital provides services to patients from the UK (e.g. self-pay and PMI), as well as patients from overseas who have travelled to the UK for treatment. The service also caters for international patients whose care is funded through embassy arrangements.
Private Care at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has grown by over 10% per annum in recent years and is now the sixth largest NHS Private Patient Unit (PPU) by revenue in the UK. The directorate includes the following services: The Kensington Wing (Private Maternity), The Fertility Centre , The Chelsea Wing (Private Adult Inpatients), Westminster Wing (Outpatients), Private Paediatrics and Private Care at West Middlesex.
Revenue generated by Private Care is reinvested back into the hospital to support NHS services.
In partnership with the Private Care operational team, Clinical Director, and Lead Nurse, the Head of Operations will be responsible for:
Delivery of safe, high quality patient care
- Create an environment within the directorate that makes care, safety and patient satisfaction everyone’s first concern.
- Ensure that high quality clinical services are delivered in line with the Trust’s Quality Strategy and available financial resources.
Clinical Governance
- Actively involve and lead directorate staff in the delivery of clinical governance, working in accordance with Trust systems, processes and priorities.
- Ensure that directorate responsibilities with respect to external assessments e.g. Risk Management and the Care Quality Commission are fulfilled.
Operational planning and delivery
- Oversee the operational delivery of all services within the Directorate, namely: The Kensington Wing, The Fertility Centre, and private adult inpatient and outpatient services. Facilitate and support the delivery of Private Care throughout the Trust including in areas outside the direct control of the directorate.
Strategy and Service Improvement
- Work with the Clinical Director and Head of Business Development to develop consultant relationships and support business growth.
Performance management
- Ensure both private and NHS services are delivered in line with required activity and income plans, maintaining control of expenditure, improving value for money and ensuring continued service development in relation to efficiency and quality.
Financial and physical resources
- Work with the Finance Business Partner to analyse the monthly financial position, develop a robust forecast, explain key movements in income and costs, and develop mitigating actions where necessary.
- Ensure the optimum use of resources, establishing and maintaining an effective management process to ensure financial control.
Strategic planning and change delivery
- Support the development and delivery of the commercial strategy for Private Care
- Work with the Head of Business Development to support the delivery of the business plan for the Directorate.
Human resource management
- Ensure that best practice human resource management is applied throughout the directorate.
- Provide leadership and support to all staff, including medical staff, and act as a role model.
Job Description and Main Responsibilities
In partnership with the Private Care operational team, General Manager, Clinical Director and Lead Nurse, the Head of Operations and Business Development will be responsible for:
Delivery of Safe, High-Quality Patient Care
Create a culture within the directorate where patient safety, quality of care and patient experience are the highest priorities for all staff.
Ensure the delivery of high-quality clinical services in line with the Trust’s Quality Strategy and within available financial resources.
Clinical Governance
Lead and actively engage staff in delivering robust clinical governance, ensuring compliance with Trust frameworks, systems and priorities.
Ensure all directorate responsibilities relating to external assessments and regulatory requirements (including Risk Management and Care Quality Commission standards) are fully met.
Operational Planning and Delivery
Oversee the operational delivery of all services within the directorate, including the Kensington Wing, the Fertility Centre, and private inpatient and outpatient services.
Facilitate and support the delivery of Private Care services across the Trust, including areas outside the direct control of the directorate.
Strategy and Service Improvement
Work collaboratively with the General Manager, Clinical Director and Head of Business Development to strengthen consultant engagement, develop services and support sustainable business growth.
Performance Management
Ensure both Private Care and NHS services are delivered in line with agreed activity, performance and income plans.
Maintain control of expenditure, improve value for money, and drive continuous service improvement in terms of efficiency, productivity and quality.
Financial and Physical Resources
Work in partnership with the Finance Business Partner to review monthly financial performance, develop robust forecasts, and explain variances in income and costs.
Identify and implement mitigating actions where required and ensure effective financial control through optimal use of resources.
Strategic Planning and Change Delivery
Support the development and implementation of the Private Care commercial strategy, contributing to service innovation and growth.
Work closely with the Head of Business Development and wider leadership team to deliver the Directorate’s business plan and lead key transformation and change initiatives.
Human Resource Management
Ensure best practice human resource management is embedded across the directorate.
Provide visible and effective leadership to all staff, including medical staff, acting as a role model and fostering a high-performing, inclusive and engaged workforce.
Leadership and Deputising
Deputise for the General Manager as required, providing senior operational leadership and ensuring continuity of service delivery and decision-making across Private Care.
