This key leadership role within Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals Group (LCHG) supports the Group Assistant Director of Strategy and Planning in delivering the organisation’s strategic vision, objectives and transformation priorities. The post holder leads the development and delivery of strategic and operational plans across clinical and corporate services, ensuring alignment with Integrated Care System (ICS) priorities, the Joint Forward Plan, financial plans and efficiency requirements.
The role oversees annual planning and assurance processes, working with Executive Directors and senior leaders to ensure effective governance, stakeholder engagement and delivery of robust plans. It provides leadership to Business Partners supporting care groups with strategy, planning and improvement activities.
A key focus is developing organisational improvement capability through Quality Improvement training, coaching and the promotion of best-practice methodologies. The post holder supports delivery of the Integrated Improvement Plan, Outstanding Care Improvement System and wider transformation programmes.
The role also leads the monitoring, reporting and assurance of strategic programmes, ensuring progress is tracked, risks are managed, recovery actions implemented and governance requirements met. Success requires strong partnership working across organisational boundaries, particularly to support delivery of the Lincolnshire System Joint Forward Plan and wider system priorities.
The Head of Strategy, Planning and Quality Improvement provides strategic leadership for the development and delivery of Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals Group (LCHG) strategy, annual planning processes and quality improvement programmes. The post holder leads the organisation’s contribution to NHS England and system planning, ensuring alignment with national priorities, the Joint Forward Plan, financial requirements and long-term objectives.
The role is responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating operational and strategic plans while strengthening organisational improvement capability. Working with clinical, operational and corporate leaders, the post holder supports improvement, transformation and change programmes that enhance patient outcomes, staff experience and organisational performance.
Key responsibilities include analysing national policy, identifying strategic risks and opportunities, supporting planning and efficiency programmes, and developing system partnerships. The role also leads the Quality Improvement function, overseeing training, coaching and capability development, and promoting improvement methodologies across LCHG.
The post holder ensures robust governance, assurance and performance reporting, monitors delivery and benefits realisation, manages departmental resources and budgets, and supports innovation, organisational learning and continuous improvement to deliver the Group’s vision and system-wide ambitions
Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) have formed a new Group arrangement to improve care across Lincolnshire. This is not a merger; both Trusts retain their statutory names and legal obligations but work together under a single Board and Executive Leadership Team as the Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG).
Our values guide everything we do:
Compassionate – we care about people
Collaborative - we work together as a team
Innovative - we strive to improve
If these values resonate with you, you will feel at home here.
We create environments where staff feel supported, appreciated and part of a team. Our vision, “Caring and building a healthier future for all”, reflects our ambition to be among the best.
We support our people to balance work and home life. Flexible working may include remote working, compressed hours, staggered start and finish times or predictable shift patterns. Our benefits package includes a generous NHS Pension Scheme, 27–33 days annual leave, bank work opportunities, family‑friendly policies, wellbeing support, learning and development programmes, financial benefits and staff recognition schemes.
Lincolnshire offers an excellent quality of life with friendly communities, affordable living and beautiful countryside. If you want to make a meaningful difference and grow your career in a forward‑thinking, compassionate organisation, LCHG is the place for you.
The Head of Strategy, Planning and Quality Improvement is a senior leadership role responsible for leading the development, coordination and delivery of the Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals Group (LCHG) strategic planning, annual planning and quality improvement agenda. The post holder supports the Associate and Deputy Director of Strategy and Planning to ensure the organisation has a clear strategic direction, aligned operational plans and a strong culture of continuous improvement.
Key responsibilities include leading the development, implementation and evaluation of the Group’s annual operational plans and five-year strategy, ensuring alignment with system priorities, financial plans and national NHS requirements. The role is accountable for monitoring delivery against strategic objectives, tracking benefits realisation, identifying risks and developing recovery actions to support successful implementation.
The post holder will coordinate the Group’s contribution to NHSE planning, working collaboratively with others to develop integrated models of care and deliver the Lincolnshire Joint Forward Plan. They will lead strategic assessment and analysis of national policy, external developments and emerging opportunities, ensuring LCHG remains responsive to changes in the healthcare landscape. The role has responsibility for linking in with the Strategic Business Partner function, ensuring effective support is provided to Care Groups in delivering strategy, planning and improvement priorities. The post holder will also oversee investment planning processes, ensuring business cases and major developments align with strategic objectives and system priorities.
Alongside its responsibilities for strategy and planning, the role provides leadership to the organisation’s Quality Improvement function. This includes oversight of the QI Enabling Plan, leadership of the Quality Improvement Team, development of organisational improvement capability, and promotion of a culture of continuous improvement across LCHG. The post holder will oversee quality improvement methodologies, education, coaching and capability development programmes, helping leaders and teams to deliver sustainable improvements in quality, safety, productivity and patient outcomes.
The Head of Strategy, Planning and Quality Improvement will provide leadership to stakeholders across organisational boundaries, prepare reports and assurance information for governance forums, manage departmental budgets and resources, and support the delivery of sustainable improvements that enhance quality, performance, efficiency and patient outcomes.
