Healthcare is becoming more connected.
Patients move between hospitals, community services, primary care and specialist teams. Improving care increasingly depends on organisations working together rather than working alone.
As part of the St George's, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group, and working closely with partners across South West London, we're strengthening the way we deliver care for the people and communities we serve. Backed by significant investment, evolving partnerships and ambitious plans for the future, this is a pivotal moment in our journey.
We're looking for an exceptional Chief Operating Officer to help shape what comes next.
Working alongside our Managing Director and Executive Team, you'll provide strategic and operational leadership across our clinical services, ensuring patients receive safe, high-quality care today while helping shape how services are designed and delivered for the future.
This is a role that combines strategic thinking with practical delivery. One day you'll be leading operational performance across a complex acute Trust; the next you'll be driving transformation, strengthening partnerships and creating the conditions for colleagues to deliver their very best.
If you're up for the challenge and motivated by improving services, developing people and bringing people together around a shared purpose, you'll find an opportunity to make a lasting impact - for our patients, our colleagues and the communities we serve.
The stakeholder panel will take place on 5 August 2026, followed by the interviews on 6 August 2026.
Operational leadership and performance
Lead the operational delivery of all clinical services, ensuring patients receive safe, high-quality and compassionate care. You'll drive performance against key national and local priorities while ensuring the Trust remains resilient, responsive and prepared for future challenges.
Quality, safety & patient experience
Work alongside clinical leaders to continually improve the quality, safety and experience of care. You'll champion a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring services meet the highest standards of governance and patient care.
Strategic leadership & transformation
Lead the Trust's operational strategy and major transformation programmes, helping redesign services, improve patient pathways and deliver lasting improvements that support the future of healthcare across South West London.
Partnership & system working
Build strong relationships across the South West London Integrated Care System, working with partners, regulators and local communities to improve outcomes, tackle health inequalities and deliver more joined-up care.
People leadership & culture
Provide visible, compassionate leadership that empowers colleagues to succeed. You'll develop high-performing teams, nurture future leaders and foster an inclusive culture where people feel valued, supported and able to thrive.
Financial stewardship
Ensure sustainable service delivery through efficient resource use, protecting quality, safety and patient outcomes.
We care for more than half a million people across South West London and Surrey, providing acute hospital services alongside a growing range of community and integrated care services. Every day, our colleagues deliver care that's safe, compassionate and centred on the needs of the people and communities we serve.
Our organisation is built on partnership. We work closely with local authorities, primary care, community providers and mental health services because we know that improving health doesn't begin and end at the hospital door.
As part of the St George's, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group, we're also strengthening the way we work across our hospitals, sharing expertise, developing services together and creating new opportunities to improve care for patients across South West London.
We're proud of what we've achieved, but we're equally focused on what comes next. Whether that's investing in our estate, improving operational performance or working more closely with partners across the system, we're committed to building services that meet the changing needs of our communities.
That's where this role comes in.
Like every NHS organisation, we're facing significant challenges. We're also fortunate to have committed colleagues, strong partnerships and a clear ambition to keep improving. We believe those things give us a strong foundation for the future, and an exciting opportunity for the person joining us as Chief Operating Officer.
Your recruitment team
The NHS South West London Recruitment Hub is your dedicated recruitment team, here to support you at every stage of the process. If you have a query, please contact us:
E: [email protected]
Your application
Please ensure your supporting statement clearly reflects the job description and person specification, as shortlisting will be based on these criteria.
Please refer to the latest UKVI guidance and ensure you have the appropriate right to work before applying for this role.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to draft your application. We value authentic, individual responses that reflect your own experience and communication style.
References
Please provide a minimum of 3 years’ employment and/or education history, including professional email addresses (not personal accounts such as Hotmail or Gmail). If you cannot provide these, please inform the interview panel to avoid delays in pre-employment checks.
Closing date
To help us manage recruitment efficiently, some vacancies may close early once we have received a sufficient number of applications.
Shortlisting
If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be contacted by email or SMS from the South West London Recruitment Hub. Please check your registered TRAC email regularly.
Application feedback
If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.
Safeguarding and DBS Checks
We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. For roles with direct access to these groups, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required. All staff are expected to understand and uphold their safeguarding responsibilities as part of their role.
