Head of Discipline for Public Health and Social Care

Job details

College

College of Health, Psychology and Social Care

Responsible to

Head of School – Allied Health and Social Care

Location

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Salary

£57,427 to £71,784 per annum (For exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £82,552 per annum)

Closing date

Sunday 7 April 2024

Contract type

Permanent

Post type

Full-time

Adaptive working type

Hybrid
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location with the opportunity to work remotely available in line with our Adaptive Working Framework .

Reference

0100-24

About the role

This is an outstanding opportunity for the right candidate to join the University of Derby in an area that is ambitious about expansion and enhancement of its current portfolio and contribution to health and social care research.

The Head of  Discipline for Public Health and Social Care (PHSC) is a key role within the academic governance structure of the School of Allied Health and Social Care and the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care at the University of Derby.

The Public Health and Social Care Discipline consists of 30+ staff members engaged with related teaching and research activity. The Discipline has a range of professional or professionally oriented programmes, including Social Work and Public Health. In addition, there is a growing suite of Continual Professional Development (CPD) provision and the potential for further development across the Discipline area. We also anticipate strengthening our apprenticeship provision in this discipline. 

Our ambition is to recruit a high-profile academic with extensive experience in academia and an ambitious plan for development of health and social care research and community engagement. Working collaboratively across the wider university and with our practice, third sector and industry partners is critical to the success of the role. 

In this role, you will assume responsibility for the overall success of Public Health and Social Care and will work closely with the Head of the School of Allied Health and Social Care and others in the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care. You will contribute to the wider leadership of the College and University to ensure that corporate and strategic aims are met. 

As Head of Discipline (PHSC), you will have devolved responsibility from the Head of School for the line management of staff and budget, providing strong leadership that is both supportive and challenging. You will work closely with the Programme Leaders and other colleagues to ensure teaching excellence and to maximise student success and experience. 

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Mel Lindley, Head of School and Allied Health and Social Care via [email protected].

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [email protected]

Principal accountabilities

Provide strong, inspiring, and collaborative leadership, create a positive team spirit, maximise people potential and engagement across the Discipline area and wider University, to foster a vibrant and innovative academic community.

Enhance the full range of academic activities in the Discipline area, including teaching and learning, impactful research, professional development, academic enterprise, and scholarly activity.

Undertake sector horizon scanning and benchmarking performance against competitors to enhance the strength and performance of the Discipline area.

Support and challenge staff to achieve excellent metrics and outcomes in TEF, REF, NSS, PRES and PTES and other key performance indicators.

Work closely with the leadership team to cultivate the academic development, review and teaching of course provision within the Discipline area.

Actively foster collaborative relationships with the Registry and professional support service colleagues to ensure the needs of the College are being supported.

To lead teams and activities and work closely with the wider leadership team to ensure a challenging and supported student experience which inspires them to achieve academically and in their career to their highest potential.

Take the lead in ensuring the professional accreditation of programmes is achieved in the Discipline area where appropriate.

Ensure the commitment to and development of academic enterprise, collaborative partnerships, and consultancy and commercial activities and manage these within staff workloads.

Promote and embed the University’s core values with specific emphasis on quality, employability, and social mobility.

Represent the Discipline area or School externally as necessary.

Actively contribute to the School Leadership Team to provide effective academic leadership.

Lead by example in ensuring staff work collegially in the College and engage with university-wide departments and activities to achieve College and University objectives.

Manage and support staff within the Discipline area with respect to academic workload planning, undertaking development and performance reviews, coaching, and mentoring as required.

Utilise management information to monitor achievement of objectives, setting clear performance targets and addressing issues of underperformance in an objective and supportive manner when necessary.

Work proactively with the Head of School to ensure the effective planning and management of resources within an agreed budget and engage with College planning and budgeting.

Engage in UK and International student recruitment activities by, working effectively with recruitment & marketing colleagues and course leaders to develop the profile of the Discipline (s), including its promotion through marketing and the media.

Ensure all new staff in the Discipline area receive comprehensive and effective induction and support during their probationary period.

Manage staff in ways consistent with the University’s core values and behaviours.

Ensure that staff in the Discipline area engage with staff development opportunities to gain and continuously enhance their skills and contribution, leading by example.

Ensure compliance with institutional performance expectations within the HE sector, including regulatory requirement of e.g. the OFS, Designated Quality Body, Competition and Market Authority, and other Professional or Regulatory standards and agencies.

Proactively support colleagues to maintain and enhance quality assurance standards and the reputation for excellence in teaching of the Discipline area.

Proactively support portfolio and curriculum development/ review for the Discipline area, ensuring curriculum content and delivery is both academically excellent and inspiring, as well as sustainable in resource terms.

Actively participate in College and University Committees as appropriate.

For full details, please see the attached Job Description

Person specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications

• Academic/professional qualifications (at a minimum of a postgraduate level) and substantial experience in discipline area
• Registered with a professional regulator HCPC, NMC or SWE as examples.
• Hold or commit to working towards a PhD/Professional Doctorate or alternatively demonstrate equivalent standing in professional practice or expertise
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (to be achieved within 3 years of commencement date in post)

Experience

• Leadership experience within an academic context; line managing large teams
• Significant teaching experience in HE
• A comprehensive understanding of external HE sector and current issues
• A strong commitment to the institutional mission and strategic objectives
• Current personal scholarship and research in a relevant field of endeavor.  
• Extensive curriculum development experience in a relevant area
• Substantial experience of quality systems and quality assurance and improvement

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Understand the importance of setting and meeting stretching targets and objectives relating to organisational aims and performance indicators.                       
• Demonstrable skills in academic leadership and management with proven ability to deliver through people
• Strong business / commercial acumen to identify opportunities for growth potential,  and the ability to generate income, including via 3rd stream income with industry, manage budgets and interpret financial information for good financial stability
• Ability to develop impactful research profile and external academic enterprise activities for self and others
• Proven ability to foster effective communication and collaborative working within a School
• A commitment to demonstrate and promote the University core values
• Flexible and adaptable, demonstrating good time management/planning skills and commitment to meeting deadlines        

Business requirements

• Contribute to the wider leadership of the School and College
• Ability to travel abroad for business
• Availability to work, when necessary, at weekends and during the evenings to attend Open Days and other University activities in other external activities
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Completed Enhanced DBS with Barred Check                                       

Desirable Criteria
Qualifications

• Professional practice or industrial experience in a relevant area
• Professional qualification relevant to the Discipline Area

Benefits

As well as competitive pay scales, we offer generous holiday entitlement. We also offer opportunities for further salary progression based on performance, and the opportunity to join a contributory pension scheme.

Find out more about pay and rewardsFind out more about pay and rewards

How to apply

You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.

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• Advice on completing your applicationAdvice on completing your application

If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at [email protected] .

Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.

Important information

This role is eligible for sponsorship by the University, however, your individual circumstances must meet the criteria set out by UKVI ; this includes meeting the English Language requirement and earning a salary that meets the highest of either the going rate for the SOC code or the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£38,700 per annum).

If the role is eligible, but the offered salary is less that the going rate for the role, you may still be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa if:

• Your job is on the Immigration Skills List

• You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training

• You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job

• You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

Please note that the University cannot confirm your eligibility for sponsorship until an offer is made and your individual circumstances have been considered.

For more information, visit Applying from Overseas .

DBS check

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and is therefore subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.

To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.

What is Adaptive Working?

Adaptive working is about enabling a high-performing, flexible, and responsive work culture where the place, time, and manner of working are tailored to the specific work activity. This approach ensures that the working environment, including both physical and social surroundings, supports employees to perform at their best and meet the university's evolving needs.

In addition, adaptive working involves intentionally designing workspaces to support a range of activities and disciplines, providing the right environment for meaningful in-person connections and effective collaboration. This includes ensuring that employees have access to the necessary equipment and resources from their first day at the university.

Adaptive working encompasses different modes of working such as site-based, remote or hybrid working. It is a broad framework within which all staff can operate effectively according to their role.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion. However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.

A university that celebrates youA university that celebrates you

Further details

Download Head of Discipline for Public Health and Social Care job descriptionDownload Head of Discipline for Public Health and Social Care job description

Why join Derby?

Challenging, interesting and constantly changing, the University of Derby is an extraordinary place to learn and an incredibly rewarding place to work.

Find out more about working at the UniversityFind out more about working at the University

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.