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About
NHS England leads the NHS in England to deliver high quality care for all. We support NHS organisations to deliver better outcomes for our patients and communities, work to get the best possible value for taxpayers, and drive improvement across the NHS.
Through our seven regional teams, NHS England supports local integrated care systems, made up of public services that provide health and care – NHS organisations, primary care professionals, local councils, social care providers and the community, voluntary and social enterprise sector – to improve the health of the population, improve the quality of care, tackle inequalities and deliver care more efficiently.
Contact
- Address
- Wellington House
- 133-155 Waterloo Road
- London
- SE1 8UG
- Contact Number
- 0300 330 1369
Academic Training Programme Director - Thames Valley
Closed for applications on: 16-Sept-2025 00:01
Vacancy status: Closed
Closed for applications on: 16-Sept-2025 00:01
Key details
Location
- Site
- Premier House
- Address
- 60 Caversham Road
- Town
- Reading
- Postcode
- RG1 7EB
- Major / Minor Region
- West Yorkshire
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Secondment: 15 months (Until 31st October 2026)
- Hours
- Part time - 0.5 session per week (2 hours per week)
Salary
- Grade
- NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
Specialty
- Main area
- Academic
Our Organisation
The NHS is building a culture that is positive, compassionate and inclusive – and we all have our part to play.
As employers we are committed to protecting and promoting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all our colleagues. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution and supports us to be an Employer of Choice, while helping our colleagues to deliver high quality services for our patients and communities.
As a flexible employer, we want to support you to work in a way that is best for the NHS, our patients and you. Talk to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time, hybrid working or another flexible pattern. In addition, although the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
We are an accredited Living Wage Employer which means that every colleague working for our organisation and third-party contractors will earn a real Living Wage. We are one of over 15,000 organisations, who voluntarily chose to pay the real Living Wage.
Job overview
Background
Oxford University Clinical Academic Graduate School (OUCAGS) is also the Academic School of NHS England Thames Valley (NHSE-TV, or the ‘Oxford Deanery’). It was established in 2009 as a partnership between Oxford University, Oxford Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education (PGMDE) Deanery, NHS Education South Central and the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust to integrate clinical and academic training on the new Integrated Academic Training pathway that was emerging. Since this time, many clinical academic doctors have benefitted from the integrated approach taken in Oxford and the Thames Valley training programmes despite the considerable changes to the organisations involved.
Advert
Summary of Role
The Academic Training Programme Director (ATPD) post offers an important, varied and rewarding role within OUCAGS (www.oucags.ox.ac.uk) and is vital in helping to select, support, develop and mentor academic trainees.
ATPDs act as named mentors either to (i) SFP doctors OR (ii) Academic Clinical Fellows (ACFs) and Clinical Lecturers (CLs) in a range of specialties. We anticipate appointing up to two individuals to join our existing team, supporting SFP doctors in the first instance. Each individual would work an average of 0.5 EMC (2hrs) weekly.
ATPD post-holders work closely with, and are accountable to, the Head of School, Deputy Head of School and Postgraduate Dean. In addition, SFP ATPDs consult with the Oxford Foundation School Director as/when necessary. As for all NHSE-TV officers, post holders are required to adhere to the processes under
which NHSE-TV operates and fulfil NHSE-TV requirements. OUCAGS has a small administrative team which supports the School and the ATPD activities.
Appraisal and reappointment
Each post holder will have an annual OUCAGS appraisal with the Head of School. The appointment will be for a period of 3 years in the first instance, with the possibility of a 2-year extension before re-application.
Training will be offered in aspects of the role with which the appointee is not familiar.
Working for our organisation
The NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by:
Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values, and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
Delivering value for money.
If you would like to know more or require further information, please visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.
If you are successful at interview, we will run an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) in the Electronic Staff Record system (ESR). This transfer gathers valuable information from a previous or current NHS employer to support the onboarding process, including; statutory and mandatory competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You will have the opportunity throughout the recruitment process to inform us if you do not consent.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please note: The post is offered on a secondment basis and all candidates are reminded that if they are successful, they are responsible for securing written agreement from their Trust/Practice for release from clinical work for the specified number of PAs/sessions.
NHSE is expected to cease as a separate entity on 31st October 2026 with the merger into DHSC, therefore extensions and new appointments can only be guaranteed up until this date. We anticipate educator roles being required beyond this point and further arrangements to be made once the new structure becomes clearer. We recognise this will create some uncertainty and will do our best to keep any potentially impacted informed of future plans as they come available.
You can find further details about the job, organisational structure, recruitment profile, expected outcomes and benefits information in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Secondments
Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, Agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.
If you like what you have read and think you have the skills and experience, we need then don't delay, apply today! We get lots of applications for our roles and so we sometimes have to close our posts early. Don't miss out!
Our commitments to you
We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better patient outcomes. We strive to ensure our people feel trusted, valued and empowered. We’re passionate about nurturing and developing people. When you join us, we want you to grow and excel, and we offer many opportunities for you to do that. We welcome your talent and enthusiasm irrespective of age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro-divergent.
We welcome applications from disabled candidates. If you meet all the essential criteria, you will be guaranteed an interview.
Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. Whilst we appreciate that you may have had support with your application (e.g., using AI technology or guidance from a trusted individual), it’s important that the information contained within your application reflects your own knowledge, skill, and experience and we trust that you apply on that basis.
If applying for this role on a secondment basis, please make sure you have obtained prior agreement from your current line manager to apply for this position.
Please note that we currently do not accept applications via recruitment agencies.
To comply with the HM Government Functional Standard GovS 007, and specifically the Personnel Security Standards 2024, individuals employed or contracted by NHS England may be required to undergo a Baseline Personnel Security Standards check, dependent on the role.
The NHS Business Services Authority is responsible for the processing of your application; a privacy notice is attached to advise you on how we will process your personal data.
If you have applied via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred third-party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. If you are appointed to a post, information will also be transferred into the NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through NHS Jobs, and furthermore, as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any emails sent to us via NHS Jobs. If you have a query relating to your application, please contact the recruitment team on [email protected] or 0300 330 1369. You can view our Privacy Notice here.
NHS England
Applicant requirements
Person specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential criteria
- GMC Full Registration
- Either Consultant (including honorary/locum consultant) with a minimum of a 2 PA clinical contract or qualified GP with both clinical practice and academic sessions [In either case expecting to be in KSS for at least 3 years post-appointment]
- Research active with evidence of recent relevant research and publications.
- Higher degree (MD, PhD/DPhil)
- Proven organisational ability.
Desirable criteria
- Experience as an Educational Supervisor or in a senior clinical management role (e.g. lead clinician for a speciality)
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience as a Consultant/GP
Experience & Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Experience of clinical and educational leadership and innovation, including managing a multi-professional team
- Demonstrable track record of delivery of service and education
- Understanding of developments involving the relevant Colleges/Faculties, professional bodes related to NHS
- Trained and experienced in recruitment, selection and E&D in the last 3 years.
- Active involvement in and up to date with appraisal process
- Knowledge of the NHS, its structures and processes, including an understanding of healthcare/multi-professional workforce matters
- Knowledge of clinical academic career pathway and understanding of the integrated academic training pathway.
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Evidence of ability to work with other consultants and clinical academics
- Politically astute with an ability to sensitively manage complexity and uncertainty
- Ability to problem solve and maintain objectivity
- Strong interpersonal, communication, written and presentation skills
- Ability to quickly establish personal and professional credibility with colleagues and other key stakeholders
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of supporting trainers and trainees
- Evidence of successful delivery of training strategy/programmes
- Evidence of working with other specialities and professions
Behaviours and Values
Essential criteria
- Interest and enthusiasm for optimising the development of trainee clinical academics across primary and secondary care
- A collaborative transformation leadership style
- Approachable, sensitive, tolerant and able to accept criticism
- Perform all duties in a manner that supports and promotes NHSE-WTE commitment to equal opportunities
- Conduct all duties in a manner that safeguards the health and safety of yourself and your colleagues, trainees and staff. A continuing quest for personal and professional development.
Documents
- Job Description & Person Specification (PDF, 704.3KB)
- Occupational Functional Requirements Form (PDF, 69.8KB)
- NHSE - Verification of ID and RTW Guide (PDF, 306.6KB)
- Guide to Completing Your Application (DOCX, 42.7KB)
- Note for Existing NHS Employees applying for Fixed Term vacancies (DOCX, 26.2KB)
- Redundancy Clawback (PDF, 16.7KB)
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dominic Furniss
- Job title
- Academic Head of School
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
We encourage discussion about the role prior to application.
No longer accepting applications
Sorry, this vacancy is no longer accepting applications.
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