Think Western Isles. Think Wellbeing – NHS Leadership vacancies

Western Isles NHS Board is taking steps to promote the benefits of living and working in Outer Hebrides, in its new recruitment drive for Executive Directors.  

NHS Western Isles is advertising for three new Executive Directors: A Nurse/AHP Director and Chief Operating Officer, a Director of Public Health and a Director of Human Resources.  

We are looking for senior leaders with a passion for remote and rural healthcare, who want to join an award-winning organisation with a caring workplace culture, for a healthier work-life balance. In addition they'll receive up to £8,000 tax-free relocation expenses and Distant Islands Allowance.  

The successful individuals will have the chance to develop their skills and confidence within a supportive team, with the remote island location providing a very special extra sense of reward.   

For those with young families, the Western Isles also offer a safe place to live, a high quality education system, with low levels of crime.   

NHS Western Isles Chief Executive, Gordon Jamieson, said: “What is particularly exciting in relation to this current recruitment drive, is that applicants will have the opportunity to become part of the development of a new senior management team and will play key roles in leading service development and innovation, whilst also benefiting from the support to develop skills and confidence from staff currently in post. The remote island location provides a very special extra sense of reward and job satisfaction, as well as a better work-life balance.   

“We are keen to be as self sufficient as we can safely be, to provide what services we can on-island for our local population. As a current example, we are currently planning for a new MRI scanner to be based in Stornoway in the near future. This is down to the commitment of the staff we have, who are given the confidence and opportunity to get involved in developing and shaping service improvements. The leaders in our organisation are central to encouraging and promoting that positive and motivational behaviour.”  

Like other Health Boards and Trusts across the UK, NHS Western Isles has faced increasing challenges in recruitment across a wide range of staff groups.  

Remote and rural island Health Boards, including the Western Isles, are competing for staff with major urban Boards, which often appear to be more appealing to potential applicants. However, in its current campaign to recruit three new senior leaders, NHS Western Isles is highlighting why a move to the Western Isles is the right choice for Wellbeing, for individuals who want to escape the rat race for a healthier work-life balance and embrace a wide range of development opportunities for improved job satisfaction.        

Known as Scotland’s Atlantic Islands, the Western Isles are steeped in history and culture, with stunning landscapes, spectacular coastlines, a strong sense of community and identity, and renowned Hebridean hospitality.    

Whilst the stunning landscapes and famous sparkling beaches are undoubtedly strong selling points, NHS Western Isles wants to take a step back from the tourist draws and promote the Western Isles as a place to live and work, not just to visit.      

The Western Isles also have excellent sports facilities, with sports centres across the islands, and an enviable local authority membership scheme for residents. Stornoway boasts a state of the art sports facility with a fully equipped gym, spa, dance studio, climbing wall and swimming pool; whilst the smaller facility in the North-West of Lewis in Ness also offers the additional features of a ten-pin bowling facility and soft play area for kids.     

Outdoors, there are numerous sporting opportunities, from water sports such as kayaking, surfing and paddleboarding; to climbing, excellent walks, golf, rugby, bowling and football to name a few. Add to that the multi-arts venue on the Stornoway seafront (with cinema, theatre, art gallery and concert hall) and the numerous clubs and opportunities for young people, including arts, drama, dance, karate, scouting, kickboxing, and gymnastics, together with a high quality education, and you have an ideal place to raise a family.     

Contrary to misconceptions about a small and basic health system, NHS Western Isles regularly leads the way in healthcare innovation, with a number of ‘firsts’ for Scotland achieved, and taking the use of technology to advanced levels to improve care and treatment for residents in a remote island location. Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway is a well equipped 97-bed Rural General Hospital Plus, which deals with all types of emergencies, and with a wide range of specialist services provided on-island. Our staff and teams, many of which are award-winning for their innovation and developments, are truly second to none and are given the freedom by NHS Western Isles to innovate and use creative solutions to address the challenges of providing care on an island.     

Mr Jamieson added: “It’s important that we clarify misconceptions about the Western Isles for anyone thinking about a career move. We’re remote, but we’re accessible and we have great networks. Yes, we have smaller teams, but our teams are supportive, motivated and empowered to make a difference. Yes, we’re small, but we’re ambitious. Yes, there are limitations in terms of what we can do on-island, but we’re innovative, creative and forward thinking, which leads to a high sense of job satisfaction.     

“It’s true we have unrivalled beaches and landscapes to offer, but we have so much more of a story to tell, and so many more reasons to make this a place to live and work, not just to visit.”    

The posts are currently advertised on the NHS Western Isles website at www.wihb.scot.nhs.uk/vacancies/