Assistant Service Manager

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Bedford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A health services provider in Bedford is seeking an Assistant Service Manager to support the trauma and orthopaedic department. This role involves overseeing management and clinical teams, ensuring department smoothness, and managing administrative staff. Ideal candidates will have a degree or equivalent experience, staff management experience, and a commitment to quality patient services. The position requires flexibility and strong leadership skills, along with a knowledge of medical administrative tools.

Benefits

Access to training and development

Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Qualifications

• Experience of staff supervision and management.
• Knowledge of budget management.
• Experience in an acute NHS Trust.

Responsibilities

• Support the Service Manager with outpatient clinics and theatre lists.
• Manage day-to-day administration.
• Problem-solve management issues as they arise.
• Monitor performance against service targets.

Skills

Leadership and influencing skills

High level of verbal and written skills

Work organization

Flexibility

Education

Educated to degree level or equivalent

Management courses

Tools

Health Roster

iPM

ICE

Viper

MediViewer

Job description

Assistant Service Manager

The closing date is 05 January 2026

An exciting opportunity has become available for a motivated and enthusiastic Assistant Service Manager to join our dynamic Trauma & Orthopaedic Department at Bedford Hospital. This is a busy, fast‑paced environment where you'll play a key role in supporting the delivery of high‑quality services and contributing to the smooth running of the department.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for undertaking a broad range of duties to support both the management and clinical teams, providing input at a strategic level as well as on day‑to‑day operations. They will play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of the administration offices, working independently and leading the department in meeting its daily administrative and business demands.

In addition, the post holder will contribute to ensuring that the service consistently meets all performance requirements, including quality standards and activity targets. They will assist with the close monitoring of performance and escalating any potential risks to the delivery of key measures, such as the 18‑week wait target. The role also includes managing the team of secretarial and administrative staff within the service, while providing ongoing support to managers, medical staff, and nursing staff across the department.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high‑performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.

Job responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities.

Provide support to the Service Manager in overseeing various aspects of the service, including the arrangement of outpatient clinics and theatre lists.

Ensure the smooth running of the department by managing day‑to‑day administration and, with appropriate training and supervision, exercising delegated responsibility to make operational decisions when required.

Proactively problem‑solve daily management issues, organising and reallocating work as necessary to respond to changes in workload or staffing availability.

Establish and maintain effective processes and procedures to monitor and track performance against agreed service targets.

Act with delegated authority on behalf of the Service Manager to resolve operational management issues within the service.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level, or evidence of equivalent knowledge and experience
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Management courses

Experience

• Experience of staff supervision and staff management
• Knowledge of budget management issues
• Experience of managing the delivery of an effective service
• Experience of working in an acute NHS Trust
• Evidence of introducing and supporting change processes
• Experience of managing doctors rota
• Evidence of establishing, maintaining and consolidating effective working relationships with clinicians

Knowledge

• Leadership and influencing skills
• High level of verbal and written skills
• RTT Pathways
• Proficiency in use of Health Roster, iPM, ICE, Viper and MediViewer

Personal Skills

• Ability to work flexibly according to service demands.
• High level or work organisation, self‑motivation drive for performance and improvement
• Strong sense of commitment to openness, honesty and integrity

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust