Portering Shift Manager

Blmk Icb; Luton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Portering Shift Manager to lead a busy portering team at the Luton site. The role is full-time, 37.5 hours per week, with shift patterns discussed at interview.

You will coordinate patient movement, equipment and sample transport, ensuring efficient, courteous service and support across hospital departments. A proactive manager will drive rosters, staff development and adherence to infection control standards.

Qualifications

• Basic health and safety training.

Responsibilities

• Ensure Portering services run smoothly and efficiently.
• Liaise with Portering Manager and staff.
• Prepare rotas and allocate staff; conduct appraisals and training.
• Oversee recruitment and supervise the Portering workforce.
• Promote high standards of performance and infection control.

Skills

People Management

Delegation

Forward Planning

Staff Rotas

Budgetary Awareness

Job description

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Portering Shift Manager

The closing date is 28 October 2026

We are excited to offer a full-time opportunity of 37.5 hours per week for a dedicated Portering Shift Manager to join our Portering team at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, based at the Luton site. Shift patterns and rotas will be discussed during the interview stage to ensure the best fit for both you and the service.

As a key member of our team, you will play an essential role in keeping the department running smoothly. This position involves leading, supporting, and supervising our hardworking Portering colleagues as they carry out a wide variety of duties that contribute to the safe, efficient, and compassionate care provided across the hospital. Your leadership will help ensure that patients, visitors, and staff all receive a consistently high-quality service.

This is a lively and physically active role that brings real reward and satisfaction. You will be joining a committed and professional Portering team who take pride in the important work they do each day. Together, you will help maintain a service we are truly proud of, making a positive impact on patient experience and the wider hospital community.

Sponsorship is not available for this vacancy

Main duties of the job

You will work as part of a team contributing to the smooth running of the service, providing an efficient and effective response to request for a patient movement, assistance in emergency situations, collection and delivery of samples and medicines etc. Whilst many of the tasks are generally routine the daily functioning of the service many be unpredictable therefore a flexible approach is essential, and the post holder will be expected to use own initiative.

As a Portering Shift Manager you must be mobile and liaise and communicate with the Portering Manager, portering colleagues, and other departments.

You will be involved in the completion of staff rotas using the Healthroster system, carry out staff appraisals and training whilst supervising the Portering workforce including delegation of work and prioritise.

The Portering Shift Manager is a very important element of the department, and you will work alongside your team, leading by example, always acting in a manner that upholds the Trust's values and working as part of a team to ensure efficiency and an excellent patient pathway experience.

You will be required, to adhere to departmental and Trust standards in relation to Infection Control and Information Governance.

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.

Our values

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 familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job

Job responsibilities

He/she is responsible for ensuring that the Portering services are run smoothly and efficiently, liaising as necessary with the Porter Manager and other Managers.

Communicate verbally with Portering Manager and staff by phone, radio and through written procedures, ensuring an effective exchange of information regarding Portering tasks and service needs.

Ensuring prompt, efficient and courteous fulfilment of its commitments.

To communicate with a range of clinical and non-clinical staff, patients and visitors.

To deal with ad hoc requests from Managers for all the above services providing on the spot advice and support as necessary.

Carry out staff appraisals, training, team briefs and Return to Work interviews. Update appraisal plan, appraisal register and Training needs analysis

To prepare rotas and allocate staff in liaison with the Portering Manager. To have interviewing skills & to help in the recruitment of new staff.

To check and verify time sheets and maintain records of sickness, leave, financial payments, completes timesheets for pay; authorises overtime etc. for appropriate staff in liaison with their Line Managers requirements.

To ensure supervision and discipline of Portering services staff is maintained.

To ensure any necessary practical training of Portering services staff is undertaken/arranged.

To ensure the Trust abides by its obligations in relation to Health and Safety and Fire Regulations.

To ensure that the switchboard is manned in accordance with the guidance given by the switchboard Supervisor, covering the switchboard duties as required.

To promote and maintain high standards of performance in Portering services.

To organise the work of the out-of-hours non-clinical services as required ensuring an effective service.

To carry a bleep and radio arrange for all urgent requests and emergencies to be dealt with quickly, efficiently and effectively.

To be on call as necessary to ensure the effective running of non-clinical services.

Undertake out-of-hours mortuary viewings & bodies releases.

You may be required to undertake such other duties commensurate with your grade, as may be reasonably required of you, subject to the operational needs of the Trust.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Basic health and safety training

Experience

• Experience in dealing with the public/customer care
• Capable of working on own initiative
• Must have previous management/supervisory experience
• Use of Hospital/Portering Equipment
• Experience within a Healthcare setting.
• Managed in a healthcare environment previously
• Experience of Infection Control

Knowledge

• Understanding of the need of confidentiality awareness at all times.
• Basic Understanding of People.

Skills

• People-Management
• Delegation
• Forward Planning
• Prepare rotas and allocating Staff
• Work within budgetary confinements

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