Senior Portering Shift Manager

NHS; Luton; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Luton is seeking a motivated Senior Portering Shift Manager to oversee the efficient portering service. In this role, you will lead a dedicated team, ensuring high performance and adherence to standards, while managing staff rotas and providing training. Strong experience in a healthcare environment and excellent communication skills are essential. This is a vital position that supports patient services and contributes to the well-being of staff and patients alike.

Qualifications

• Understanding the need for confidential awareness.
• Experience in a healthcare setting is essential.
• Previously managed in a healthcare setting.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the Portering service runs smoothly and efficiently.
• Communicate with clinical and non-clinical staff, patients, and visitors.
• Carry out staff appraisals and training for the Portering team.
• Prepare rotas and allocate staff in liaison with the Portering Manager.

Skills

Delegation

Forward planning

Customer care

Infection control

Job description

The closing date is 29 December 2025. 37.5 hours per week, rota and shift patterns will be discussed at interview. The role is for a Senior Portering Shift Manager at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Luton Site. The position involves working as a senior team leader, directing, supporting, and supervising Portering colleagues to provide an efficient service to patients, visitors, and colleagues. This is a busy, active and fulfilling role as part of a dedicated and professional Portering team.

Job Summary

37.5 hours per week, rota and shift patterns to be discussed at interview. We are looking for a motivated, enthusiastic, and hardworking Senior Portering Shift Manager to join our Portering team here at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust at Luton Site. You will work as part of and a senior team leader contributing to the efficient running of the department. You will direct, support, and supervise Portering colleagues to undertake a range of duties to support the delivery of an efficient and effective service to patients, visitors, and colleagues. This is a busy, active and fulfilling role. You will join a dedicated and professional Portering team that works together to deliver a service that we are extremely proud of.

Main duties of the job

You will work as part of a team contributing to the efficient running of the service, responding to requests for patient transfers, assistance with emergency situations, the collection and delivery of samples and medicines etc. Whilst many of the tasks are routine the daily activities of the service may be unpredictable therefore flexibility and an ability to use your own initiative is essential to this post. As a Senior Portering Shift Manager you must be visible, dynamic and able to liaise and communicate with your team, colleagues, and other departments, and managing portering staff allocated to Departments. You will be required to complete staff rotas using "Healthroster", carry out staff appraisals and training whilst supervising the Portering team and delegate and prioritise their work. In addition provide coordinating support to Portering Shift Managers. The Senior Portering Shift Manager has an important role within the department, you will work alongside your team, leading by example, upholding the Trust's values to deliver an excellent patient 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 familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.

Job responsibilities

• You will be responsible for ensuring that the Portering service runs smoothly and efficiently, liaising as necessary with the Portering Manager and others.
• Communicate with the Portering Manager and other staff by phone, radio and written procedures, to exchange information regarding Portering tasks and service needs.
• Communicate with a range of clinical and non‑clinical staff, patients and visitors.
• Deal with ad hoc requests from Managers for all the above services providing advice and support as necessary.
• Carry out staff appraisals, training, team briefs and Return to Work interviews. Update the appraisal plan, appraisal register and training needs analysis.
• Prepare rotas and allocate staff in liaison with the Portering Manager. Support the manager with the recruitment of new staff.
• Check and verify timesheets and maintain records of sickness, leave, financial payments, complete timesheets for pay; authorise overtime etc. for appropriate staff in liaison with Line Managers requirements.
• Supervise and implement the relevant HR policies Portering Services staff as required.
• Ensure the relevant practical training of the Portering Team is undertaken/arranged.
• Ensure the Trust abides by its obligations in relation to Health and Safety and Fire Regulations.
• Ensure that the night time switchboard is manned in accordance with the guidance given by the switchboard Supervisor, covering the night time switchboard operator duties as required.
• Promote and maintain high standards of performance in Portering services.
• Organise the work of the out‑of‑hours non‑clinical services as required ensuring an effective service.
• Carry trust communication devices and arrange for all urgent requests and emergencies to be dealt with quickly, efficiently and effectively.
• Be contactable as necessary to ensure the effective running of non‑clinical services.
• Undertake out‑of‑hours mortuary viewings & deceased patient releases.
• Undertake such other duties commensurate with your grade, as may be reasonably required of you, subject to the operational needs of the Trust.
• Deputise for Portering services manager as required, working different shifts and covering annual leave.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Understanding the need for confidential awareness
• Basic understanding of people
• Experience in a healthcare setting
• Previously managed in a healthcare setting
• Experience of infection control

Experience

• Dealing with public/customer care
• Working on own initiative
• Previous management / supervisory experience

Skills

• Delegation
• Forward planning
• Work within budget

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