Service Manager - Quality, Safety & Governance

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals; Preston; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Service Manager for Quality, Safety & Governance at the Specialist Mobility Rehabilitation Centre (SMRC) in Preston. You will provide strategic leadership for quality governance, safety, and regulatory compliance, guiding risk management and service improvements across the organisation.

The role requires extensive experience in healthcare quality, governance, and incident investigation, with strong communication and cross-team

Qualifications

• Experience in healthcare quality, governance or regulatory compliance management.
• Experience with ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.
• Experience in patient safety and incident investigation.
• Experience in managing budgets and governance frameworks.
• Strong leadership and staff management in hospital settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead quality governance and assurance activities across the service.
• Maintain ISO 9001 compliance and policies.
• Oversee audits and regulatory inspections.
• Manage risk, incidents, complaints and service improvements.
• Provide leadership for continuous service improvement.

Skills

Quality governance

ISO 9001

Risk management

Leadership

Audit

Regulatory compliance

Education

Degree or equivalent

NEBOSH General Certificate

Job description

We hope to be welcoming you to the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals team soon; we've shown you exactly why we're 'a great place to work', now it's time to see for yourself! Have a look at our current vacancies down below and make the first step to starting a fantastic new career. Need help with your NHS application? We've got you covered! Our brand-new step-by-step NHS Application Help Video will guide you through the process, making it easier, faster, and stress-free to apply. Additionally, you can check out our helpful Application Guide as well!

You can also look at our recruitment flipbook , an interactive brochure showcasing various entry-level roles. It includes a fun quiz to help you find the right role and links to more information about our hospitals and our fantastic staff.

Corporate Services Roles

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Service Manager - Quality, Safety & Governance

Band 6

Main area Specialist Mobility & rehabilitation Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday) Job ref 438-PB4826

Site Specialist Mobility Rehabilitation Centre Town Preston Salary £39,959 - £48,117 Per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 27/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Service Manager with responsibility for Quality, Safety & Governance to join the Specialist Mobility Rehabilitation Centre (SMRC) at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

We are seeking a highly organised, proactive and resilient leader with experience of ISO9000 quality systems management, clinical governance, regulatory compliance, audit, risk management and service improvement within a healthcare setting. The successful candidate will possess excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to work across professional boundaries to drive quality, safety and continuous improvement.

This is an excellent opportunity for an individual with significant experience in healthcare quality, governance, service management, and continuous improvement who is passionate about delivering high-quality services and maintaining excellence in patient care.

Main duties of the job

You will provide strategic and operational leadership for quality governance, all aspects of health & safety, including patient safety, risk management, service improvement, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance across all services delivered by the SMRC. Working closely with clinical and operational teams, the successful candidate will lead the development and maintenance of robust governance systems that support the delivery of safe, effective, and patient-centred care.

The role has responsibility for overseeing the service's Quality Management System, including maintenance of ISO 9001 accreditation, ensuring compliance with national standards, Trust policies, contractual requirements, and regulatory frameworks. You will coordinate internal and external audits, manage quality improvement programmes, oversee incident and complaint management processes, and ensure that lessons learned are translated into meaningful service improvements.

In addition, you will have shared responsibility for leading a team of administrative colleagues.

This role is integral to maintaining the high standards of care, governance and quality assurance that underpin the Specialist Mobility Rehabilitation Centre's services and reputation.

Working for our organisation

Preston SpecialistMobility Rehabilitation Centre (SMRC) is part of the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The SMRC is a regional Centre, providing Prosthetic, Orthotic, Wheelchair and Specialist Seating services throughout Lancashire, South Cumbria and beyond.

We are one of 9 centres that were awarded Specialist War Veteran Centre status with the associated Specialist facilities (e.g. high specification rehabilitation exercise area).

The Centre has a truly multidisciplinary team including; Consultant in Amputee Rehabilitation, Prosthetists, Prosthetic Technicians, Orthotists, Psychologist, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Assistant Practitioners, Physical Training Instructors, Rehabilitation Engineers and Administration Teams.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Lead quality governance and assurance activities across the service.
• Maintain compliance with ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System standards.
• Oversee internal and external audit programmes and regulatory inspections.
• Manage risk, incidents, complaints, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Support compliance with CQC standards and NHS governance requirements.
• Monitor and report on quality performance indicators and service outcomes.
• Ensure effective document control and policy management.
• Provide leadership for continuous service improvement and change management.
• Work collaboratively with clinical teams to support safe and effective patient care.
• Provide assurance and advice to senior leaders regarding quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.

Person specification

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience of working within an administrative or operational role within a busy hospital setting
• Leadership and staff management experience.
• Experience of managing NHS policies and national targets
• Experience in quality, governance or regulatory compliance management
• Experience of ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.
• Experience in patient safety and incident investigation.
• Knowledge of audit and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience conducting risk assessments and health and safety audits.
• Experience in managing complaints and patient experience programmes.
• Experience of managing a budget working with planned expenditures
• Evidence of strong working relationships with multi-disciplinary teams
• Experience of MHRA compliance and medical device management.
• Experience of developing policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
• Knowledge of lone worker safety requirements.
• Ability to facilitate meetings and group discussions
• Ability to support financial budget setting

Qualifications & Education

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification or experience in healthcare, quality management, risk management, governance, health and safety or related field.
• Evidence of commitment to ongoing learning and professional development
• Health and Safety qualification (NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent).

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership, neurodiversity or veteran status are encouraged to apply for this post. Our Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders is available Here

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. There is also a risk that it can generate false or misleading information.

AI-generated job applications can often be generic, impersonal and may not accurately reflect your qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting information section is not advocated by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.

We have added a disclaimer to our application process advising that the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Supporting Information

The supporting information section is an opportunity for you to showcase how your qualifications, knowledge, skill and experiences align with the requirements and criteria outlined in the job description and person.

Our recruiting managers score applications based on the criteria listed in the person specification. They will be looking for evidence of how you meet these criteria. To increase your chances of securing an interview, provide examples of how you have applied your skills and knowledge in real-life situations. Share work-related successes and challenges you’ve navigated that align with the criteria. These could be from various aspects of your life, including work, education, and personal experiences.

Consider structuring your supporting information section with clear headings or bullet points. This approach will help both you and the recruiting manager navigate through your application more effectively.

Working Smarter pledge

We are reminded everyday of how important life is, so as part of our Working Smarter pledge we offer a variety of flexible working options and wellbeing support to enable our people to find and maintain the right work-life balance.

Secondments

If you are applying for a secondment role please ensure you have agreement from your current line manager prior to attending an interview. Also please ensure you have read the LTHTR Secondment Policy. A copy of this can be found on the intranet or by contacting [e-mail]

Please note a young person must be in part-time education or training until they’re 18. therefore if you are under 18 we are unable to employ you on a full time basis, unless it is in an apprenticeship role.

Disclosure and Barring Service checks

If the role you’ve applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this on your behalf and the cost will be recovered from your salary, either as a one-off payment, or over 3 months. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £26.40 Standard DBS check £26.40 and Enhanced DBS check £54.40. You should be aware that if you are successful in obtaining a position that requires a DBS check but later withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here .

In line with guidance from United Kingdom Health Security Agency, all staff and volunteers are required to comply with Trust Infection Prevention and Control processes in relation to safe working. This includes mask wearing and adherence to social distancing at all Trust sites.

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The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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