Support Services Manager | Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare trust is looking for a manager for their Domestic Services Department. The role involves ensuring that the services adhere to NHS standards for cleanliness and maintaining effective communication with clinical teams. Key responsibilities include managing compliance standards, budgeting, and staff training. Additionally, the selected candidate will lead initiatives for improving service delivery across hospital sites, contributing to a culture committed to high-quality patient care and staff wellbeing.

Benefits

Access to professional development

Inclusive workplace culture

Competitive salary

Qualifications

• Strong leadership skills to manage staff and services effectively.
• Ability to manage departmental compliance with NHS standards.
• Proficiency in planning and prioritizing tasks.

Responsibilities

• Manage departmental risk, compliance, and budget allocation.
• Develop relationships with clinical service providers.
• Ensure cleanliness standards are maintained in hospital.

Skills

Leadership

Risk Management

Communication

Training and Development

Education

Experience in healthcare environment

Relevant management qualification

Job description

Job Overview

To directly manage the Domestic Services Department and ensure the delivery of this service is in accordance with NHS National Standards for Cleanliness. Work in collaboration with other Directorates and all other providers with regards to compliant service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Manage departmental risk, compliance standards, service delivery and budget allocation for the Domestic Services Department.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all other clinical service providers and internal service users.
• Work closely with the Control of Infection Team to ensure standards of cleanliness are constantly maintained throughout the hospital.
• Establish appropriate methods of communication to staff and ensure staff are regularly informed on Trust developments.
• Cohesively plan, implement, evaluate and target staff training to meet the needs of the service, ensuring all mandatory training is attained.
• Organise and carry out annual staff appraisals to include personal development plans; ensure staff have clear and consistent development objectives within the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF).
• Set appropriate yearly objectives for section managers.
• Ensure the on‑going operational organisation and service delivery of a range of services across the Bedford Hospital site.
• Work closely with the Luton & Dunstable Facilities Team to ensure services meet required CQC, NHS legal and locally agreed service standards.
• Ensure adequate and appropriate levels of staff are in place to provide agreed services to all wards and departments, analysing staffing levels and hospital requirements and managing rotas to cover annual leave or sickness.
• Line‑manage the Deputy Support Services Manager, Accommodation Manager and the Portering & Waste Manager and all associated services.
• Work in close association with the Directorate’s Financial Management Accountant to ensure sound financial management, effective communication and financial reporting, including presenting new initiatives that may reduce current costs.
• Act as an exemplary role model to all staff within the Directorate, demonstrating the Trust values at all times; work with direct reports to ensure authentic, compassionate, visible leadership is delivered at all levels.
• Analyse the performance of all activities carried out by the department to identify areas for potential improvement and develop revised working arrangements, systems and procedures.
• Contribute to the Business planning process for facilities, ensuring progress is maintained and improvement made.
• Participate in Trust‑wide Project Group(s) as and when required.
• Plan and coordinate the PLACE programme in conjunction with the PLACE lead and Clinical Teams, ensuring the delivery of the full assessment within specified deadlines.
• Able to plan and prioritise Support Services environmental projects and more complex day‑to‑day tasks, including liaising with users, contractors, specialist agencies and project management.
• Able to write clearly, use computer software to produce and compile reports with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Plan, manage and prioritise own workload.
• Establish, develop, manage and review systems to manage the delivery of the very complex contracts to include quality, quantity and cost, incorporating customer satisfaction feedback where appropriate. Monitor service standards in relation to professional field.
• Chair/lead relevant meetings/groups, produce minutes with action plans for all work and activity associated with this role.
• Responsible for Linen Contract and managing it effectively; liaise with teams and follow up escalation processes.

About the Trust

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.

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.

Important Information

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 the 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.

Closing Date

This advert closes on Friday 12 Dec 2025.