Guy’s and St Thomas’ is among the UK’s busiest and most successful NHS foundation trusts. We provide a full range of hospital and community services for people in south London and as well as specialist care for patients from further afield including cancer, renal, orthopaedic, respiratory and cardiovascular services. Guy’s is home to the largest dental school in Europe and a £160 million Cancer Centre opened in 2016. As part of our commitment to provide care closer to home, in 2017 we also opened a cancer centre and a kidney treatment centre at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup. St Thomas’ has one of the largest critical care units in the UK and one of the busiest emergency departments in London. It is also home to Evelina London Children’s Hospital. Evelina London cares for local children in Lambeth and Southwark and provides specialist services across south east England including cardiac, renal and critical care services. We lead a number of specialist service networks aiming to ensure children are treated locally where possible, but have access to specialist expertise when they need it. Our community services include health visiting, school nursing and support for families of children with long-term conditions. Our adult community services teams deliver care at the heart of the local communities we serve, working in partnership with GPs, local authorities and other healthcare and voluntary sector organisations. Working with our partners in Lambeth and Southwark, we are focusing on new ways of working to improve care for local patients. In February 2021 the Royal Brompton and Harefield joined Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, bringing together world-leading expertise in the care and research of heart and lung disease. Our merger provides a once in a generation opportunity to build a lasting, world-renowned heart and lung centre, providing the highest quality care for patients and conducting world-leading research. We have a reputation for clinical excellence and high quality teaching and research. We are part of King’s Health Partners, one of eight accredited UK academic health sciences centres. In partnership with King’s College London we have dedicated clinical research facilities including an MHRA accredited Phase I clinical trials unit. Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on ensuring the best possible patient experience as well as safe, high quality care. We are proud to have one of the lowest mortality rates in the NHS. Following a comprehensive Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in 2019 we maintained our overall rating of ‘good’. Our adult community services achieved a rating of ‘outstanding’. The commitment of our 23,500 staff is key to our success. We are one of the largest local employers and we aim to develop and support all our staff so they are able to deliver high quality, safe and efficient care. The 2019 NHS staff survey results show that we have one of the most engaged and motivated workforces in the NHS. We know this has a positive impact on the care provided to our patients. We have one of the most ambitious capital investment programmes anywhere in the NHS. Job overview The Service Manager role is a full time position, accountable to the Deputy General Manager. This position will be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of Paediatric Plastics, Ophthalmology and Cleft services. The position holder will line manage two assistant service managers and oversee the administrative team for the services, including medical secretaries, receptionists and pathway coordinators. They will work closely with the leadership team across the three services to deal with all operational issues as they arise. In writing your application: You will be expected to provide succinct and clearly referenced evidence which demonstrates that you fulfil the essential requirements for the position. We expect shortlisted candidates to contact us to make informal enquiries ahead of the interview to gain insights into the services. Main duties of the job Your role will be to work closely with the clinical leads and nursing leads to form the leadership triumvirate for Paediatric Ophthalmology, Plastics and Cleft. You will have line management, budgetary and performance responsibilities. You will lead on service improvement projects to raise quality and drive productivity while maintaining operational delivery. The role demands excellent prioritisation skills, problem-solving abilities and a collaborative approach to ensure the smooth and efficient running of these services. We are looking for someone to provide clear leadership and cohesion in these services and to work closely with clinicians, nurses, AHPs, managers and admin & clerical staff across the Children’s Surgical Services, Theatres and Anaesthesia Directorate (CSTA) and Evelina London more widely. It is a permanent, full time position, reporting to the Deputy General Manager and accountable to the General Manager. This is a demanding position, but an exciting one which will offer many opportunities for career progression. Working for our organisation The Evelina London Children’s Hospital is a purpose-built Children’s hospital opened in 2005, bringing together existing Children’s services at St Thomas’ and Guy’s Hospitals onto one site. As part of King’s Health Partners, we are now one of the UK’s first Academic Health Sciences Centres aiming to bring together world class teaching, research and clinical services. Evelina London Children’s Healthcare (ELCH) comprises four directorates of GSTT and, along with Women’s Services, functions as the Evelina London Women and Children’s Clinical Group under the umbrella of GSTT. This enables ELCH to provide dedicated children’s services and develop its own distinct identity whilst enjoying the support and shared assets of a very large, well-resourced trust. As part of King’s Health Partners, ELCH is now one of the UK’s Academic Health Sciences Centres, aiming to bring together world class teaching, research and clinical services. ELCH has over 150 in-patient beds plus a further 46 neonatal cots in the North Wing adjacent to maternity services, all based on the St Thomas’ Hospital site. As well as serving a local population of children living in the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark, the Evelina offers specialist care for children from across South-East England and further afield, including overseas. Detailed job description and main responsibilities Duties and Responsibilities Performance management: Exercise delegated authority on behalf of the General Manager / Heads of Service to resolve day-to-day management issues within the services that you support and across the surgical services as required. In conjunction with the directorate management team prepare and implement the annual business plan. In conjunction with the directorate management team and Head of Service identify, develop and manage service improvement projects; become part of specific project teams as appropriate designed to help deliver short, medium and long term improvements. Ensure effective processes and procedures are in place to monitor and track performance against the business plan and key performance indicators. Manage the collation, analysis and interpretation of data so that the service and directorate management team have access to timely and accurate information on all key performance indicators. Overall accountability for the administrative staff within your service. Work collaboratively with the other Service Managers in the Evelina to develop and oversee an administrative staff rota that ensures effective administration coverage across all services at all times. Take ownership for the resolution of operational issues arising within your services and work with the directorate management team to develop solutions to common service problems across the Evelina. Responsible for ensuring effective patient access pathway management, including 18 weeks pathway management, is in place to meet specified targets. Work with the directorate management team to develop staffing models to ensure the requisite clinical and administrative staff support is in place to maximise income potential for your services. Undertake any necessary service developments as required to make the service as profitable as possible. Maximise tariff payments for your services by understanding the capacity levels and ensuring peak staff efficiency at all times. Monitor activity performance against baseline/planned activity levels on contract monitoring reports. Work with the Head of Service to take steps to rectify any areas of under performance for your services. Support in the Head of Service in running regular performance review meetings. Undertake procurement as required. Ensure the facilities are fit for purpose with your services. Other duties as requested to support your services, Evelina London or wider trust initiatives. Risk & clinical governance: Manage the implementation of effective systems, control processes and risk management arrangements in your services and across the Evelina as required. Support the monitoring of compliance with internal and external governance and best practice requirements. Support conflict resolution from patients, staff, suppliers, other internal and external service providers and partner organisations. Take a lead role in investigating any complaints, PALS contacts or incidents arising in the services within your cluster in line with trust policies. Modify systems and practices in an effort to minimise future instances of these in your areas. Staff management: Managerially accountable for all administration and clerical (A&C) staff within your services. Set objectives and review performance of all Band 5 A&C staff, identifying individual training and development needs and promoting continuing personal and professional development. Support the Assistant Service Managers in dealing with complex personnel matters of more junior A&C staff. Manage sickness, disciplinary and performance issues in line with Trust policies. Recruit and induct A&C staff in line with Trust policies and procedures. Anticipate A&C staff shortages and take action to minimise the impact of these on administrative staff rota and service delivery across the Evelina. Financial management: Manage and monitor performance with the Head of Service so that the services meet their financial and operating targets. Play an active role in identifying savings initiatives and supporting the directorate management team in delivering these savings initiatives. In conjunction with the Head of Service and directorate management team contribute to the development of the directorate business plan. Manage the service budget with reference to the General Manger, ensuring that expenditure is within agreed limits and that the General Manager is informed of all issues. Ensure compliance with all relevant Trust policies and standing financial instructions. Strategy and service improvement: Participate in service, Directorate or trust wide programmes that contribute to the modernisation of patient services, including playing an active role in projects under the trust’s Fit for the Future Programme. Play an active role in definition and implementation of new systems and processes for the Evelina. Identify ways that service delivery models can be modified to deliver financial savings for the Evelina surgical services and manage the change through to successful completion. Contribute to the strategic development of your services. Support the introduction of the new IT solutions. Information Management: Ensure accurate and timely production of data to support your services as required. Lead on the development and testing of reports to ensure the availability of accurate activity statistics for your services. Support the improvement of systems for data collection, storage and dissemination. Provide training for staff within the services on information systems used to capture and report data for the service. R&D, teaching & training: Provide support in the development and implementation of R&D education and training programmes within the Services. Person specification Education and Qualifications Essential criteria Educated to degree level or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience. Evidence of continuing professional development Experience and Knowledge Essential criteria • Evidence of managing successful project and / or operational performance and improvement; including the development and monitoring of output and outcome measures. • Operational experience in managing specific services including design, development, implementation and management of change in a multi-professional environment. • Experience of managing complex budgets from a range of income sources and demonstrable evidence of individual, team, financial, process and change management. Desirable criteria Knowledge and understanding of the changing NHS environment Managing consultants and juniors doctors Skills and Abilities Essential criteria • Knowledge of operations and / or project management methodologies and techniques. • Knowledge of contract management. Understanding and track record of successful change and project management. effective people and project manager skills Personal Qualities Essential criteria • Use analytical and judgement skills including understanding and application of complex statistical and numerical data • Work flexibly and prioritise in response to changing demands and requirements. • Excellent interpersonal, communication (written, oral, presentation, facilitation), networking and negotiation skills. • Excellent management skills including motivating and coaching staff. • Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise, meet deadlines and delegate effectively. Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity , gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership. Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. Equality of opportunity is our policy. As an organisation we are committed to developing our services in ways that best suit the needs of our patients. This means that some staff groups will increasingly be asked to work a more flexible shift pattern so that we can offer services in the evenings or at weekends. Flexible working We are committed to supporting all employees to achieve a healthy work life balance and to work in a way that is best for them and our patients. We will consider all requests to work flexibly, taking in to account the individual’s personal circumstances as well the needs of the service. We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their individual circumstances with the recruiting manager as part of the on-boarding process. Your e-mail address is important to us - We communicate to all job applicants via the e-mail address which has been provided on the application form. Please ensure that you check your e-mail on a regular basis. Please apply for this post by clicking "Apply Online Now." Applicant requirements 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. Further details / informal visits contact Name Abby Sinclair Job title Deputy General Manager Email address [email protected] Additional information Abby Sinclair, Deputy General Manager for Children’s Surgery, Anaesthesia and Theatres, via email [email protected]