Hospital Services Manager

Job/Role Summary

Responsibility for management of a hospital site during the night hours. Provision or facilitation of clinical advice. Staff support through all clinical directorates when requested. Managerial support to all hospital directorates. Responsibility to provide first point of contact to external agencies at night e.g. press, police, fire brigade.

Specific qualifications and experience required

Essential criteria: Registered general nurse on the live NMC register; 5 years post-registration experience; 3 years post-registration experience at senior staff nurse level in an acute hospital setting Desirable criteria: Degree in management or health-related subject; Certificate or diploma in Health Service Management.

Career Milestones

Working in adult intensive care for a period of 15 years helped me increase my knowledge and skills in the clinical setting which has been of great benefit to me in my present post. Whilst working in the pain management team for post-operative surgery I was given the opportunity to audit our work and make the relevant improvements in patient care. As part of my studies for a degree in Public Management I submitted a study on Staff Retention in An Acute Hospital Trust. This work helped me understand the importance of staff development and motivation. In a 2-year secondment post as Hospital Services Manager I gained knowledge and experience in a managerial role, developing my leadership and communication skills.

What attracted you to this job?

The opportunity to use my clinical knowledge and skills. The desire to move into a managerial role. The opportunity to work within a multi-disciplinary team.

Enjoyable aspects of the job/role

Working and communicating with a multi-disciplinary team whilst maintaining contact with patients and relatives. This role tests and challenges my problem solving skills in both clinical and non-clinical areas. There is a level of job satisfaction when these issues are resolved. Having the autonomy to ensure all users of the hospital service at night receive a high quality of care and respect.

Important success factors

Having respect for and good communication with your team and clients. The previous post-holder who encouraged me to apply for the post and has been an excellent mentor. The support of the multi-disciplinary team, Clinical Services Manager and my line manager.

Advice for those considering the type of job/role?

You will need to be able to prioritise and plan ahead. You should not wait until a situation arises. You should be prepared for the fact that you will have to deal with conflict and complaints from staff, patients and relatives. You should have good communication skills and should never assume that people know what is going on or what is going to happen. Sometimes it is good to follow your expert intuition and you should develop a confidence in your own ability. Be prepared that you will have to work with a multi-disciplinary team and their political agendas.

Key skills that can be gained within this job/role?

Decision-making; Problem-solving; The confidence to make decisions autonomously; Prioritising and planning ahead effectively; People management; Working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team; The confidence to remain calm even when faced with difficult situations.

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