Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Operational Manager Pathology

The closing date is 04 August 2025

Job summary

Demonstrate flexibility and possess strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective working relationships across a variety of stakeholders, both internal and external. Collaborate with and support staff on regular feedback/communication with our service users and their carers to test the effectiveness of new initiatives, current provision and opportunities for improving the experience for service users in treatment. Promote the service group through communications and media internally. Dealing with distressed and upset patients & relatives in response to patient complaints if the issue is around managerial/administrative processes. This will involve the sharing/dissemination of learning to sub-speciality teams and the change of processes if required. Good negotiation and influencing skills including establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with colleagues at all levels of the organisation to enable quality improvements to services to be made. Conveying unwelcome and contentious news regarding allocation of resources (human and financial) and service changes. To use and understand complex information and multi-factorial strands of communication both inside and external to the Trust to ensure the effective management within the Service Group. Verbal and written communication on complex data, business cases and reports. Formal presentations to teams and groups on service developments, training, evaluation of current services etc

Main duties of the job

Demonstrate flexibility and possess strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective working relationships across a variety of stakeholders, both internal and external. Collaborate with and support staff on regular feedback/communication with our service users and their carers to test the effectiveness of new initiatives, current provision and opportunities for improving the experience for service users in treatment. Promote the service group through communications and media internally. Dealing with distressed and upset patients & relatives in response to patient complaints if the issue is around managerial/administrative processes. This will involve the sharing/dissemination of learning to sub-speciality teams and the change of processes if required. Good negotiation and influencing skills including establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with colleagues at all levels of the organisation to enable quality improvements to services to be made. Conveying unwelcome and contentious news regarding allocation of resources (human and financial) and service changes. To use and understand complex information and multi-factorial strands of communication both inside and external to the Trust to ensure the effective management within the Service Group. Verbal and written communication on complex data, business cases and reports. Formal presentations to teams and groups on service developments, training, evaluation of current services etc.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

  • Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
  • NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
  • Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
  • A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Details

Date posted

21 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

184-OL-PU-2948A

Job locations

Yeovil District Hospital

Higher Kingston

Yeovil

Somerset

BA21 4AT


Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsible for leading and delivering the performance of the service on a day-to-day basis. This will include leading speciality/performance review meetings, including with external parties such as the Integrated Care Board (ICB), and having arrangements within the specialties that are consistent with the Trust wide approach.

Lead the annual planning round for the specialty and agree delivery of the plan alongside the Service Manager & Clinical Director. For example, review capacity and demand of the service and look to create efficiencies so staff have adequate capacity to deliver the service. Develop and implement medium and long term plans to ensure that the service continuously improves.

To monitor closely contracts and targets to enable proactive and timely actions, liaising with the Service Manager as appropriate

Support in the delivery of services, involving meeting national service delivery and accreditation standards.

Investigate and respond to complaints and incidents relating to the service in accordance with Trust policy. Use of internal and external reporting systems and be able to interpret and report on complex data. For example, using performance data, create trajectories to forecast when performance is likely to be achieved. To analyse staffing resources, to identify potential workforce improvements and to put forward a business case demonstrating efficiencies and cost savings. To analyse demand capacity by monitoring activity to meet service needs and in a way that complies with National, Regional or local standards and targets to improve patient care and experience. Reporting findings to the Service Manager and taking action to improve processes to mitigate breaches. Critically and objectively investigate incidents and complaints using a wide variety of information and evidence gathering to reach conclusions and recommendations. In liaison with the Service Manager, interpret and circulate information regarding the performance of the Service Group against plans and, where necessary, prepare and manage corrective action by teams.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsible for leading and delivering the performance of the service on a day-to-day basis. This will include leading speciality/performance review meetings, including with external parties such as the Integrated Care Board (ICB), and having arrangements within the specialties that are consistent with the Trust wide approach.

Lead the annual planning round for the specialty and agree delivery of the plan alongside the Service Manager & Clinical Director. For example, review capacity and demand of the service and look to create efficiencies so staff have adequate capacity to deliver the service. Develop and implement medium and long term plans to ensure that the service continuously improves.

To monitor closely contracts and targets to enable proactive and timely actions, liaising with the Service Manager as appropriate

Support in the delivery of services, involving meeting national service delivery and accreditation standards.

Investigate and respond to complaints and incidents relating to the service in accordance with Trust policy. Use of internal and external reporting systems and be able to interpret and report on complex data. For example, using performance data, create trajectories to forecast when performance is likely to be achieved. To analyse staffing resources, to identify potential workforce improvements and to put forward a business case demonstrating efficiencies and cost savings. To analyse demand capacity by monitoring activity to meet service needs and in a way that complies with National, Regional or local standards and targets to improve patient care and experience. Reporting findings to the Service Manager and taking action to improve processes to mitigate breaches. Critically and objectively investigate incidents and complaints using a wide variety of information and evidence gathering to reach conclusions and recommendations. In liaison with the Service Manager, interpret and circulate information regarding the performance of the Service Group against plans and, where necessary, prepare and manage corrective action by teams.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Operational experience of managing pathways and treatment national guidance.

Desirable

  • Pathology experience.

Experience

Essential

  • Operational management experience at Band 6.

Desirable

  • Management of operational services including pathways.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Operational experience of managing pathways and treatment national guidance.

Desirable

  • Pathology experience.

Experience

Essential

  • Operational management experience at Band 6.

Desirable

  • Management of operational services including pathways.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Yeovil District Hospital

Higher Kingston

Yeovil

Somerset

BA21 4AT


Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Yeovil District Hospital

Higher Kingston

Yeovil

Somerset

BA21 4AT


Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Hiring Manager

halley kimber-keirle

halley.kimber-keirle@somersetft.nhs.uk

07766085369

Details

Date posted

21 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

184-OL-PU-2948A

Job locations

Yeovil District Hospital

Higher Kingston

Yeovil

Somerset

BA21 4AT


Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Supporting documents

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