St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Spinal Network Manager (London Spinal Network-South West)

The closing date is 27 March 2026

Job summary

NHS England/Improvement and the South West London Integrated Care Systems-emerging Provider Collaborative recognise Operational Delivery Networks (ODNs) are a focused way to co-ordinate patient pathways between providers over a wide area to ensure appropriate and timely access to specialist resources and expertise. Clinical engagement is vital to making significant progress on key health issues within Spinal services as well as supporting the transformation of services in the NHS.

The South West London Spinal Network will continue to play an active role in the restoration and recovery of spinal services and to bring about improvement in the quality and equity of care and outcomes for the present and future population. The Network will focus on reducing unwarranted variation, optimising resources, enhancing collaboration between units and improving flow across the pathway and system, with enhanced safety, outcomes, and patient experience.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work closely with London Spinal Network-South West organisations, Clinical Leads, and commissioners to support spinal services across South West London. The role has a clear primary focus on Spine, with flexibility to contribute on an occasional, time-limited basis to wider Neurosciences network priorities through joint projects, shared workstreams, or targeted support where this adds value. The post holder will scope, plan, and deliver the work programme to agreed timescales and quality standards, and will produce and maintain all relevant plans, controls, and management documentation, ensuring delivery of an agreed work plan and effective cross-organisational collaboration and expertise. The post holder will be integral to developing relationships across all four South West London spinal units to foster trust and cohesion. They will work closely with the South London Spinal Services Network Manager and Clinical Director, Pan-London leaders, and NHSE/I to support pan-London working and provide regular reports on network progress.

Governance

The post holder will be responsible to the London Spinal Network-South West hosts, the South West London Spinal Programme Board, and its Chair. The role will initially be for 18 months, with potential for extension. Accountability and place of work: RNOH base. Day-to-day accountability will be to the Network host HOO and Network Clinical Lead

About us

The postholder is expected to have a clear understanding of how this post contributes to the achievement of the trust vision of:

A thriving Foundation Trust at the heart of an integrated healthcare system. One that delivers improved patient care at a community, hospital and specialist setting, supported by a unique and nationally recognised programme of research, education and employee engagement.

We expect all our staff to share the values that are important to the Trust, being Excellent, Kind, Responsible & Respectful, and behave in a way that reflects these.

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and expects that all staff will share in this commitment. The Trust is clear that all staff have a responsibility to be aware of children and adult safeguarding policies and procedures and that each member of staff, clinical and non-clinical, will attend child or adult safeguarding training that is provided at an appropriate level to suit their role. The Trust has the additional expectation that all staff will be able to identify concerns and know what action to take.

Date posted

13 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£72,921 to £83,362 a year Pro rata per annum inc HCAS (inner London)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

200-7777787-DE-MC

Job locations

St George's Hospital but some remote working is considered

Blackshaw Road

London

SW17 0QT

Job description

Job responsibilities

PERSON SPECIFICATION

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Delivery of the SWL Spinal Network

Work with the London Spinal Network-South West Clinical Leads and hosts, and Pan-London Forum to:

Support the bringing together of stakeholders from across South West London to work in a co-ordinated, collaborative networked approach to improve, and reduce variation in; the patient experience, the quality of care, and clinical outcomes for Spinal patients.

Ensure public and patient involvement is embedded in the development and delivery of Spinal services, and that the perspectives of patients and the public are heard and considered wherever decisions affecting the provision of healthcare are made.

Nurture relationships and work closely with key stakeholders across the network to ensure widespread and active engagement from all partners in the establishment of the network.

Formulate and support the delivery of a comprehensive and cohesive programme of work that delivers:

Equity of access for South West London Spinal patients, reducing waiting times for patients and supporting access based on clinical priority.

A rapid South West London wide review of progress against the GIRFT recommendations, working with South West London trusts to develop and deliver action plans.

Systems for understanding and monitoring reliable data which is then used to help reduce unwarranted variation across the Spinal units, eradicating long waiting times over 52 plus weeks, to move towards the pre pandemic aim of 18 weeks target, supporting decision making and improvements for the benefit of the patients.

Datasets related to the volume and quality of clinical activity and patient flow across the region.

Efficiencies through transformational pathways, working closely with the national review team.

Review of spinal services delivery in the network and across London to identify how services can be delivered most efficiently with the best outcomes.

Contribute, where agreed, to time-limited joint projects or targeted pieces of work with wider Neurosciences networks that align with Spine priorities and deliver clear system benefit.

2. Programme and Project Management

Work with the London Spinal Network-South West hosts and Clinical Leads, and pan- London Spinal Forum and other network managers and leads to:

Develop the strategic plan and alignment of the network in partnership with key stakeholders.

Set up and deliver the projects required to ensure the desired outcomes of the networks.

Establish appropriate governance for the network, aligned with the wider hosts and NHSEs governance processes.

Produce business cases and other required documents.

Support cross-Neurosciences collaboration through defined, time-limited projects or shared workstreams, while maintaining primary accountability for delivery of the Spinal Network programme.

Analyse and resolve highly complex problems to successful conclusion.

Use multiple and innovative ways of communicating implications and awareness of decisions and interdependencies.

Manage the creation and delivery of supporting project plans, including milestones, benefits, approaches, and resources required.

Create, manage, and ensure effective ownership of relevant project plans.

Manage the process of identifying and updating the interdependencies between this and other projects/ programmes.

Provide regular network reports and updates on progress

Manage the network financial budget and report on spend

At any point in time, have a detailed view of the key milestones, including associated dependencies and risks and issues.

3. Communication and Leadership

Use interpersonal skills to work across organisational boundaries and overcome barriers to change.

Establish effective working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.

Lead, and influence through motivation and effective communication.

Develop key relationships with clinical and management staff across the system to ensure engagement with projects as appropriate.

Facilitate groups of staff and/ or patient and client groups, which may involve issues that may be contentious in major change.

Develop effective communication channels to communicate progress within the network.

4. Planning and Delivery of Projects

Ensure all projects within the network programme are effectively established and follow agreed project management frameworks.

Where appropriate, ensure project leads carry out analysis in partnership with informatics and finance, to develop the case for change, document, and present to relevant stakeholders using agreed documentation.

Take responsibility for the whole project life cycle, working closely with the Spinal Network hosts and Clinical Leads and pan-London Spinal Forum.

Manage competing demands and dependencies between projects to ensure the network delivery plan remains on track and to budget.

Identify and escalate any risks associated with the delivery of each dependency in a timely manner.

5. Finance and Resources

Ensure all network expenditure falls within the agreed spend on resources, and that spend is tracked appropriately.

Manage the recruitment process for staff to support the network deliverables, working alongside HR as appropriate, ensuring all relevant HR procedures are followed.

Ensure financial savings realised through the network are identified and tracked appropriately.

Manage programme risks and issues, maintaining logs and communicating escalations clearly

Manage the network risk and issue log, clearly communicating escalations to the London Spinal Network-South West hosts and Clinical Leads, and pan-London Leads.

Work with the network sponsors to resolve and mitigate any challenges.

Establish an effective programme risk management framework.

Escalate risks as appropriate to governing bodies and relevant stakeholders.

GENERAL

The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and well-being and that of work colleagues, patients and the public within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

To observe the rules, policies, procedures, and standards of the host hospital together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.

To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff, in accordance with local policy and Information Governance guidance and regulations.

To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. The primary focus of the post is the South West London Spinal Network; however, a degree of flexibility is expected to support wider Neurosciences network activity on an occasional and time-limited basis. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.

All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Networks formal route for email communication. You are therefore required to check this regularly and to deal with such communication promptly.

Works with the Network Clinical Lead and network lead clinical professionals as part of a multi-disciplinary leadership team to maximise operational effectiveness and consistency across the network.

Leads on capacity planning and management, assuring equitable access, manages patient flows across the network to efficiently match available capacity with demand and ensure that all patients receive the care they need, and improves system resilience.

Works with the Network Clinical Lead and network lead clinical professionals, to support the development of common referral, care and transfer pathways and other policies, protocols, and procedures and ensure their operation across the network.

Establishes and maintains systems for the collection, analysis and reporting of data on activity, patient flows, outcomes, quality of care and patient and family experience.

Infection Control Statement

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control, and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.

These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.