Job summary
Are you an experienced and dynamic leader looking for a pivotal role in surgical services? We are seeking a Pre-Operative Assessment Unit Manager to lead and manage a team of approximately 33 staff across our three main sites.
About the RoleThe purpose of Pre-Operative Assessment is to ensure every patient scheduled for surgery is clinically optimised, safe, and ready for their procedure. This process is critical to patient safety and the efficient running of our operating theatres. Each week, we need to deliver over 350 fully assessed and suitable patients to populate theatre lists across all sites.
As Unit Manager, you will:
- Provide day-to-day operational and clinical leadership for the Pre-Op Assessment service.
- Oversee workforce planning, performance, and compliance with national safety standards.
- Drive improvements in patient flow, elective recovery, and surgical efficiency.
- Ensure adherence to CQC standards, RCOA and GIRFTrequirements.
- Lead service development initiatives and support staff wellbeing across multiple sites.
Why Join Us?This is a challenging but highly rewarding role with real scope to influence change and innovation in surgical pathways. You will play a key part in improving patient experience, reducing cancellations, and supporting the Trust's elective recovery programme.
If you are passionate about patient safety, operational excellence, and leading multidisciplinary teams, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
- Provide day-to-day operational and clinical leadership for the Pre-Operative Assessment service across Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Westmorland General Hospital, and Furness General Hospital.
- Manage and support a team of approximately 33 staff, ensuring safe staffing levels, skill mix, and compliance with Trust policies.
- Oversee patient flow and scheduling to ensure over 350 patients per week are assessed and ready for surgery, supporting theatre efficiency and elective recovery targets.
- Ensure adherence to national safety standards including CQC Fundamental Standards, GIEFT, RCoA, NatSSIPs, and WHO Surgical Safety Checklist.
- Lead on service development and quality improvement initiatives, driving innovation in pre-op pathways and digital solutions.
- Monitor and report on performance metrics, including RTT compliance, cancellation rates, and patient experience.
- Manage budgetary responsibilities, workforce planning, and training compliance for the unit.
- Act as the escalation point for clinical and operational issues, ensuring timely resolution and robust governance.
- Foster a positive team culture, supporting staff wellbeing, professional development, and retention.
- Collaborate with surgical, anaesthetic, and operational teams to optimise patient safety and surgical efficiency.
About us
We operatefrom three main hospitals-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, andUlverstonCommunity Health Centre.
FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.
WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.
All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies,daycase and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Registered Nurse (Adult) with current NMC registration.
- Significant experience in pre-operative assessment or perioperative/surgical services.
- Proven leadership and management experience within a clinical setting, including staff supervision and workforce planning.
- Strong understanding of national safety standards (CQC Fundamental Standards, NatSSIPs, WHO Surgical Safety Checklist).
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex patient pathways and optimise patient flow.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams across multiple sites.
- Experience in budget management, resource allocation, and service improvement.
- Evidence of quality improvement initiatives and ability to drive change.
- Competent in data analysis and performance reporting to monitor KPIs and compliance.
- Commitment to staff development and wellbeing, fostering a positive team culture.
- Ability to work under pressure, prioritise effectively, and maintain patient safety in a fast-paced environment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Registered Nurse (Adult) with current NMC registration.
- Significant experience in pre-operative assessment or perioperative/surgical services.
- Proven leadership and management experience within a clinical setting, including staff supervision and workforce planning.
- Strong understanding of national safety standards (CQC Fundamental Standards, NatSSIPs, WHO Surgical Safety Checklist).
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex patient pathways and optimise patient flow.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams across multiple sites.
- Experience in budget management, resource allocation, and service improvement.
- Evidence of quality improvement initiatives and ability to drive change.
- Competent in data analysis and performance reporting to monitor KPIs and compliance.
- Commitment to staff development and wellbeing, fostering a positive team culture.
- Ability to work under pressure, prioritise effectively, and maintain patient safety in a fast-paced environment.
Person Specification
Education and Quaifications
Essential
- 1st Level Registered Nurse
- Post registration qualification in relevant area that has enhanced clinical practice.
- Teaching qualification eg City & Guilds or Professional Trainers Cert
- Mentoring and assessing qualification
- Post registration management/leadership qualification
Experience
Essential
- Recent management/leadership experience relevant to clinical speciality.
- Evidence of clinical competence and credibility in clinical speciality.
- Evidence of teaching, mentoring and developing staff.
- Understanding of setting and monitoring of standards.
- Able to assume a lead clinical role as appropriate
- Ability to work as part of the multidisciplinary clinical team.
Person Specification
Education and Quaifications
Essential
- 1st Level Registered Nurse
- Post registration qualification in relevant area that has enhanced clinical practice.
- Teaching qualification eg City & Guilds or Professional Trainers Cert
- Mentoring and assessing qualification
- Post registration management/leadership qualification
Experience
Essential
- Recent management/leadership experience relevant to clinical speciality.
- Evidence of clinical competence and credibility in clinical speciality.
- Evidence of teaching, mentoring and developing staff.
- Understanding of setting and monitoring of standards.
- Able to assume a lead clinical role as appropriate
- Ability to work as part of the multidisciplinary clinical team.
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
