Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Service Manager

The closing date is 28 November 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has become available for a motivated and enthusiastic Assistant Service Manager to join our dynamic Trauma & Orthopaedic Department at Bedford Hospital. This is a busy, fast-paced environment where you'll play a key role in supporting the delivery of high-quality services and contributing to the smooth running of the department

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for undertaking a broad range of duties to support both the management and clinical teams, providing input at a strategic level as well as on day-to-day operations. They will play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of the administration offices, working independently and leading the department in meeting its daily administrative and business demands.

In addition, the post holder will contribute to ensuring that the service consistently meets all performance requirements, including quality standards and activity targets. They will assist with the close monitoring of performance and escalate any potential risks to the delivery of key measures, such as the 18-week wait target. The role also includes managing the team of secretarial and administrative staff within the service, while providing ongoing support to managers, medical staff, and nursing staff across the department

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Details

Date posted

14 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-AHP5841-CW

Job locations

Bedford Hospital South Wing

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities.

  • Provide support to the Service Manager in overseeing various aspects of the service, including the arrangement of outpatient clinics and theatre lists.

  • Ensure the smooth running of the department by managing daytoday administration and, with appropriate training and supervision, exercising delegated responsibility to make operational decisions when required.

  • Proactively problemsolve daily management issues, organising and reallocating work as necessary to respond to changes in workload or staffing availability.

  • Establish and maintain effective processes and procedures to monitor and track performance against agreed service targets.

  • Act with delegated authority on behalf of the Service Manager to resolve operational management issues within the service

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities.

  • Provide support to the Service Manager in overseeing various aspects of the service, including the arrangement of outpatient clinics and theatre lists.

  • Ensure the smooth running of the department by managing daytoday administration and, with appropriate training and supervision, exercising delegated responsibility to make operational decisions when required.

  • Proactively problemsolve daily management issues, organising and reallocating work as necessary to respond to changes in workload or staffing availability.

  • Establish and maintain effective processes and procedures to monitor and track performance against agreed service targets.

  • Act with delegated authority on behalf of the Service Manager to resolve operational management issues within the service

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level, or evidence of equivalent knowledge and experience
  • Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable

  • Management courses

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of staff supervision and staff management
  • Knowledge of budget management issues
  • Experience of managing the delivery of an effective service
  • Experience of working in an acute NHS Trust
  • Evidence of introducing and supporting change processes

Desirable

  • Experience of managing doctors rota
  • Evidence of establishing, maintaining and consolidating effective working relationships with clinicians

Knowledge

Essential

  • Leadership and influencing skills
  • High level of verbal and written skills
  • RTT Pathways

Desirable

  • Proficiency in use of Health Roster, iPM, ICE, Viper and MediViewer

Personal Skills

Essential

  • Ability to work flexibly according to service demands.
  • High level or work organisation, self-motivation drive for performance and improvement
  • Strong sense of commitment to openness, honesty and integrity
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level, or evidence of equivalent knowledge and experience
  • Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable

  • Management courses

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of staff supervision and staff management
  • Knowledge of budget management issues
  • Experience of managing the delivery of an effective service
  • Experience of working in an acute NHS Trust
  • Evidence of introducing and supporting change processes

Desirable

  • Experience of managing doctors rota
  • Evidence of establishing, maintaining and consolidating effective working relationships with clinicians

Knowledge

Essential

  • Leadership and influencing skills
  • High level of verbal and written skills
  • RTT Pathways

Desirable

  • Proficiency in use of Health Roster, iPM, ICE, Viper and MediViewer

Personal Skills

Essential

  • Ability to work flexibly according to service demands.
  • High level or work organisation, self-motivation drive for performance and improvement
  • Strong sense of commitment to openness, honesty and integrity

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

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital South Wing

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital South Wing

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Service manager

Gemma Thomas

Gemma.thomas@bedsft.nhs.uk

07866123339

Details

Date posted

14 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-AHP5841-CW

Job locations

Bedford Hospital South Wing

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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