Support Manager - Surgery

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 5 Support Manager at the Northern Care Alliance (NCA) to join our Surgical Team. You will work across Salford Royal Hospital, Fairfield General Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, Royal Oldham Hospital

Clinical groups cover the NCA sites so you will be required to travel between all hospital & Satellite sites.

As a Support Manager you will support the day to day operational service requirements across a number of selected services and assist the Operations Lead Manager in ensuring the Clinical Service Unit meets its key performance indicators in relation to access standards, activity and line management of administrative staff where indicated.

Main duties of the job

The Support Manager plays a key role in the day-to-day operational management of clinical services, supporting delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality patient care.

Operational Management:

Support the Operations Lead in running services, including outpatient clinics, theatre lists, patient flow, and waiting lists.

Performance & Targets:

Monitor and support delivery of key targets such as RTT and cancer pathways, including validation, tracking patients, and escalating delays.

Workforce Management:

Oversee medical staffing processes including rota coordination, attendance, sickness monitoring, mandatory training compliance, and HR processes.

Patient Pathway & Experience:

Track patient journeys, manage delays, respond to complaints (PALS/incidents), and ensure patient-centred care.

Communication & Collaboration:

Build strong relationships across multidisciplinary teams, communicate effectively at all levels, and support service development.

Data & Analysis:

Analyse complex performance, capacity, and demand data to inform decision-making and drive service improvements.

Service Improvement & Governance:

Support quality improvement initiatives (e.g. PDSA cycles), clinical governance, risk management, and policy compliance.

Financial & Resource Management:

Assist with budget management, cost improvement plans, and ensure efficient use of resources and capacity.

About us

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we're always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree level or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Business administration qualification, eg, NVQ 3, or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of PRINCE principles.

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential

• Substantial experience of working within an acute trust provider.

Desirable

• Experience of working in operational management in the public sector

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Good interpersonal and people skills
• Ability to engage effectively in dialogue with individuals at all levels
• Good presentation skills
• Ability to empower, coach and support staff
• Ability to lead and work as a team member with professional and managerial colleagues
• Evidence of good influencing and negotiating skills.
• Ability to deduce key points from large/complex volumes of numerical and other data.
• Detailed knowledge and experience of activity management (including RTT & cancer waiting lists) Good analytical skills and ability to consider the wider picture including future scenario planning
• Passion for continuous quality improvement.
• Ability to present relevant information in a concise format.
• IT skills - use desktop computer and confident with excel

Desirable

• Understanding of the NHS, its infrastructure and partner healthcare organisations.