Soft Services FM Manager
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £39,959 to £48,117 a year |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | Lowestoft, NR32 1DE |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Posting date: | 21 Oct 2026 |
| Closing date: | 4 Nov 2026 |
Summary
Leadership and Operational Management Provide effective leadership and day-to-day management for Catering, Domestic and associated soft FM teams within the delegated service area. Plan, coordinate and monitor daily service delivery to ensure services are safe, timely, responsive and aligned to patient, visitor and staff needs. Develop staffing rosters, work schedules, work instructions and escalation arrangements to support flexible and resilient service delivery. Manage competing priorities, operational pressures and service interruptions, taking appropriate action to maintain continuity and safety. Deputise for the senior Facilities leadership team within scope of competence and delegation Act as the lead manager for Catering, Domestic and associated Soft FM services, providing specialist advice, guidance and interpretation of policies, procedures and service standards. Monitor and review service performance against agreed KPIs. Independently assess operational issues and make decisions regarding service prioritisation, staffing deployment and resource allocation. Lead workforce planning, succession planning and organisational change initiatives. Catering, Food Safety and Nutrition Oversee safe and effective catering and food and beverage services, including patient food service, staff/visitor retail provision, ward-based beverage services and associated support arrangements where applicable. Ensure catering services comply with food safety legislation, HACCP principles, allergen management, organisation policies and relevant NHS food and drink standards. Work with dietetic, clinical and ward teams to support nutritional requirements, special diets, hydration, protected mealtimes and patient-centred food service. Monitor meal quality, timeliness, availability, stock control, waste, patient feedback and service performance, implementing corrective action when required. Support menu review, procurement and supplier management to maintain safe, nutritious, sustainable and value for money food provision. Domestic, Cleaning and Environmental Standards Oversee domestic, cleaning, housekeeping and environmental services across delegated sites, ensuring clean, safe and welcoming environments. Ensure cleaning schedules, frequencies, risk categories, audit processes and remedial actions are implemented in accordance with agreed standards and local policy. Work closely with infection prevention and clinical colleagues to respond to infection risks, outbreaks, enhanced cleaning requirements and environmental concerns. Lead or support cleanliness audits, environmental audits, PLACE-related activity and local quality inspections, ensuring action plans are completed and evidenced. Promote safe use, storage and maintenance of cleaning equipment, materials and chemicals in line with COSHH and health and safety requirements. Quality, Governance, Risk and Compliance Maintain robust systems for performance monitoring, audit, incident reporting, risk assessment and assurance across Catering and Domestic services. Investigate and respond to complaints, concerns, incidents and service failures, ensuring learning is captured and improvement actions are implemented. Prepare reports, action plans, briefing notes and performance updates for relevant governance meetings and senior managers. Ensure documentation, records and evidence are accurate, accessible and maintained in line with information governance and organisational requirements. Support business continuity planning, emergency preparedness and resilience arrangements for soft FM services. Develop, implement and monitor service performance indicators, quality standards and assurance measures. Lead investigations into complaints, incidents and service failures including root cause analysis. Analyse audit outcomes, performance information, complaints data and service intelligence. Ensure compliance with statutory legislation, NHS standards and regulatory requirements. Lead and support service improvement and transformation projects People Management and Workforce Development Provide line management for delegated staff, including recruitment, induction, supervision, appraisal, absence management, performance management and wellbeing support. Promote a positive employee relations climate, supporting staff engagement, inclusion, communication and team development. Ensure staff complete mandatory training, role-specific competency checks and refresher training, including food safety, infection prevention, COSHH, health and safety and customer care. Coach, motivate and develop supervisors and team leaders to deliver consistent standards and take accountability for service outcomes. Manage conduct, capability or grievance matters in line with organisational policies, seeking HR advice when required. Lead and manage supervisors, team leaders and staff. Develop workforce capability through coaching, mentorship and succession planning. Finance, Procurement and Resources Manage delegated pay and non-pay budgets, monitoring expenditure and identifying opportunities for cost control and value for money. Support procurement, contract monitoring, stock management and supplier performance relating to soft FM services. Ensure equipment, materials and consumables are available, used appropriately and maintained safely. Contribute to business cases, service reviews and options appraisals for improvement, investment or service redesign. Promote responsible use of resources, waste reduction and sustainability in line with organisational green plan objectives. Monitor expenditure against delegated budgets and produce forecasts Identify and implement cost improvement initiatives and efficiencies. Ensure effective utilisation of resources and value for money. Communication and Partnership Working Maintain effective communication with clinical teams, corporate services, contractors, suppliers, patients, visitors and staff. Use negotiation, influencing and problem-solving skills to resolve operational issues and secure cooperation across services. Provide clear written and verbal updates, including reports, meeting notes, risk updates and service improvement plans. Represent Catering and Domestic services at relevant operational, quality, health and safety and governance meetings. Model the organisation's values and behaviours, promoting dignity, respect, inclusion and a compassionate approach in all interactions. Act as the primary point of contact for facilities-related operational issues. All roles within East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH) require staff to demonstrate our Values and Signature Behaviours in the care and service they provide to patients, service users, stakeholders and colleagues. All members of staff should consider these as an essential part of their job role. Our Values outline the core behaviours that we can all achieve and are summarised as an acronym within the word 'CARE'. These stand for: Compassion, Action, Respect and Everyone. Underpinning our Values are our Signature Behaviours which highlight by taking the right actions we continue to build a strong culture. Our four Signature Behaviours are: Compassion - We Listen, We Learn, We Lead| Action - My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect - Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone - Work Together, Achieve Together.