About this role
Job summary
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.Please see below for the detailed job description of the role.
Main duties of the job
The Deputy Operations Manager for Portering Services plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safe, efficient, and responsive delivery of Portering services across the Trust. This is a dynamic leadership position that supports the smooth running of patient flow and essential operational activity across both SGH and PAH.
Working at the heart of the Portering Leadership team, you will lead and coordinate Portering Supervisors and Porters, ensuring high standards of performance, safety, and service quality are consistently achieved. Your work directly supports clinical teams and contributes to the Trust's ability to deliver timely, compassionate, and effective patient care.
You will have a significant impact on operational continuity, overseeing staff deployment, resolving live service issues, supporting emergency response, and ensuring Portering activity aligns with patient flow priorities. You will also play a key role in service improvement, data-informed decision-making, and the implementation of new systems and technologies that enhance efficiency and quality.
The postholder will report to the Portering Operations Manager and work closely with the Site Operations Team, clinical departments, and a wide range of internal stakeholders. You will also deputise for the Portering Operations Manager when required, providing leadership across shifts and ensuring the service remains resilient, well-coordinated, and responsive to operational demands.
About us
University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.
Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.
We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.
At UHS, we're committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.
At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognising that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We're committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.
Job description Job responsibilities
In this role, you will play a key part in leading and shaping a Trustwide Portering service that supports safe, efficient patient flow across SGH and PAH. Your responsibilities will include:
Leading and coordinating the Portering workforce, providing daytoday management of Supervisors and Porters, ensuring staff are deployed effectively, and service standards are consistently met.
Managing live operational activity, resolving issues independently, supporting emergency response, and ensuring continuity of service across all shifts using digital task management and rostering systems.
Driving service quality and improvement, monitoring performance data, supporting audits, producing reports, and contributing to the implementation of new systems and technologies.
Supporting staff development and compliance, overseeing training, induction, appraisal processes, and ensuring adherence to Trust policies, Health & Safety requirements, and infectioncontrol standards.
This is a handson leadership role where you will make a direct impact on patient experience, operational efficiency, and the smooth running of essential hospital services.
We are looking for someone who brings strong operational leadership, excellent communication skills, and the confidence to manage a busy, fastmoving service. The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
Experience supervising or coordinating Portering in a healthcare or similar operational environment.
Practical understanding of Portering operations, including staff deployment, patient and equipment transfers, and service delivery.
Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate staff, build positive working relationships, and maintain professionalism under pressure.
The ability to work independently, using sound judgement, initiative, and analytical thinking to resolve issues and support service improvement.
Additional Information
This role supports a 7day service, so the postholder will be required to work across a rota that includes weekdays and weekends.Training will be provided, and opportunities will be available to develop leadership skills and advance within the Portering management structure.
Person Specification
Trust Values Essential
Patients First Always Improving Working Together
Qualifications, knowledge and experience Essential
Educated to foundation degree level in Facilities Management, Business Administration, or a related subject or equivalent experience. Experience supervising or coordinating portering or facilities staff within a healthcare or similar operational environment. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to motivate staff and build effective working relationships across departments Ability to manage competing priorities and maintain professionalism under pressure, including during emergency or time-critical situations. Capable of working independently, using initiative and sound judgement with minimal supervision. Demonstrated ability to lead by example and promote a culture of safety, respect, compassion, and inclusion. Health and Safety qualification (e.g., IOSH, NEBOSH) or willingness to work towards one. Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams).
Desirable
Understanding of relevant, statutory requirements, and operational standards Experience supporting service improvement initiatives or change management. Practical knowledge of portering operations, including staff deployment, patient and equipment transfers, and service delivery.
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 University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust
Address Southampton General Hospital
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)