Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us. 

Job Title: Deputy Access Manager

Contract Type: Permanent

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Deputy Access Manager at University Hospital Southampton. Are you looking for your next step in NHS operational management and want a role where you can genuinely help make a difference to how patients move through their care?
We have an exciting opportunity to join our Ophthalmology Care Group as Deputy Access Manager, working alongside the Ophthalmology Access Manager, Operations Manager and our clinical and operational teams to support the delivery of safe, timely and effective patient pathways.
Ophthalmology is a busy and varied specialty, and this is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys problem solving, working with data and people, and turning information into practical action. You will be joining a supportive team where there is plenty of opportunity to learn, develop and contribute to how we continually improve our services.
This is very much a Deputy role. You will work closely with and support the Access Manager, taking responsibility for delegated areas of work, supporting the day to day management of the service and stepping up to deputise when required.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. 

 We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

 Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

 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.

The successful candidate will be responsible for
Supporting the Access Manager and wider Ophthalmology team in the delivery of local and national access targets.
•    Monitor performance information, identify trends, risks, delays and bottlenecks and ensure these are appropriately highlighted or escalated.
•    Work with data from a range of systems to produce reports and analysis that help inform operational decision-making.
•    Support and lead delegated improvement projects, monitoring progress and outcomes.
•    Help drive agreed performance improvements to improve quality, productivity and efficiency.
•    Provide guidance on the Trust Access Policy and patient pathway queries.
•    Work closely with clinical and administrative colleagues to resolve pathway issues and improve processes.
•    Support the development and maintenance of effective reporting and information processes, with a strong focus on data quality.
•    Take day to day line management responsibility for an assigned team, supporting staff through recruitment, appraisal, attendance, performance and development.
•    Support the timely resolution of concerns and AERs.
•    Deputise for senior management when required.

Who are we looking for?
We're looking for someone who is organised, motivated and keen to develop their operational leadership skills.
You'll be someone who can communicate confidently with a wide range of colleagues, manage competing priorities and remain focused when things get busy. You'll be comfortable working with data, spotting issues and asking the right questions, but equally comfortable building relationships and working collaboratively to find solutions.
The person specification requires degree-level education or equivalent experience, experience of developing and implementing service changes, and the ability to use reporting software such as SQL, BI and QlikView. Key competencies include leadership, communication, organisation, data analysis, teamwork, prioritisation, time management and attention to detail. Knowledge of hospital systems, medical terminology, improvement methodology and RTT/cancer targets are identified as desirable. 
Why Ophthalmology?
You'll be joining an Ophthalmology team where operational, clinical and administrative colleagues work together to solve problems, improve patient pathways and keep services moving.
For someone wanting to build a career in NHS operational management, this role offers a great balance of people management, performance, patient pathways, data and service improvement, while working alongside an experienced Access Manager and wider operational team.
You'll have the opportunity to contribute ideas, lead areas of improvement and develop your experience across a varied service, while always keeping the patient at the centre of the decisions we make.
Our UHS values of Patients First, Always Improving and Working Together sit at the heart of the role and are explicitly reflected in the job description. 
If you're curious, positive, enjoy a challenge and want to take the next step in your operational career, we'd really like to hear from you.
Come and join Ophthalmology and help us continue to improve the experience of our patients, our teams and our services.