Unit Manager - Preoperative assessment

Job summary

A fantastic opportunity has arisen at Royal Preston Hospital for a Unit Manager within Pre-Operative Assessment. This is an exciting leadership role overseeing both Pre-Op units across Preston and Chorley, managing a large and experienced multidisciplinary team including Sisters, Charge Nurses, Staff Nurses, and Healthcare Assistants. The successful candidate will work closely with the anaesthetic team and business managers to ensure the effective delivery of the service. You will hold overall responsibility for delivering high-quality, compassionate care to patients, relatives, and visitors within your unit. The role requires strong leadership of the assessment team, with accountability for clinical governance, staff management, and ongoing service development. The team provides advanced clinical assessments to ensure patients are optimised and fit for elective surgery. You will be expected to work autonomously, identifying risks, ordering appropriate investigations, and making specialist referrals to support the management of complex cases. Alongside maintaining an effective and efficient service, we are looking for an individual who is motivated, proactive, and passionate about driving improvement and change to enhance the future of the service within the surgical division.

Main duties of the job

• Provide effective leadership and management of the Pre-Operative Assessment Units across Preston and Chorley.
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality, safe, and compassionate care for all patients, relatives, and visitors.
• Lead, support, and develop a large multidisciplinary team, including Sisters, Charge Nurses, Staff Nurses, and Healthcare Assistants.
• Take overall responsibility for clinical governance, ensuring compliance with policies, standards, and best practice.
• Oversee patient assessment pathways, ensuring patients are appropriately assessed and optimised for elective surgery.
• Act autonomously to identify clinical risks, order and interpret investigations, and make appropriate specialist referrals.
• Work collaboratively with anaesthetic teams, surgeons, and business managers to ensure effective service delivery.
• Drive service improvement, innovation, and change to enhance patient experience and operational efficiency.
• Manage staffing, rostering, and workforce planning to meet service demands.
• Monitor performance, quality indicators, and patient outcomes, taking action where required.
• Support audit, research, and the implementation of evidence-based practice within the department.
• Maintain effective communication across teams and departments to ensure a seamless patient journey.
• Contribute to budget management and the efficient use of resources within the unit.

About us

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is a leading provider of acute healthcare services across the North West, delivering care from Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley and South Ribble Hospital. We are committed to providing high-quality, safe, and compassionate care to our local population. We pride ourselves on being a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its staff and promotes a positive working culture. We are dedicated to staff wellbeing, professional development, and creating opportunities for career progression across all roles. As a Trust, we are focused on continuous improvement and innovation, striving to enhance patient experience and outcomes. We work closely with our partners across the health and care system to deliver integrated services that meet the needs of our communities. By joining our team, you will be part of a forward-thinking organisation that encourages collaboration, values your contribution, and supports you to reach your full potential.

Job responsibilities

The Unit Manager for Pre-Operative Assessment will provide strong, visible leadership across services at Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality patient care.

Leadership and Management

• Provide professional and operational leadership to the Pre-Operative Assessment teams across both sites.
• Lead, motivate, and support a large multidisciplinary team, promoting a positive and inclusive working environment.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels, skill mix, and effective workforce planning to meet service demands.
• Undertake recruitment, appraisal, performance management, and staff development.
• Act as a role model, demonstrating Trust values and behaviours at all times.

Clinical Governance and Quality

• Take overall responsibility for clinical governance within the department.
• Ensure compliance with Trust policies, national standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead on audit, quality improvement, and the implementation of evidence-based practice.
• Monitor patient outcomes, incidents, and risks, ensuring appropriate actions are taken.
• Promote a culture of safety, openness, and continuous learning.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Maintain a high level of clinical expertise within pre-operative assessment.
• Support and guide staff in delivering advanced patient assessments for elective surgery.
• Act autonomously to identify and manage clinical risk, order and interpret diagnostic investigations, and make appropriate referrals.
• Ensure patients are optimised for surgery, working closely with anaesthetic and surgical teams.
• Provide expert advice and support for complex cases.

Service Delivery and Development

• Oversee the effective day-to-day running of Pre-Operative Assessment services across both sites.
• Work collaboratively with anaesthetists, surgeons, and operational managers to ensure efficient patient pathways.
• Lead service improvement initiatives to enhance patient experience, reduce cancellations, and improve efficiency.
• Contribute to the strategic development of the service in line with Trust and divisional objectives.
• Ensure effective use of resources and contribute to budgetary control.

Communication and Collaboration

• Maintain effective communication within the team and across the wider organisation.
• Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders, including clinical and non-clinical teams.
• Act as a key point of contact for Pre-Operative Assessment services.
• Ensure clear and compassionate communication with patients, relatives, and carers.

Education and Development

• Support the learning and development of staff, fostering a culture of continuous professional development.
• Identify training needs and ensure staff are appropriately trained and competent.
• Promote teaching, mentorship, and clinical supervision within the team.

Person Specification

Education & CPD (Essential)

• Diploma or degree in Nursing
• NMC registration
• NMC recognised Mentorship qualification
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience of over 12 months at band 6

Education & CPD (Desirable)

• Level 3 or 5 ILM (Institute of leadership and Management) in leadership or equivalent.
• completed core people skills

Knowledge & Experience (Essential)

• Knowledge of relevant policies and procedures
• Evidence of expert clinical competence in area of speciality
• Knowledge of Clinical Governance and the relevance to practice
• Knowledge of maintaining assurance of department

Knowledge & Experience (Desirable)

• Experience of budgetary management
• Awareness of changes in practice and the ability to implement change.

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. 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.

Employer details

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]

Address: Royal Preston Hospital, Preston, PR2 9HT

Website: https://www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/

Contact: Sharon Waite, Matron - [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] | [contact hidden]