Domestic & Linen Manager - Training & Compliance in Sunderland

Are you an experienced Soft FM leader with a passion for high standards, compliance, and workforce development? Choice Facilities Services is seeking a Domestic & Linen Manager (Training & Compliance) to support the delivery of safe, efficient and high-quality Domestic and Linen services across our healthcare sites. This is a key role focused on monitoring operational performance, ensuring compliance with legislative, regulatory and healthcare standards, and using performance data to shape targeted training and continuous improvement. You will play a vital part in supporting excellent patient care by ensuring services are consistently delivered to the highest standard.

Responsibilities

• Monitor operational performance standards across Domestic and Linen Services and measure compliance against legislative, regulatory, contractual and healthcare standards.
• Collect, analyse and interpret compliance and performance data, identifying trends, risks and areas for improvement.
• Produce robust reports to support governance, assurance and decision‑making.
• Design, develop and implement evidence‑based training programmes, informed by compliance findings and trend analysis.
• Ensure all Domestic and Linen staff are appropriately trained, competent and compliant in their roles.
• Day‑to‑day management of Soft FM staff to ensure efficient and effective service delivery across wards and departments.
• Support ongoing development and continuous improvement of Soft FM services.
• Monitor and liaise with external non‑clinical contracts, including linen, hygiene services and equipment maintenance.
• Develop and maintain accurate administrative systems (ESR, sickness, appraisals, training and annual leave).
• Support audits, including NSOC audits, and ensure actions are embedded into practice.
• Build strong working relationships with operational domestic managers, linen services, service users and senior leaders.
• Work independently, make day‑to‑day operational decisions, and manage staff performance confidently.

What We Offer

• A friendly, organised and supportive working environment.
• The opportunity to make a genuine impact on patient care and service quality.
• A varied role combining leadership, compliance, training and service development.

Qualifications

• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate.
• A willingness to study for any qualifications deemed appropriate to the post.

Other Requirements

• Prepared to work flexibly to suit the needs of the service.
• Team player with the ability to work on own initiative.
• Ability to solve problems.
• Positive thinker.
• Willingness to complete training necessary to fulfil role.

Experience

• Proven experience of managing staff.
• Previous NHS experience.
• Experience of dealing with challenging behaviour.
• Experience of dealing with confidential or sensitive issues.
• Substantial experience of working within a large complex organisation, operating within organisational framework.
• Experience in performance monitoring of contracts and auditing processes in Facilities functions (including Domestic & Linen Services).
• Experience in the design and introduction of corrective action plans regarding service provision contracts.
• Staff development and training.
• Project management.
• Experience of change management, especially in relation to organisational and professional culture.

Skills and Knowledge

• Proven leadership skills with the ability to provide direction.
• Excellent communication and understanding skills in all aspects of team & people management, including supervision and appraisal processes.
• Excellent level of written and spoken English, with demonstrable comprehension skills.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise a range of complex tasks & problem solve.
• Ability to work with spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel, to manipulate data and present reports in a range of formats.
• Ability to use Management systems, inputting and extracting data & producing reports.
• Knowledge of Hospital Support Service functions.
• Knowledge of National Standards of Health Care Cleanliness and audit processes.
• Knowledge of risk management processes.

Physical Skills

• Moving and Handling.
• Ability to sit at workstations as necessary.
• Have a calm disposition especially when under pressure.
• Able to relate to and work with senior managers for multidisciplinary teams.
• Able to drive.

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.

Employer name

City Hospitals Independent Commercial Enterprises Ltd (CHoICE)

We welcome all applications regardless of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups.