Service Manager in Eastbourne

Main area Service Manager - Urgent Care Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (working cross site) Job ref 374-LL0406

Employer East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site Eastbourne DGH - CQ hospital - cross Site Town Eastbourne Salary £57,528 - £64,750 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 27/11/2026 23:59

Service Manager

NHS AfC: Band 8a

We are proud to provide ‘Outstanding’ care and be a great place to work.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area.

We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £700 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex.

Our extensive health services are provided by over 8,000+ dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people’s own homes.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Outstanding’ for being Caring and Effective. The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and our Community Services were rated ‘Outstanding’ and Eastbourne DGH was rated ‘Good’ Our two acute hospitals have Emergency Departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services.

Job overview

Are you ready to lead change and make a real impact in Acute Medicine?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Service Manager to join the Medicine and Urgent Care Division at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

This role comes at a time where there are projects taking place within the acute setting, to enhance patient pathways. You will work closely , as Service Manager for Acute Medicine , with colleagues across the Medicine and Urgent Care Division, Acute Medicine and Emergency Departments to deliver more integrated, responsive care for our population.

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading and supporting service improvement projects to enhance patient flow and experience.
• Advising and supporting daily service operational delivery.
• Working collaboratively with Head of Care Group, Clinical Leads, and Heads of Nursing.
• Managing a busy and varied workload, using initiative and sound judgement to prioritise effectively.
• Building strong relationships across multidisciplinary teams to deliver divisional objectives.

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a supportive and forward-thinking team, driving meaningful change in Acute Medicine.

Main duties of the job

The post will be based cross Eastbourne District General Hospital and Conquest Hospital.

What we’re looking for:

• A proactive, solutions-focused leader with experience in operational service management and a sounds understanding of the operational management of elderly care pathways.
• Someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can work autonomously.
• A team player who understands the challenges faced by clinical and non-clinical colleagues alike.
• A passion for improving care for older people and a commitment to service excellence.

We can promise you a challenging and diverse role that will both stretch and develop you, and your professional development will be strongly encouraged and supported. Pleases see job description and person specification for full details.

Working for our organisation

• staff development
• enrolment in the NHS pension scheme
• auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service
• access to nurseries at Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne District General Hospital
• staff restaurants
• on-site staff accommodation

• free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme which is available to staff 24 hours a day 7 days a week
• onsite parking is available for a small administration fee

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the job description attached.

If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or proven equivalent experience, skills and knowledge
• Recognised postgraduate leadership / management qualification or equivalent training and experience.
• Evidence of ongoing relevant CPD to masters equivalent
• Budget management qualification or equivalent level of knowledge and experience
• Professional healthcare qualification, with current registration
• Additional qualifications relevant to Service speciality
• ECDL or an equivalent recognised IT qualification

Experience

• A broad range of in-depth managerial and/or clinical experience at a senior level in NHS or a similar large complex organisation.
• Demonstrates an ability to critically analyse, problem solve and prioritise.
• Experience of effective management of health care related services
• Evidence of service delivery and of holding others to account
• Proven experience of staff management
• Experience of managing budgets.
• Relevant experience in a similar role in NHS
• Experience of undertaking service improvement audit
• Project management

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver effectively
• Working knowledge of structure, functions, culture and values of NHS and relationship with other agencies particularly in portfolio areas
• Innovative leader able to inspire and motivate teams and individuals to the benefit of organisation, staff and patients
• Well organised critical thinker who is able to organise and direct others
• Able to present complex information on professional and governance issues to colleagues and those from other professions; management teams, patient and public
• Enhanced skills in clinical specialty.

Patients come first at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Our vision is to be:

• The healthcare provider of first choice for the people of East Sussex.

Our mission is to:

• Deliver better health outcomes and an excellent experience for everyone we provide with healthcare services.

Our strategic objectives are to:

• Improve quality and clinical outcomes by ensuring that safe patient care is our highest priority.
• Play a leading role in local partnerships to meet the needs of our local population and improve and enhance patients’ experiences.
• Use our resources efficiently and effectively for the benefit of our patients and their care to ensure our services are clinically, operationally and financially sustainable.

Our aims are that all services delivered by the Trust are:

• Safe
• Effective
• Caring
• Responsive and
• Well led

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.