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East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

About

At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust:

We provide high quality services for the local population of over half a million people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area.

We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.
We treat nearly three quarters of a million patients a year from the most serious of emergencies to planned operations and procedures.
We offer care across Three hospital sites, and various community sites, using state-of-the-art facilities.

In this section you’ll find information about our hospitals, the goals the Trust is working hard to achieve, the annual plan and reports on how we are performing.

We are always try to deliver the highest quality care to our patients and have ambitious plans to continue to improve the services we offer in response to the changing needs of our patients.

Background.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust is an NHS Organisation, which was formed on the 1st April 2003, following the merger of Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust and Burnley Health Care NHS Trust.

In addition to a full range of acute hospital services the trust is a growing centre for emergency hospital services, Hepato Biliary, Head and Neck and Urological Cancer services, a growing centre for Cardiology services and a network provider of Level III Neonatal Intensive Care.

The Trust has a total of over 950 inpatient beds at Burnley General Teaching Hospital and Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital. Inpatient rehabilitation services are also provided at Pendle Community Hospital and at the Rakehead Unit at Burnley General

Contact

Address: Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital; Haslingden Road; Blackburn; Lancashire; BB2 3HH
Contact Number: 01254732075

Find out more

Jobs Website

Open

Ref: 435-1LSC-UHMBT-096-25 Vacancy ID: 7596406

Associate Director of Estates

Accepting applications until: 10-Dec-2025 23:59

Vacancy status: Open

Accepting applications until: 10-Dec-2025 23:59

Location

Site: Westmorland General Hospital
Address: Burton Road
Town: Kendal
Postcode: LA9 7RG
Major / Minor Region: Cumbria

Contract type & working pattern

Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Salary

Salary: £76,965 - £88,682 On call payments where applicable
Salary period: Yearly
Grade: (8c)

Specialty

Main area: Estates Management

Lancashire and South Cumbria Provider Collaborative (OneLsc)

The five provider NHS trusts in Lancashire and South Cumbria are working together as partners, delivering joint priorities to improve health and healthcare.

Together, we aim to drive up quality by sharing skills and best practice, pooling our resources and standardising the way we work to reduce variation and duplication.

We want to ensure patients have equal access to the same high-quality care wherever they live. We also want our colleagues to have the same high-quality experience wherever they work.

One Lancashire and South Cumbria (One LSC) and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay has a firm commitment to strengthening the diversity of our workforce, and therefore welcome and encourage applications from likeminded people who can support our ambition to become effortlessly inclusive. We are particularly keen to hear from protected groups – including BAME, LGBT+ and people with a disability.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will undertake the duties of Authorised Person/Responsible Person as required.

Act as the Estates Divisions operational services specialist advising on, producing, and maintaining a range a range of Trust-Wide / One LSC Estates policies and procedures that reflect the requirements of the regulation, legislation and guidance relating to the varied disciplines.

Responsible for the maintenance of the Estates / One LSC operational services risks on the Risk register, ensuring Health and Safety training is undertaken as required and attendance at Health and Safety meetings to support the upkeep of a risk awareness culture.

Responsibility for interpreting government and organisational policy in determining both day to day work and actions and longer-term strategic priorities in in all areas of responsibility, this will involve setting standards and performance indicators for areas of responsibility.

Represent the Trust / One LSC on Local and National Estates Forums working with DH and NHS Estates and engage with other public sector and external organisations including Local councils, educational institutions, and commercial partners to develop wider strategies for the benefit of the organisation as and when required.

Fully participate in the Trust’s / One LSC’s WRP (Waste Reduction Plan) to deliver financial Sustainability.

To ensure that the provision of the wide-ranging operational services are executed in line with all relevant legislation, regulation and guidance appertaining to the field of work.

To have in place systems, processes and information that enables assurances to be provided to the Trust Board and One LSC that the Trust is meeting its statutory compliance obligations.

Develops the managerial and supervisory capability within the teams and ensuring that there is a full knowledge and understanding of the Health Board’s policies and procedures.

Through the Estates Managers, ensure the environment within the Trust is safe for service users and staff and the services delivered by teams to be of a high quality that meet the needs of service users and staff.

Develop strategies and policies for service improvement, linked to service need, and to develop performance measures capable of demonstrating continuous improvement.

Estates plan efficiently delivered through robust business cases demonstrating best value for money.

Ensure that the built environment is conducive to the provision of high-quality patient care through ensuring that it is safe, accessible, clean, and fit for purpose and supports the provision of high-quality patient care.

Carry out periodic condition assessments and the use of resulting data to inform capital and revenue programmes of work to address any backlog maintenance issues utilising the outcome of the 6-facet survey.

Lead on the development and implementation of the Trust’s Green Plan and monitor the actions in response to the NHS net zero carbon. Ensure the maximisation of the Trust’s / One LSC decarbonisation plan and that all opportunities of potential funding are sought.

LEADERSHIP

Lead on specific aspects of research and development projects, involving benchmarking and the implementation of latest good practice seeking to demonstrate high quality and robust service delivery regimes. To be achieved by specialist professional knowledge of estate processes and systems gained by personal experience and post graduate courses.

Lead on change management based on experience, ensuring continuous improvement is maintained.

Responsible for leading/participating in a range of projects/programme of works/schemes across the Department, Division Trust wide and when applicable support across One LSC as and when required.

Post holder to have highly developed physical skills, with accurate use of fine tools and equipment and ability to develop and interpret computerised technical drawings. Regular requirement to use computer software to develop/create reports, documents, and drawings. Responsible for the operation of one or more information systems.

The post holder must be flexible in delivery of the role, with unpredictable work hours.

Post holder will assist patients/visitors during incidental contact.

Support collaborative change and standardisation across One LSC Estates Functions

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Accountable for the overall financial performance of the Estates Directorate: Ensuring fiscal responsibility and efficiency.

Responsible for managing the Estates directorate budgets, including pay and non-pay: Overseeing accurate budget forecasting and expenditure tracking.

Responsible for overseeing budget expenditure, analysing variance figures, and identifying remedial actions: Maintaining financial control and addressing discrepancies.

Ensure high-quality, cost-effective facilities services by managing operations and finances: Optimize resources and service delivery.

Responsible for budget setting and business planning for the Estates teams and services: Developing and managing comprehensive financial plans.

Responsible for ensuring the Estates team complies with Trust / One LSC’s financial policies and procedures and the Trust / One LSC’s Standard Financial Instructions (SFIs): Adhering to regulatory standards and financial protocols.

Ensure value for money in external supply chain contracts through regular reviews and competitive tendering per Trust / One LSC’s SFIs.

Responsible for ensuring appropriate approvals according to Trust / One LSC’s SFIs, policies, and procedures: Maintaining compliance with governance frameworks.

Responsible for submitting annual applications for capital projects relating to Estates, and establishing suitable governance procedures to oversee project performance and outcomes.

Support the Capital Project team in developing and delivering the Trust's Capital program, contributing to strategic capital investments.

Responsible for exploring commercial opportunities for revenue generation: Marketing Estates Services to external agencies and healthcare providers within the Integrated Care System (ICS). Creating business plans to support new work and business acquisitions.

Responsible for evaluating and creating business cases and proposals to attract new investment opportunities. This includes introducing innovative service delivery methods and proposing new business ventures within Estates Services for the Trust / One LSC.

Monitor Financial Performance Metrics: Regularly review financial KPIs / base line reporting to ensure targets are met.

Engagement in Financial Audits: Ensure readiness for internal and external financial audits and inspections.

FREEDOM TO ACT

Responsible for interpreting legislation, statutory and non-statutory requirements within the Estates portfolio.

PERSONNELL MANAGEMENT

Provide managerial support and leadership to ensure that appropriate health and safety processes are in place and that health and safety, and all Estates systems demonstrate to statutory regulators, compliance in accordance with the Trust’s strategic responsibilities.

Prepare succession plans for key positions and career development plans to ensure high-potential staff have the development opportunities to grow and develop into key roles, within the Trust within One LSC.

Agree personal development plans and jobs performance targets for senior managers, across within the Trust within One LSC.

Manages staff grievances and disciplinary issues as required.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Specialty Heads of Department

One LSC Senior leadership Team

Consultant Medical Staff

Lead Nurse

Senior Nursing Staff

Other Directorate Managers

HR Department

Finance Department

IM&T Department

Planning and Performance Department

Local Commissioning Bodies

Local governing bodies, Emergency Services

Dear Potential Applicant,

It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro-rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay-scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short-listed.

Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS)

If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained.

The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed.

The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure will be £27.38.

This cost is not applicable for a Volunteer post

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The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust.

We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background.

We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible. By telephone 01254 732075 or email [email protected] or write to Employment Services, Parkview Offices, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HH

PLEASE NOTE THAT SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL.

The Trust promotes flexible working opportunities where ever possible to enable staff to balance their work and home life. We are committed to Equal Opportunities and aim to be Effortlessly Inclusive .

The trust operates a No Smoking Policy.

Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our Person Specification will be shortlisted for Interview.

We reserve the right to close a job advert early where sufficient applications have been received.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Person specification

Leadership & Technical

Essential criteria

Educated to master’s degree level or equivalent extensive knowledge and experience in Estates Discipline
Management Qualification or proven experience in senior management position
Extensive senior management experience in the public sector or equivalent experience in the private sector
Currently practicing estates professional with recent experience at the strategic level of an estates function Experience of leading successful change management projects
Experience of delivering papers and presentations to a variety of audiences
Experience of managing large staff teams, managing contracts and contractors Substantial demonstrable experience of project management, financial management, performance management Significant experience of managing budgets
Demonstrable experience in business planning
Experience in development and monitoring of systems, policies, and procedures.
Experience of managing Hard FM preferably in an NHS/Health environment
Proven knowledge of PLACE standards & CQC compliance

Desirable criteria

Full member of a relevant and recognised professional institution.
Appropriate professional qualification in health, or related discipline.
Continued Professional development
A good understanding of Estates and Capital priorities, challenges, and funding in the NHS
Knowledge of complex engineering systems and maintenance procedures