Job description

This is a challenging and rewarding senior leadership role at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust with the ability to make a significant impact on the Trust’s future growth, strategic development and sustainability as well as make best use of our estate to support modern patient care.

The Director of Estates and Facilities will have overarching responsibility for leading, developing and delivering the Trust’s estates and facilities management services and strategy.

This strategy will include emphasis on the maintenance and enhancement of the quality of the estate now and into the future, identifying opportunities to optimise our operational footprint whilst supporting the major capital development plans set out in the Trusts site masterplan.

Working with stakeholders will be key to ensure the Trusts estates strategy is aligned to the clinical needs of the Trust and wider system and can encompass the ideas and aspirations of our staff and service users.

You will continue to build upon the progress made in developing an estates and facilities function fit for the future by setting improvement standards, building commercial management capability within estates and facilities services and proactively working with stakeholders to innovate our estates and facilities services.

In addition to the work within the Trust, the Director of Estates and Facilities will play a key leadership role across the wider health and care system supporting as required relevant and discrete pieces of work that may be required by the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Integrated Care System.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is the biggest provider of healthcare services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Our three main sites are Royal Cornwall Hospital Truro, St Michael's Hospital Hayle and West Cornwall Hospital Penzance, our staff and services are available across the region.

The Trust employs 5,000+ staff, has a budget of £380 million and 750 beds

We work with health and social care organisations including NHS Kernow and NHS England to ensure local healthcare needs are met. We provide acute medical, surgical and specialist services to around 500,000 which can increase significantly during busy holiday periods.

The Trust has teaching hospitals status as part of the University of Exeter Medical School. Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, we continually developing clinical services and are committed to maximising the range of specialist care offered locally.

We can offer you a rewarding career in a supportive working environment. We have extensive educational links to help you realise your full potential and develop skills to provide outstanding healthcare to the local community.

Enjoy an outstanding quality of life in a place that offers surfing beaches and fishing harbours to beautiful countryside and historic towns. With clean air, plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities and excellent schools, colleges and universities (including adult education) it is the ideal place for families and for you to develop your own career

Be responsible for the management of pay and non-pay budget for the Estates and Facilities ensuring value for money in accordance with the Procurement Strategy and in accordance with the Trust’s Standing Financial Instructions.

Contribute to the achievement of the Trust financial plan, ensuring that resources are deployed efficiently and E&F services work within agreed financial plans and deliver cash releasing efficiency savings, within the framework of the CIP programme.

Lead the delivery of efficiency improvements through the E&F Improvement Programme, encouraging and supporting E&F Leadership Teams and their staff to identify and improvement opportunities for service transformation.

Identify and take forward approved business opportunities for E&F services, keeping up to date with competitor information and market trends, keeping a careful eye on balancing costs and quality in business case submissions.

Ensure that the Estates and Facilities Services are regularly reviewed and compared with services both internally and externally to the Trust using appropriate benchmarking and best practice information such as Model Hospital and use this information to identify and implement efficiencies and service improvements.

Be responsible for implementation of the Trust’s Capital Programme to time, cost and quality, applying extensive experience of formal project management and capital procurement techniques and ensuring high professional standards of project management and contract administration.

Be responsible for bringing together strategic and operational Estates teams to ensure the successful progression of major capital schemes and the Trust’s proactive/reactive maintenance programme.

Be responsible for the management of Trust’s estate including the procurement of goods and services, and procurement for major redevelopments, property acquisitions, disposals and strategic development of the Trust’s sites.

Be responsible for the development and implementation of the Trust’s plans to achieve environmental compliance. Ensure efficient management of energy to achieve maximum operational efficiency.

Be responsible for the development and implementation of the Trust’s Fire Policy and requirements in line with the Regulatory Reform Order (RRO). This includes responsibility for the development and implementation of fire safety training across the Trust.

Provide expertise and advice across the Trust, on development of business cases including complex multi stranded business cases and procurement of equipment and services.

Be responsible for the commissioning and managing the services of external specialist consultants and contractors as required.

Responsible for providing accurate and relevant Estates and Facilities Management Information Systems that meet user and Trust requirements.

Support the development of technological practices through researching, developing, testing and introducing new systems and equipment to enhance the Department’s service. This will involve the trialling of new equipment and managing projects to address key issues such as infection control, (ie air ionisation decontamination and air purification).

The jobholder has corporate responsibility for the following Estates and Facilities policies and will ensure that they are systematically reviewed and implemented through advice and training:

Management of Asbestos

Water Safety including Legionellae.

Fire Safety

High & Low Voltage Authorised Person

Medical Gases

Management of Contractors

Working at Heights

Confined Spaces

Health & Safety at Work Act – including the safe management and

Maintenance of pressure vessels, passenger lifts, etc.

Environmental Hygiene

Security.

Lead on the development and management of an Estates Strategy and Development Control Plan that is aligned to the Trusts overall strategy, commercial aspirations and clinical strategies.

Support clinical teams in developing environments that offer the very best standards that are future proofed, evidence based and clinically appropriate to the needs of our patients.

Be responsible for the development and implementation of the Trust’s Transport Strategy.

Meet, and strive to exceed, the requirements of all Regulators: NHSE/I and the Care Quality Commission, as well as our Commissioners and partners.

Ensure the Trust is compliant with the relevant legislative and Department of Health guidance obligations at all times.

Ensure that PLACE standards and PAM assurance criteria are aligned to the Care Quality Commissions expectations of E&F services and the provision of patient and staff environments

Contribute to the development of the Trust’s vision and strategic goals and to provide the relevant corporate operational support to implement them.

Develop effective and mature external working relationships with service providers, statutory bodies and other relevant stakeholders.

Lead, develop and ensure delivery of the Annual Plan for the Estates and Facilities Services.

Regularly report through to the Trust Board progress on the delivery of the E&F strategy, strategic projects and key risk outcomes in order to provide assurance and alignment of objectives.

Ensure clear lines of accountability and effective management of all direct reports, in accordance with the employment policies and practices of the Trust. This includes, recruitment, selection, performance management, identification of training and development needs and setting of annual objectives in line with Trust policy and the Trust strategic objectives.

Foster a culture of life-long learning, including continuing professional education/development and vocational training of employees within Estates and Facilities and establish systems to ensure compliance with mandatory training requirements. In addition, where there is a mandatory requirement to ensure professional competency for the purposes of professional indemnity/corporate credence, ensure Trust Policy is implemented to monitor the status registered professional with Estates and Facilities.

Provide leadership and management in disciplinary and grievance cases and participating as appropriate at hearing and appeal stages.

Develop and deliver workforce plans for Estates and Facilities, working strategically across services to develop and deliver plans to meet the needs of the service taking into account external factors such as technology, economics and demographics. This will include identifying opportunities for skills sharing across functions to develop flexible and responsive teams.

Lead service line plans to reduce the level of vacancies and increase retention rates, thereby reducing turnover and reliance on bank and agency staff. This includes options for flexible working, new roles and new ways of working.

Develop devolved leadership in the E&F support services within an explicit framework of authority, responsibility and accountability.

Where required, represent the Trust and carry out appropriate level negotiations with employees, staff side organisations, specialist consultants, contractors or any other external agency commissioned on behalf of the Trust.

Build, maintain and evidence a high performance culture through effective performance management within E&F support services.

Demonstrate a coaching style of leadership in ensuring that staff and stakeholder engagement is reflected in the decision making process. In all aspects of leadership, the Director of Estates and Facilities will personally demonstrate and seek the delivery of the Trust’s values.

Provide professional, policy and technical advice to the Executive Directors, General Managers, Trust Departments and outside bodies concerning development and management of the Estate and regarding delivery of facilities management services.

Advise the Chief Executive and Executive Team on the action the Trust should take in response to national guidance and the deployment of best practice.

Be required to research, develop, update and introduce Estates and Facilities organisational policies, procedures and codes of practice, in accordance with published and updated NHS and statutory guidelines to ensure compliance with legislation and industry best practice.

Have corporate responsibility for the effective management of facilities services, maintenance and operation of all buildings, plant and associated services in an economical and safe manner and ensuring compliance with statutory and legislative requirements, Health and Safety and Policy.

Be responsible for overseeing and coordinating the effective implementation of non-clinical risk management processes and systems in line with the strategies and policies of the Trust and in accordance with national guidance and statute as appropriate.

Be responsible for ensuring that records relating to facilities management and maintenance activities to demonstrate compliance with relevant guidelines are completed.

Ensure there is a system in place for the dissemination and communication of Trust policy within Estates and Facilities and that the process is practiced, monitored and evaluated.

Have corporate responsibility for the management and development of the Trust’s physical assets, including management of the Estates & Facilities Risk Register ensuring that it is reviewed and updated regularly.

The post holder must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety Act 1974 to ensure that the agreed procedures are carried out to maintain a safe and secure environment for the people who use the Trust’s services, including staff and visitors.