Job Summary
We are seeking a dedicated and professional Head Porter to join our team at South West London & St George's Mental Health Trust. You will play a key role in delivering a high-quality porting service for our patients and staff across all sites. This is a dynamic and rewarding role that requires attention to detail and a willingness to challenge current processes to develop the portering teams to be both efficient and to deliver enhanced services which will benefit the porters and the Trust.
You will provide support to the Soft FM department and be a key contact to contractors and visitors to the Soft FM department.
Previous applicants need not apply.
Job Responsibilities
* To manage and direct the team on Portering activities including, domestic and clinical waste removal, blood sample/blood product collections, transport of medical gases, post duties and departmental cover, etc. using machinery in full compliance with safe operating procedures as required.
* To be responsible for shift supervision including the compilation of scheduled and portering requested duties daily to produce monthly performance reports.
* Responsible for allocating duties and shifts using the agreed staff roster system ensuring effective Portering cover within allocated budgets and providing monthly payroll information to the Soft FM Manager ensuring all shift enhancements and overtime are captured correctly. To lead Portering Chargehands to ensure continued service supervision during times of absence, annual leave or sickness in line with agreed Working Time Directive arrangements.
* To work collaboratively with colleagues and managers within the wider Estates and Facilities team.
* Responsible for ensuring that all Portering staff work in accordance with Health and Safety Guidelines and Trust/Departmental policies and procedures at all times.
* Lead on the planning of work schedules/staffing levels, highlighting to the Soft FM Manager any perceived need for staff overtime and bank expenditure to meet fluctuating service activity/demands.
* To ensure all shifts are staffed appropriately at all times, staff contingency plans are in place. Wherever possible, initial absences must be covered by the Charge Hand Porters.
* To compile monthly performance data reports analysing trends and contributing to the wider departments continuous improvement aims.
* To ensure all mandatory training for the team is up to date, supporting where necessary.
* To lead on the recruitment and selection of staff to ensure staff levels meet service requirements in conjunction with the Soft FM Manager. To proactively manage the process of managing sickness absence in line with Trust policy including the completion of Return-to-Work documentation and holding formal/informal sickness review meetings with staff.
* To lead on the stages of disciplinary, capability and grievance action, in accordance with the relevant HR polices.
* Maintain efficient and accurate records, quality audits, training records and equipment audits including staff records and operational changes and updates.
* To be responsible for developing and maintaining a procedure folder (SOPs) to enable relief staff to undertake portering/post/pharmacy delivery duties when required.
* To ensure the teams are directed to top up wards with clean linen based on minimum stock levels and that dirty linen is collected from wards on a daily basis.
* To manage the teams to ensure the correct transfer of clinical, domestic and recycling waste from all areas to external waste compounds.
* To schedule off site jobs ensuring completion in a timely manner and to follow up to ensure client satisfaction.
* To be responsible for ensuring the vehicles are maintained, taxed, MOT and serviced. Any incident/accidents are reported to the insurance company.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Job Location and Details
Job locations: Springfield University Hospital, 15 Springfield Drive, London, SW17 0YF
Pay scheme: Agenda for change. Band: Band 4. Salary: £33,094 to £36,195 per annum inclusive of inner London HCAS. Contract: Permanent. Working pattern: Full-time. Reference number: 294-CORP-7573412-JB-A. Date posted: 27 October 2025.
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications – Essential
* Good standard of literacy and numeracy (level 2)
* Diploma/Level 3, City and Guilds or can evidence equivalent knowledge acquired through training and experience
* Manual handling training
Desirable
* Team Leading NVQ - Level 2
Experience – Essential
* Experience of leading within a Portering or Soft Facilities environment.
* Experience of dealing with patient/customer queries, complaints and issues regarding their services.
* Experience of undertaking stock counts and being responsible for the upkeep of stock and equipment relevant to the department.
* Experience of reviewing work plans and directing teams to meet targets within deadlines.
Desirable
* Experience of working within the NHS, ideally within a Mental Health.
* Experience of using database systems.
Knowledge & Skills – Essential
* Intermediate IT skills to include knowledge of Microsoft packages for example, Word, Excel, Outlook
* Effective in their ability to plan and organise their own and team workloads
* Ability to investigate and analyse operational issues, using initiative to provide solutions
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills
* Good understanding of franking machines
Desirable
* Understanding of the principles of Equal Opportunities
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.
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.
Employer Details
South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
Springfield University Hospital
15 Springfield Drive
London
SW17 0YF
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