Job overview
Ophthalmology is one of the largest elective specialties at CUH, as DSM you will be responsible for overseeing a busy outpatient and surgical waiting list ensuring high quality care and timely access to treatment for our patients.
Main duties of the job
You will manage a large admin team and work alongside medical, nursing and AHP staff groups daily. The successful candidate will be resilient with strong interpersonal skills and be able to remain calm under pressure. This role is challenging but rewarding and will be well supported by the wider senior team.
Working for our organisation
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
For NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough based roles, all applicants from NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who have identified that they are at risk of redundancy will be prioritised over those not at risk. However, interviews cannot be guaranteed.
This vacancy will close at midnight on 21st August 2025
Interviews are due to be held on 4th September 2025
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
First Degree or equivalent professional qualification
Recognised management qualification
Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
Desirable criteria
Relevant postgraduate qualification in health service management
Experience
Essential criteria
Experience of managing a clinical, social or equivalent service
Success in working collaboratively across professions and services
Demonstrable success in planning and managing waiting lists
Experience of managing a workforce
Desirable criteria
Audit experience in the public sector
Experience working with budgets
Knowledge
Essential criteria
The NHS and modernisation agenda
The importance of successful partnership working
Principles of lifelong learning
Professional education and training
Workforce planning, recruitment and retention
Patient and public involvement
Skills
Essential criteria
Analysis, interpretation & use of information
Ability to motivate and empower others
Excellent communications skills including: a.inter-personal skills b.liaison and negotiation skills c.writing and presentation skills
Influencing clinicians and managers for service improvement
Budget and resource management
Risk management
Computer literacy
Ability to prioritise work, meet tight deadlines and work independently
Positive and effective team worker
Desirable criteria
Ability to work flexible hours
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria
The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
Willingness to work anywhere in the Trust
Willingness to travel, on occasions, within the region and nationally
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Apply online now
Further details / informal visits contact
Name
Alexis Ndebele
Job title
Deputy Operations Manager
Email address
alexis.ndebele1@nhs.net