What job would suit me?
What can I do with my degree?
What job would suit me?
What can I do with my degree?
As a health service manager you'll be responsible for the strategic, financial and day-to-day running of hospital, general practitioner (GP) or community health services.
operational management.
Working in either an NHS setting or the private healthcare sector, you'll manage the cost, delivery and quality of healthcare services. You'll work with both clinical and non-clinical staff, as well as other partner organisations, while considering the demands of political policy and local circumstances.
support ICT systems and plan new provision and development, sometimes for major projects.
Starting salaries for the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme are around £23,000 (excluding the location allowance where this applies). Graduates also receive study leave and NHS pension entitlement.
The average salary on leaving the scheme varies between £27,000 and £37,000, depending on your area of work.
At the most senior levels of management (for example director or chief executive), your salary can range from £90,000 to in excess of £100,000.
For details of salary scales within the NHS, see Agenda for Change (AfC) Pay Rates.
Salaries for private sector management schemes and health service manager roles may vary.
Income figures are intended as a guide only.
You'll typically work 9am to 5pm, although in certain roles and specialist areas you may need to work shifts. Managers are sometimes on-call during evenings or weekends and you should expect to work extra hours during certain periods.
There are often opportunities to work part time or to job share.
Work is usually office-based, although you may need to spend time in different parts of the site (or on a different site).
Vacancies are available across the UK. Larger hospital trusts tend to be located in cities or large towns, while smaller, community-based practices can be found across most locations.
The role can be challenging as managers are expected to implement new policies, often in adverse situations. Because of the wide public interest in health matters, the management and effectiveness of health services will often come under public scrutiny.
In the course of implementing new budgets, systems and policies, you may occasionally encounter lobbying from representatives of the medical professions.
policy and strategy management.
The application process typically takes place between October and March. As you can only apply to one specialism per intake, think carefully about which specialism is right for you. Use the NHS's match-me tool to check which scheme will meet your career needs.
Competition for places is fierce and you'll need to complete an online application followed by a series of online tests. If successful, you'll then have interviews and an assessment centre.
Some private sector providers have their own graduate management training schemes. For more information, check individual websites.
You can also apply directly for junior health service management roles with a relevant degree or equivalent vocational qualifications and background. Although not essential, it may be useful to take a postgraduate degree in management.
It's possible to join at administrator level with GCSEs, or equivalent qualifications, and work your way up, gaining promotion through junior management roles. NHS apprenticeships are also available in areas such as management, IT and business administration and HR.
Experienced staff from other backgrounds, such as nurses, doctors and therapists, can move into general management roles. You can also move into healthcare services management if you've got management experience from other sectors.
the ability to cope with pressure and ongoing change in the form of new medical technology and treatments, policies, practices and reorganisation.
Although it's not essential to have work experience to land a place on the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, you'll need knowledge of the current issues and challenges facing the NHS. Work experience, a work placement or voluntary work in a health service environment will help you gain an insight into the sector.
To work as a health service manager in the NHS or private sector, you'll usually need experience in the area you want to work in as well as an understanding of the health sector.
Health service managers are employed by the NHS in hospitals, general practitioner (GP) surgeries and community health services.
There are also opportunities in the private healthcare sector. BMI Healthcare, for example, is the UK's largest private hospital group with 59 private hospitals throughout the UK.
There are also health service manager opportunities in the armed forces.
websites of private healthcare providers.
If you're on the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, you'll be employed on a fixed-term contract and receive a salary. The scheme lasts for two years (30 months for the finance specialism) and includes a combination of structured work experience and formal management training, projects and attachments.
As part of the training, you'll complete a professional or postgraduate qualification, depending on your specialism. Throughout your training you'll receive mentoring and support from experienced managers and will work in diverse areas of the NHS and in different parts of the country.
If you're not on a graduate management scheme, you may still have access to other in-service management training programmes. Continuing professional development (CPD) is important, and as you progress you're likely to need a professional qualification (if you don't already one) from a relevant body, for example the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development if you're working in HR. You may also need an MBA (Masters in Business Administration).
mentors and coaching from industry experts.
With experience and a recognised professional or managerial qualification, you can become a full member of the IHM and use the initials MIHM after your name.
Although you're not guaranteed a job after completing the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, you are helped to secure your first management post. The opportunities available will depend on your specialism and you can work in a community or hospital setting, and in policy development and operational or strategic planning.
Leadership responsibility starts early and your career should advance quickly. It's possible to move into director or chief executive roles within ten years of completing your training.
If you've entered directly into a junior management role, or have moved up from an administrative role into junior management, you can enhance your career prospects by taking professional qualifications in management and/or relevant specialist areas such as facilities management, human resources (HR) or finance. These are particularly important for jobs at the most senior level.
In general, flexibility and geographical mobility can help you progress your career as you can move to where the opportunities are.
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© Copyright 2019 Graduate Prospects Ltd. All rights reserved.
© Copyright 2019 Graduate Prospects Ltd. All rights reserved.
