Senior Patient Pathway Coordinator

Job overview

The post holder will be responsible for the line management of the administrative staff and for ensuring the smooth running of the directorate in relation to its administration functions. They will manage the administrative, clerical and secretarial needs of the directorate and ensure, through careful monitoring of workloads that activity targets are met and that patient management is in line with the patient access policy. Other key tasks will include managing various projects/developments from inception to implementation.

As key point of contact in the department, the post holder will be expected to exercise initiative, prioritise conflicting work demands and to communicate effectively all times with a wide range of individuals within both the Trust and external to the organisation. To support the delivery of a high quality, safe and compassionate healthcare service, all staff are expected to act as a role model to others in all aspects of their work.

Main duties of the job

• Lead and manage the Directorate’s administrative and clerical team, including workload allocation, staffing, leave and absence management.
• Manage recruitment, induction, performance, appraisals, training and development of administrative staff.
• Monitor workforce capacity and skills mix to maximise resources and maintain service delivery.
• Ensure compliance with Trust HR policies, mandatory training, health and safety and other statutory requirements.
• Lead the development and implementation of administrative policies, procedures and improvements to working practices.
• Support service development and pathway improvement initiatives, including cancer pathways and delivery of 28 FDS.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. In June 2026, we launched our new strategy for 2026-31. Our vision is to transform healthcare, and we have agreed six strategic ambitions to help us improve care for patients, and the working lives of our staff.

Our six strategic ambitions are delivering high-quality patient care; creating a great place to work; leading pioneering research, innovation and education; building strong and successful partnerships; providing timely and efficient care; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

We have also agreed four new organisational values – Caring, Collaborative, Inclusive, Innovative – and these underpin everything we do, and how our teams interact with the patients under our care.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day running of the Directorate’s administrative staff and resolving any issues that arise. This will include the authorising of annual leave and study leave.
• Monitor the staff workloads and allocate work according to staffing levels and adjust these during periods of sickness or unexpected changes in workload.
• Manage administrative staff sickness in line with Trust HR policies, undertaking return to work interviews, stage 1 and stage 2 interviews. To liaise with human Resources, where appropriate, in issues of sickness and phased returns to work.
• To be responsible for the recruitment of secretarial staff, devising adverts and job descriptions, short-listing, interviewing and taking up references, chairing the interview panel.
• Undertake appraisals on the secretaries and clerical support staff and formulating PDP plans, including the identification of training needs and to provide opportunities for staff to undergo relevant training.
• Undertake mandatory training on a regular basis, ensuring that the administrative staff also comply with the requirements for mandatory training and adhere to the Health and safety at Work act.
• Ensure that all Consultants are allocated secretarial support to cover their secretarial duties and ensure training is provided where appropriate.
• Ensure that all clinical sessions are allocated adequate clerical staff and ensure training is provided where appropriate.
• Train new and bank administrative staff on the job and ensure that progress is monitored.
• Initiate and participate in the development of policies and procedures affecting the administration staff. Implement changes to practice/protocols and overcome conflicts/lack of knowledge.
• Liaise with Consultants and CNS in the development of services e.g. cancer pathway improvement initiatives to support with 28 FDS.
• To act as the administrative lead on the department Clinical Governance Committee.
• Support Operational Managers with ENT and Audiology Service improvement plan ensuring the smooth delivery of high quality care e.g. upgrade of software, equipment and building SEL support network with a focus of staff development.
• Lead, coach and manage the performance of the team in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed.
• Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure each member of the team has a clear set of objectives and development plans.
• Ensure the team is compliance with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements, ensuring they are up to date and fully compliant.
• Manage team absences including sickness in line with Trust policy ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, e-roster is updated and productivity is at keep to the highest possible level.
• Identify and fill any vacancies that arise within the team in line with the Trust’s recruitment policy and process.

Person specification

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Experience of managing and supervising groups of staff
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
• Excellent word-processing and spreadsheet skills, including Microsoft word and excel

Desirable criteria

• Basic knowledge of Cancer and its management
• A Level or NVQ level 3 in business administration or equivalent

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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Relying too much on AI can negatively impact your chances of success because automatically generated answers:

• might not be specific or relevant enough to address the criteria in the recruitment profile
• often seem generic and not personalised enough – an AI response won’t show your unique voice and perspective
• could misrepresent information about you, such as your qualifications, skills and experience

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.

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