Business Manager Review
at NHS
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Healthcare
Northamptonshire
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
3.3 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
3/5
-
Overview of Role
3/5
-
Skills Development
3/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
Business Manager to the Medical Director, the Medical / Dental Management teams as well as a clinical service, namely Centre for Neuromodulation. Role entails autonomous working ensuring teams are fully supported as well as admin tasks such as diary management, meetings, events, project co-ordination. Liaise with patients and external agencies.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
In the beginning I enjoyed it; however latterly it feels more like a chore to complete work towards end point assessment
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
Awareness around management / leadership skills. Personal development within my role around writing of job descriptions, project work, finance processes
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
Not well organised in the beginning and I have had 6 regional trainers assigned to me throughout the course to date. Each trainer has come with differing views on the workload and standard of work submitted. Guidance has been lacking until I was put in touch with my current (6th) trainer who has established a structure with me, which is working well.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
My direct manager is extremely supportive and always encourages me. My other manager appreciates the need for dedicated time to undertake study, which has been very difficult to diarise until recently, as my day to day workload is immense.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
Until September 2020 when my 6th and current trainer was allocated to me; I would say support from the provider was lacking. I was pretty much left to get on with the workload with no clear guidance / support. This resulted in me having to re-do almost all of my knowledge tasks in a short space of time, which has impacted on my enthusiasm to continue. My current trainer is encouraging me though and is supportive.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
I feel that I have taken on board some of the leadership qualities recognised through the learning but that the course as a whole is not aimed for such different organisations and roles. For example, working in the NHS, we have departments and teams who take on HR functions and Project Management roles and whilst a leader needs to have an awareness of these areas, they're not necessarily responsible for the entirety of a project etc...
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Yes - my Business Development Team has a weekly VUB (virtual Pub) where the team gathers for coffee, lunch, end of day catch ups and plays games, competitions and general coming together.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend NHS to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I have worked at NHFT for almost 13 years and have recommended it to family & friends multiple times. I feel supported by my team and my managers and have been lucky enough to be involved in service inception, development, international opportunities and much more. I have grown as a person too with more confidence to challenge, praise and speak out when necessary.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to NHS?
My advice would be to brace yourselves for working in an organisation that actually visibly cares about its employees wellbeing and future development. Talk, listen and get involved.
