Locality Manager Review

Item: Locality Manager at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
Rating: 4.1
Author: Anonymous

at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

Degree Apprenticeship

Business Management, Business Operations, Healthcare, Project Management

Rugby

Review Submitted: May 2026

Overall Rating

4.1 /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!

4.5/5 - Overview of Role

5/5 - Skills Development

3.8/5 - 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

Activity and Quality of Service Issues:
- Manage performance and resources in the Locality to meet activity targets.
- Support the executive team in contract negotiations with commissioners.
- Ensure targets are met and address any issues promptly.
- Deliver system-wide strategic and business planning.
- Manage performance against quality standards.
- Lead on transformation plans and service changes.
- Collaborate with external stakeholders for early intervention.
Finance:
- Manage financial performance and implement corrective action.
- Communicate resource implications and changes to the executive team.
- Assist executive team in negotiating service budgets with ICB.
- Achieve effectiveness and efficiency targets.
Information and Communication:
- Implement communication strategies and act on patient feedback.
- Manage staff working hours and ensure compliance with regulations.
- Utilise communication systems effectively.
- Establish feedback systems for user and carer input.
General Management:
- Provide cover for the General Manager and Associate Directors when needed.
- Take a lead on corporate issues.
- Provide senior strategic & tactical managerial leadership.
- Adhere to the Trust's Complaints Procedure.
- Represent the Division and participate in Trust-wide committees.
- Ensure governance agenda and standards are met.
- Promote a safe working environment.
- Participate in appraisals, training, and development activities.
- Encourage continuous improvement and learning.
- Review mistakes, complaints, incidents/near misses, and successes.
- Provide short-term cover for colleagues.
- Undertake any other duties as required by the executive team.
Communications and Working Relationships:
- Work closely with the executive team to manage the Division.
- Collaborate with various departments to develop and deliver services.
- Engage with clinical networks and patient organizations.
- Adhere to corporate governance, controls assurance, and NHS Code of Conduct

To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

5/5

I really enjoyed the challenging aspects of the course: learning new things, seeing issues from a business perspective, and the practical application of my knowledge through the apprenticeship element of the EMBA. I use a lot of my recently learned EMBA skills in my job.

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

5/5

Yes, I have developed a range of new skills and strengthened existing ones throughout the EMBA. In particular, I have enhanced my business and strategic thinking by learning to approach challenges from a wider organisational and commercial perspective.
I have also significantly developed my data and project analytics skills, including analysing and interpreting data to support decision-making, using process mapping techniques to improve operational understanding, and applying decision trees and other analytical tools to evaluate risks, outcomes, and strategic options.
The programme has further strengthened my leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities, particularly through collaborative projects, presentations, and the practical apprenticeship element of the course. Applying academic concepts directly within the workplace has helped me become more confident in managing projects, driving improvements, and making evidence-based decisions.

Structure and Support

How well organised/structured is your programme?

4/5

Well, but I would have liked two extra modules,a specific project management and programme management using PRINCE2, Agile, MSP, Scrum and other relevant methodologies, and a data science module.

How much support do you receive from your employer?

3/5

I was given one full day a week for academic focus, along with time to attend my lectures. However, I received no help with my workload, which remained the same and was incredibly challenging, as I had to manage a 5-day workload in 4, with no accommodations or work reallocation. This situation has affected my health, both physically and mentally. I developed a bleeding gastric ulcer due to stress and working extensive overtime to meet service needs while still complying with course requirements.

How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

5/5

A lot, they could not do enough to support me emotionally and psychologically.

How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

5/5

Absolutely. I feel my academic knowledge helps me challenge assumptions and behaviours, and ways of approaching things, especially business proposals and projects.

Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

2/5

Not outside Warwick and Leamington sites, nothing in North Warwickshire or Rugby.

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust to a friend?

Yes

Why?

My first 1-2 years here were great. The culture and atmosphere at the trust has, however, deteriorated in the last year and a half, and I am looking for another position elsewhere.