SAFE Centre Manager

Job overview

Reporting to the matron for gynaecology, breast and SAFE centre, and working closely with the clinical director, the centre manager will be accountable for leading the team and the service operation at the Lancashire SAFE Centre. The post older will form part of a small team within the centre responsible for coordinating all aspects of the centre activity, including the UKAS accreditation process and the ongoing maintenance, once achieved.

The centre manager will lead in the recruitment and training of crisis workers and will line manage the substantive team members and on call crisis workers.

The centre manager has delegated responsibility to attend external meetings in relation to police and NHS England commissioning. In addition they are responsible for overseeing and producing rotas including the monthly on call rota for the Centre as well as support in data entry, data analysis and report writing.

The centre manager will liaise with examiners and crisis workers to support any cases during the core service hours where required.

As part of the requirement for this role, the post holder must be willing to submit a DNA sample for storage on the police elimination database for purposes of exclusion from investigation only.

Main duties of the job

The Centre Manager leads the daily operation of the Lancashire SAFE Centre, ensuring the service runs safely, efficiently and in line with UKAS accreditation standards. The role provides leadership across the multidisciplinary team — including crisis workers, the quality manager and administrative staff — to maintain high‑quality, compassionate care for all service users.

A key responsibility is managing accreditation and the quality management system, ensuring audits, documentation and forensic standards are consistently met. The post holder supports data collection, analysis and reporting, and leads on recruitment, training, supervision and competency assessment of crisis workers and other staff.

The role involves close partnership working with Police, NHS England, the ICB, Trust safeguarding teams and other agencies, as well as liaison with external stakeholders such as UKAS, SARCs and forensic services. You will act as a point of contact for complex enquiries, represent the Centre at external meetings and deputise for the Matron when required.

The manager ensures the environment, equipment and processes meet forensic and clinical standards, oversees rota planning and contributes to governance, risk management and service improvement. They maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of legislation and quality standards, ensuring policies and procedures remain compliant and clearly communicated.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communicate with all levels of staff from the Trust and Police within the Sexual Assault network providing advice, feedback and reports regarding complex, sensitive issues representing the Centre and the Trust at local and regional events as required.

Provide a key link between the department’s senior management team, ensuring that programmes of work are co-coordinated effectively and deadlines met.

Accountable for the delivery of UKAS accreditation and yearly maintenance of the standards to ensure accreditation is maintained, the quality management system is in place and a programme of audit is conducted

Support the matron and clinical director in setting, monitoring and maintaining standards in the SAFE Centre relating to all clinical governance, workforce and UKAS standards.

To support the service to maintain a quality management system and roll out core training for all staff on how to use it, including collation, submission and interpretation of data and report writing (including SARCIPS submissions to NHSE).

Act as a point of contact deal with all forms of enquiries/visitors (telephone/face to face, correspondence) in a competent and professional manner, maintaining a professional image appropriate to the office manager role and creating a positive image of the organisation. Will respond to medical, police enquiries, and others as appropriate upholding the Trust reputation to both internal and external stakeholders.

Quality management system is robustly implemented to meet the needs of the forensic science regulator code and the ISO15189 standards to enable UKAS accreditation

Maintain and develop own professional competence and seek to extend the scope of personal knowledge and skills within the role

Communicates all relevant information to the multidisciplinary team, both internally and external organisations as required.

Ensures environment safe, well equipped and compliant with standards for UKAS accreditation, forensic decontamination and environmental monitoring is conducted and ensures the centre adheres to the standards set by the forensic science regulator.

Maintain accurate and complete records of all care activities, in a timely manner, adhering to local and professional standards for documentation

Promote equality in care and practice by recognising, respecting and meeting the needs and choices of individuals accessing the SAFE Centre.

Safeguards children, young people and vulnerable adults by escalating concerns in line with Trust policy and regulatory frameworks.

Attends and contributes to relevant safeguarding meetings within Trust and with partners (e.g. ICB).

Ensure rota is maintained within budgetary requirements and distributed to the relevant organisations, gaps are escalated, ensuring all SOEs and CWs have regular shifts to maintain their competence.

LLine management responsibilities include management of vacancies, recruitment and induction, sickness absence, performance management and appraisals, training compliance and clinical supervision including regular team meetings.

Financial Management - Within specific area of responsibility ensure robust financial controls are in place, resources are effectively utilised and relevant financial targets are achieved. Assistance is given in the formulation of service development/business plans, participating in performance review processes as appropriate. The post holder will ensure financial viability and a balanced budget.

Ensure clinical governance and risk management processes within the service provided at Lancashire SAFE Centre is agreed through the relevant  existing governance procedures and escalated as needed. Will contribute to the clinical governance framework as per Trust police and PSIRF principles managing clinical incidents, risk and patient feedback accordingly.