Facilities management

Facilities managers ensure that the services that patients need during their stay in hospital are available, such as meals, linen and a clean environemnt. 

Working life

As an NHS facilities manager, you’re typically responsible for a broad range of services including:

  • catering
  • cleaning
  • building maintenance
  • environmental services
  • security
  • reception.

Roles in facilities management

Roles in facilities management are varied and available at different levels. Here are some examples:

Domestic services manager

As a domestic services manager, you’d be responsible for planning and organising the work of those carrying out cleaning and other housekeeping tasks. Domestic supervisors (below) would usually report into you.

Domestic supervisor

In this role you’d be expected to:

  • supervise housekeepers
  • ensure all areas are cleaned to the required standards adhering to the National Specification for Cleanliness
  • manage all the domestic and environmental services at the site
  • monitor and record cleaning standards and monitoring scores
  • manage the facilities management functions at site to ensure all tasks are completed to the required frequencies

Senior facilities manager

In this example, based in a trust providing mental health and learning disabilities services, you’d be responsible for a number of areas including all aspects of:

  • car park management
  • catering
  • laundry management
  • cleaning management
  • security management
  • portering and logistics management
  • post
  • waste management
  • the helpdesk and switchboard
  • service moves and relocations from conception to implementation and review
  • furniture and equipment management

Who would I work with?

As a facilities manager, you could be working with catering managers, hotel services managers, estates managers, senior housekeepers, linen services staff and finance managers.

Want to learn more?

  • Most jobs in the NHS are covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay scales This pay system covers all staff except doctors, dentists and the most senior managers.

    Your career in facilities management within the would typically start at Agenda for Change Band 6 or 7, with some positions at Band 5, and the most senior roles rising to Band 9 for example, as a professional manager for a clinical or technical service.

    Staff in the NHS will usually work a standard 37.5 hours per week. They may work a shift pattern.

    Terms and conditions of service can vary for employers outside the NHS.

  • With further training and/or experience, you may be able to develop your career further and apply for more senior managerial roles – typically within operational management.

    Progression for those with ability is typically via operational management in a large healthcare organisation. Relocation for promotion is common.

    More diverse routes are now opening up, for example, jointly-funded posts between health and social services.

  • When you’re looking for managerial jobs or apprenticeship vacancies, there are a number of sources you can use but most NHS vacancies can be found on the NHS Jobs website

    Just some of the current vacancies are below.

    Find a vacancy

  • For further information about a career in facilities management, please contact

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