Client Background & Needs
St Joseph’s Hospice, established over 100 years ago, provides specialist palliative care to people with progressive and life-threatening illnesses in East and North London. Serving a highly diverse community, the Hospice required a Facilities Manager to oversee all aspects of their facilities, including catering, housekeeping, and health and safety across their urban site. With a mixture of buildings developed over six decades, the Hospice faced a growing need to adapt its facilities to meet the increasing demands of its services.
The Facilities Manager would take responsibility for both the strategic and operational management of the estate, ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation and best practices, particularly those set by the Care Quality Commission. The role required a candidate with strong leadership skills to manage a multi-disciplinary team and develop a long-term site strategy.
The Recruitment Process
We were approached to find a facilities professional capable of leading the upkeep and development of the Hospice’s facilities. The ideal candidate would have to combine technical expertise in facilities management with strong people management skills and a thorough understanding of health and safety regulations. They also needed experience working within complex environments, such as healthcare settings, where high standards of care, safety, and compliance are paramount.
To ensure we attracted the right talent, we advertised the role across our network, focusing on candidates with a strong track record in managing large estates and operational teams in a healthcare or similar sector.
The Result
After a comprehensive search and screening process, we successfully placed a Facilities Manager who met all the critical requirements. The appointed candidate demonstrated a wealth of experience in both strategic and operational facilities management, had managed large teams and complex budgets, and had a proven track record in health and safety compliance.
Their ability to lead effectively, manage budgets, and ensure that the site strategy aligned with the evolving needs of the Hospice ensured a smooth transition into their role. They are now working closely with the Chief Executive Officer and the senior management team to maintain and enhance the quality of the facilities, ensuring a safe and efficient environment for both staff and patients.