Job summary
The Ward Manager role involves leading and coordinating the clinical, managerial, and educational functions of a designated clinical area, ensuring continuity of care across a 24/7 period. It includes providing daily nursing leadership that empowers the team to deliver patient-centred, evidence-based care within a defined budget. The postholder is responsible for maintaining high standards of care, ensuring patient safety and quality, and working with the Matron to address any shortcomings. This position also requires visible and accessible leadership, including direct patient care, and encompasses the clinical and managerial oversight of the ward. Additionally, the individual is accountable for the line management of a multidisciplinary team, acting as the designated budget holder, and participating in the staffing rota and senior nurse rota as part of wider organisational responsibilities.
Main duties of the job
This role involves comprehensive responsibility for managing, coordinating, and leading all aspects of ward-based care and operations. The postholder communicates complex and sensitive information with patients, carers, and staff, ensuring empathy and understanding while maintaining visibility and accessibility. They play a key role in multidisciplinary collaboration to deliver patient-centred care and participate in service planning and policy development. Leadership responsibilities include maintaining ward standards, ensuring safety through risk assessments, audits, and infection control, and leading the response to complaints and incidents. The postholder is also accountable for staff management, including appraisals, development plans, performance management, and recruitment, ensuring all personnel meet required competencies. They manage training records and ensure compliance with Trust policies. Financial duties include monitoring ward budgets, staffing costs, equipment maintenance, and stock levels. Additionally, they supervise clinical practice, apply evidence-based care models, and support policy implementation and governance by using data, audits, and patient feedback to drive continuous improvement. Administrative responsibilities include managing information systems and documentation, attending key meetings, and ensuring proper communication of organisational updates.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Are you a passionate and experienced nursing leader ready to make a difference in stroke care? We are seeking a dedicated Ward Manager to lead our dynamic Stroke Inpatient Ward, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compassionate care to patients during their recovery journey.
In this vital leadership role, you will oversee the clinical and operational management of the ward, provide expert guidance to nursing staff, and work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to drive excellence in stroke rehabilitation. You will be responsible for maintaining safe staffing levels, upholding national clinical standards, and creating a supportive environment that fosters continuous improvement and professional development.
If you thrive in a fast-paced, patient-centred setting and are committed to leading with integrity and compassion, we welcome your application.
Please also see detailed Job description attached.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Are you a passionate and experienced nursing leader ready to make a difference in stroke care? We are seeking a dedicated Ward Manager to lead our dynamic Stroke Inpatient Ward, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compassionate care to patients during their recovery journey.
In this vital leadership role, you will oversee the clinical and operational management of the ward, provide expert guidance to nursing staff, and work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to drive excellence in stroke rehabilitation. You will be responsible for maintaining safe staffing levels, upholding national clinical standards, and creating a supportive environment that fosters continuous improvement and professional development.
If you thrive in a fast-paced, patient-centred setting and are committed to leading with integrity and compassion, we welcome your application.
Please also see detailed Job description attached.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RGNDiploma level and working towards or willing to work towards a degree level.Teaching mentorship courseExperience at Junior Sister levelRelevant post registration experienceProven evidence of providing clinical leadership of a team and leading a team through changeExperience in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating careBasic knowledge of budgetsAbility to undertake ski mix reviews and devise duty rotaAbility to communicate in an articulate in a professional way with people at all levels of understanding either face to face, on the telephone, email or written communication by dealing with incident reports,
Desirable
- First level/ Supervisory Management Qualification or course or relevant experience
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of good knowledge of nursing care and
- Able to make decisions based on evidenced based practice and translate this on the ward.
- Established organisational and leadership
- Knowledge and understanding of resources supporting the care of our stroke patients.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RGNDiploma level and working towards or willing to work towards a degree level.Teaching mentorship courseExperience at Junior Sister levelRelevant post registration experienceProven evidence of providing clinical leadership of a team and leading a team through changeExperience in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating careBasic knowledge of budgetsAbility to undertake ski mix reviews and devise duty rotaAbility to communicate in an articulate in a professional way with people at all levels of understanding either face to face, on the telephone, email or written communication by dealing with incident reports,
Desirable
- First level/ Supervisory Management Qualification or course or relevant experience
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of good knowledge of nursing care and
- Able to make decisions based on evidenced based practice and translate this on the ward.
- Established organisational and leadership
- Knowledge and understanding of resources supporting the care of our stroke patients.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
