Job summary
We are seeking a passionate, visible and forward-thinking Ward Manager to lead our Orthopaedic and Plastic Surgery ward, delivering specialist care across both elective and non-elective pathways.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a high-performing team within a dynamic surgical environment, shaping the future of patient care while driving quality, safety and operational excellence. Caring for patients undergoing complex orthopaedic and plastic surgery procedures, the ward plays a vital role in supporting both planned and emergency care pathways, providing a unique and rewarding leadership opportunity.
As Ward Manager, you will provide professional, compassionate and inclusive leadership to a skilled multidisciplinary team, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and patient-centred care. You will be responsible for the operational, professional and clinical leadership of the ward, overseeing patient flow, workforce management, service performance and quality outcomes while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and learning.
Main duties of the job
The Ward Manager is responsible for providing visible, compassionate and professional leadership to the ward team, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality patient care. As the clinical and operational leader of the ward, the post holder will be accountable for maintaining excellent standards of nursing practice, patient experience, workforce wellbeing and service performance, whilst fostering a culture of continuous learning, improvement and innovation.
Working closely with multidisciplinary colleagues, the Ward Manager will lead the development of a positive, inclusive and patient-centred environment where patients receive evidence-based care that is responsive to their individual needs. The post holder will ensure compliance with national standards, professional requirements, Trust policies and quality indicators, driving improvements in patient safety, clinical outcomes and operational efficiency.
The Ward Manager will hold continuing responsibility for the operational and clinical management of the ward, ensuring safe, effective and responsive care is delivered 24 hours a day through effective leadership, delegation and oversight of the multidisciplinary team. The post holder will have overall responsibility for the effective management of ward resources, including workforce planning, budgetary oversight, patient flow and capacity management. They will provide expert clinical leadership, support staff development and wellbeing.
About us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Adult) with current NMC registration.
- Degree in Nursing or equivalent professional qualification.
- Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role.
Desirable
- Leadership, management or coaching qualification.
- Master's Degree or working towards Master's level study
- Teaching and Assessing qualification.
- Quality Improvement, Human Factors or Patient Safety training.
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-registration experience within an acute hospital setting.
- Experience within Trauma, Orthopaedics, Plastics, Surgery or a related specialty.
- Experience of leading or coordinating teams within a clinical environment.
- Experience of workforce supervision, staff development and performance management processes.
- Experience of managing patient flow, discharge planning and operational pressures.
- Experience of clinical governance, audit, quality improvement or patient safety initiatives.
- Experience of managing incidents, complaints or challenging situations.
Desirable
- Previous experience as a Ward Manager, Deputy Ward Manager, Senior Sister/Charge Nurse or equivalent leadership role.
- Experience within a Major Trauma Centre.
- Experience managing elective and non-elective surgical pathways.
- Experience of recruitment, roster management and sickness absence management.
- Experience of budget management and resource utilisation.
- Experience of research or implementation of evidence-based practice.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of the NMC Code and professional accountability requirements.
- Knowledge of safeguarding, clinical governance, patient safety and risk management principles
- Knowledge of infection prevention and control standards.
- Understanding of patient flow, discharge processes and operational management within an acute hospital setting.
- Understanding of the care needs of trauma, orthopaedic and/or plastic surgery patients.
- Understanding of quality improvement methodologies and evidence-based practice.
Desirable
- Knowledge of GIRFT recommendations, BOA standards and enhanced recovery principles.
- Knowledge of PSIRF and systems-based approaches to patient safety learning.
- Knowledge of rehabilitation, orthogeriatric and complex discharge pathways.
- Knowledge of Major Trauma pathways and networks.
- Knowledge of CQC standards and regulatory requirements.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Adult) with current NMC registration.
- Degree in Nursing or equivalent professional qualification.
- Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role.
Desirable
- Leadership, management or coaching qualification.
- Master's Degree or working towards Master's level study
- Teaching and Assessing qualification.
- Quality Improvement, Human Factors or Patient Safety training.
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-registration experience within an acute hospital setting.
- Experience within Trauma, Orthopaedics, Plastics, Surgery or a related specialty.
- Experience of leading or coordinating teams within a clinical environment.
- Experience of workforce supervision, staff development and performance management processes.
- Experience of managing patient flow, discharge planning and operational pressures.
- Experience of clinical governance, audit, quality improvement or patient safety initiatives.
- Experience of managing incidents, complaints or challenging situations.
Desirable
- Previous experience as a Ward Manager, Deputy Ward Manager, Senior Sister/Charge Nurse or equivalent leadership role.
- Experience within a Major Trauma Centre.
- Experience managing elective and non-elective surgical pathways.
- Experience of recruitment, roster management and sickness absence management.
- Experience of budget management and resource utilisation.
- Experience of research or implementation of evidence-based practice.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of the NMC Code and professional accountability requirements.
- Knowledge of safeguarding, clinical governance, patient safety and risk management principles
- Knowledge of infection prevention and control standards.
- Understanding of patient flow, discharge processes and operational management within an acute hospital setting.
- Understanding of the care needs of trauma, orthopaedic and/or plastic surgery patients.
- Understanding of quality improvement methodologies and evidence-based practice.
Desirable
- Knowledge of GIRFT recommendations, BOA standards and enhanced recovery principles.
- Knowledge of PSIRF and systems-based approaches to patient safety learning.
- Knowledge of rehabilitation, orthogeriatric and complex discharge pathways.
- Knowledge of Major Trauma pathways and networks.
- Knowledge of CQC standards and regulatory requirements.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
