Ward Manager

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.

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.

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we are 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 will 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.

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 is 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.

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.

Qualifications:

• RGN Diploma level and working towards or willing to work towards a degree level.
• Teaching mentorship course.
• Experience at Junior Sister level.
• Relevant post registration experience.
• Proven evidence of providing clinical leadership of a team and leading a team through change.
• Experience in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care.
• Basic knowledge of budgets.
• Ability to undertake skill mix reviews and devise duty rota.
• Ability to communicate in an articulate and professional way with people at all levels of understanding either face to face, on the telephone, email or written communication.

Desirable:

• First level/Supervisory Management Qualification or course or relevant experience.

Experience:

• Evidence of good knowledge of nursing care and able to make decisions based on evidence-based practice and translate this on the ward.
• Established organisational and leadership knowledge and understanding of resources supporting the care of our stroke patients.

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.