Critical Care Nurse Manager in Harlow

Job overview

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave—a national programme that’s changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector.

This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.

We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Scope and range

The band 7 Critical Care Nurse Manager is an experienced nurse who must be able to interact at all levels of the nursing and midwifery profession. The individual is expected to represent the department they work supporting the clinical leadership team as well as the clinical team to support in the delivery of high quality, standardised evidence based care.

The post holder will work with a variety of different clinical specialists including. Key working relationships will include:

• Divisional Director of Nursing
• Head of Nursing
• Matrons
• Ward managers
• Clinical site management team
• Ward / department team
• Wider MDT
• Specialist discharge team

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Leadership

• Act as an accessible and visible clinical leader, setting professional standards and promoting a culture of excellence, safety, and compassionate care.
• Serve as a role model for professional behaviour, demonstrating Trust values and adherence to the NMC Code.
• Foster a positive working environment that encourages accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Provide expert advice and support to nursing, medical, and allied health professionals regarding critical care practice.

Ensure implementation of evidence-based practice and national critical care standards

• Lead the translation of current evidence, national guidelines, and best practice recommendations into clinical care delivery.
• Ensure compliance with national critical care standards, professional frameworks, and local policies.
• Promote the use of research findings and quality improvement methodologies to improve patient outcomes.
• Monitor adherence to clinical protocols and ensure care is delivered consistently across the service.
• Champion innovation and encourage staff participation in evidence-based practice initiatives.

Lead management of complex and deteriorating patients

• Support clinical teams in the assessment, management, and escalation of critically ill patients with complex needs.
• Ensure timely intervention and effective multidisciplinary collaboration during clinical emergencies.
• Provide expert clinical input for patients requiring advanced organ support and specialist interventions.
• Facilitate decision-making regarding patient admission, transfer, escalation, and end-of-life care.
• Support staff in managing ethical, legal, and professional issues associated with critical care delivery.

Promote patient safety initiatives and learning from incidents

• Lead the development and implementation of patient safety strategies within the unit.
• Foster a culture of openness and learning where incidents, near misses, and concerns are reported and addressed effectively.
• Analyse patient safety data and trends to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure dissemination of lessons learned from incidents and implementation of preventive actions.
• Support the development of human factors awareness and safety-focused behaviours amongst staff.

Lead mortality reviews, quality improvement programmes, and implementation of recommendations

• Coordinate and contribute to mortality reviews and multidisciplinary case discussions.
• Lead quality improvement projects designed to enhance patient safety, experience, and outcomes.
• Analyse clinical outcomes and benchmark performance against national standards.
• Develop and implement action plans arising from audits, reviews, and quality assessments.
• Monitor progress against improvement objectives and report outcomes to senior management and governance groups.

Maintain oversight of patient flow, capacity management and escalation processes

• Ensure effective management of critical care capacity and patient throughput.
• Coordinate admission, discharge, and transfer decisions in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
• Monitor bed occupancy, staffing levels, and patient acuity to ensure safe service delivery.
• Escalate capacity pressures and operational risks appropriately through Trust escalation processes.
• Work closely with site management teams to optimise patient flow across the organisation.

Operational Management

• Provide overall operational leadership for the unit ensuring safe, effective, and efficient service delivery.
• Coordinate workforce, equipment, and clinical resources to meet service demands.
• Ensure operational objectives and performance targets are achieved.
• Manage competing priorities while maintaining high standards of patient care.
• Support service resilience through effective contingency and business continuity planning.

Ensure safe staffing levels through effective deployment of workforce resources

• Assess staffing requirements based on patient dependency, activity, and service needs.
• Oversee workforce deployment and adjust ensure safe staffing levels.
• Review skill mix regularly and implement workforce plans to support service delivery.
• Escalate staffing shortfalls and mitigate associated risks.
• Monitor compliance with safe staffing standards and provide assurance to senior nursing leadership.

Manage ward budgets and authorised expenditure

• Maintain accountability for delegated budgets and financial resources.
• Monitor expenditure and ensure effective use of resources.
• Identify opportunities for cost improvement while maintaining patient safety and quality.
• Authorise purchasing within agreed limits and ensure value for money.
• Contribute to annual budget setting and financial planning processes.

Monitor workforce metrics including sickness, vacancies, agency usage and turnover

• Analyse workforce data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Implement strategies to reduce sickness absence and improve staff retention.
• Monitor agency and bank usage and ensure appropriate controls are in place.

Lead business planning and service development initiatives

• Contribute to strategic planning and development of critical care services.
• Lead service redesign projects and implementation of new models of care.
• Prepare business cases and support investment proposals.
• Engage stakeholders in service development and transformation programmes.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of service improvements.

Ensure effective management of equipment and resources within allocated budgets

• Ensure critical care equipment is maintained, serviced, and available for clinical use.
• Monitor equipment utilisation and replacement requirements.
• Maintain oversight of stock control and procurement processes.
• Ensure compliance with medical device management policies.
• Lead planning for future equipment and infrastructure requirements.

Leadership and Workforce

• Line manage Band 6 nurses and other designated staff.
• Provide effective line management and professional support to allocated staff.
• Conduct regular supervision, performance reviews, and development discussions.
• Promote professional accountability and high standards of practice.
• Address performance concerns in a timely and supportive manner.
• Support career progression and professional development opportunities.

Undertake recruitment, appraisal, performance management and disciplinary processes

• Lead recruitment and selection processes in accordance with Trust policy.
• Ensure all staff participate in annual appraisal processes.
• Manage performance issues fairly and consistently.
• Undertake disciplinary, capability, and attendance management procedures when required.
• Support managers and staff through formal employment processes.

Develop leadership capability within the nursing workforce

• Identify and nurture future nursing leaders within the service.
• Establish coaching, mentoring, and leadership development opportunities.
• Support Band 6 staff in developing management and leadership competencies.
• Promote a culture of accountability and professional growth.
• Encourage participation in local and national leadership programmes.

Promote staff wellbeing, retention and engagement

• Create a supportive working environment that prioritises staff wellbeing.
• Implement initiatives aimed at improving morale, engagement, and job satisfaction.
• Monitor workforce indicators relating to staff experience and wellbeing.
• Support flexible working and work-life balance where possible.
• Address concerns raised through staff surveys and feedback mechanisms.

Ensure compliance with mandatory training, revalidation, and competency requirements

• Monitor compliance with mandatory training and professional registration requirements.
• Ensure staff maintain critical care competencies and specialist skills.
• Support NMC revalidation requirements and reflective practice.
• Develop systems to monitor training completion and compliance.
• Escalate non-compliance and implement action plans as required.

Develop succession planning and talent management strategies

• Identify future workforce requirements and potential leadership gaps.
• Develop talent management pathways for staff at all levels.
• Support internal career progression and retention of high-performing staff.
• Establish development plans for aspiring leaders and specialist practitioners.
• Work with organisational development teams to support workforce sustainability.

Lead and facilitate team meetings and clinical governance forums

• Chair and facilitate unit meetings, governance forums, and professional discussions.
• Ensure effective communication of organisational priorities and service developments.
• Promote staff involvement in decision-making and quality improvement activities.
• Ensure actions arising from meetings are implemented and reviewed.
• Foster effective multidisciplinary collaboration across the service.

Quality and Governance

• Lead investigations of incidents, complaints and patient safety concerns.
• Conduct root cause analyses and identify contributory factors.
• Ensure patients, relatives, and staff are supported throughout investigation processes.
• Develop action plans to prevent recurrence of incidents.
• Monitor implementation and effectiveness of recommended improvements.

Monitor performance against quality indicators

• Regularly review local and national quality metrics.
• Analyse trends relating to patient outcomes, safety, and experience.
• Benchmark service performance against comparable organisations.
• Develop improvement plans where standards are not achieved.
• Present performance reports to senior management and governance groups.

Ensure compliance with CQC standards and Trust governance requirements

• Maintain oversight of regulatory compliance across the unit.
• Ensure systems and processes support delivery of safe, effective care.
• Lead preparations for inspections and external reviews.
• Monitor compliance with organisational policies and procedures.
• Provide assurance regarding quality and governance performance.

Lead audit programmes and implement action plans

• Develop and coordinate annual audit programmes.
• Ensure completion of local, regional, and national audits.
• Analyse audit findings and identify areas for improvement.
• Implement evidence-based action plans and monitor outcomes.
• Share learning and good practice across the organisation.

Provide assurance regarding infection prevention, medicines management and clinical standards

• Monitor compliance with infection prevention and control standards.
• Ensure safe medicines management practices are maintained.
• Oversee adherence to clinical documentation standards.
• Monitor risks associated with clinical practice and implement mitigating actions.
• Provide assurance reports to senior nursing and governance teams.

Maintain oversight of risk registers and escalation processes

• Maintain and review departmental risk registers.
• Ensure risks are appropriately assessed, recorded, and escalated.
• Monitor effectiveness of risk mitigation strategies.
• Participate in organisational risk management activities.
• Support a proactive culture of risk identification and management.

Education and Research

• Lead clinical education strategy for the unit.
• Develop and implement an education strategy aligned to service objectives and workforce needs.
• Collaborate with practice educators to identify developmental priorities.
• Monitor educational outcomes and evaluate programme effectiveness.
• Promote lifelong learning and professional development opportunities.
• Ensure educational provision supports safe and effective patient care.

Support advanced practice development and critical care competency achievement

• Facilitate pathways for advanced clinical practice and specialist role development.
• Ensure staff achieve and maintain recognised critical care competencies.
• Support advanced assessment, leadership, and clinical decision-making skills.
• Encourage participation in postgraduate education programmes.
• Work with education providers to strengthen specialist workforce development.

Promote participation in research, innovation and evidence-based practice

• Foster a culture of inquiry, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Support staff involvement in research studies and quality improvement projects.
• Facilitate implementation of research findings into practice.
• Promote dissemination of learning through presentations and publications.
• Collaborate with research teams to improve patient outcomes and service development.

Work collaboratively with practice educators and universities

• Develop strong partnerships with academic institutions.
• Contribute to curriculum development and workforce planning discussions.
• Support student learning, placements, and assessment processes.
• Promote opportunities for academic and career development.
• Participate in regional and national educational networks.

Support delivery of student placements and workforce development programmes

• Ensure high-quality learning environments for students and trainees.
• Monitor the quality and effectiveness of placement experiences.
• Support practice assessors and supervisors in their educational roles.
• Develop programmes that enhance recruitment, retention, and career progression.
• Evaluate workforce development initiatives and use findings to improve future programmes.

Personal Development

• Responsible for ensuring own continuing professional development and identifying developmental needs within Trust knowledge and skills development review process.
• To identify areas for self-development, areas of interest and training requirements within personal performance planning and developmental review.
• To maintain a professional portfolio and reflective diary developmental purposes and revalidation.

This is an outline job description designed to give an overview of the responsibilities of the post. The post holder will be expected to be flexible to respond to change and organisational need. The post holder will also be expected to contribute to the wider corporate and organisational needs of the Trust as appropriate