Modern Matron / Head of In-patient Services

About Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices supports babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families, across Surrey and London. We provide a range of specialist care services, both at our hospices and in the community, tailored to each family’s needs.

About the Role

We are recruiting a highly motivated and experienced Modern Matron / Head of In-patient Services, to join our in-patient care team at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. As Senior Nurse Leader/ Modern Matron your expertise directly influences the quality of life and care for children, young people, and families who rely on us. You will lead the in-patient care team at our purpose-built children’s hospice in Guildford, Christopher’s providing inspiring clinical and managerial leadership, and day-to-day operational management. You will also play a key role in developing our CQC rated Outstanding service. You will have experience of being a leader and manager at Band 7/8a. At the heart of this role is ensuring the children and young people we support receive exceptional clinical care. You will promote safety, quality and resilience in everything you do. As our Modern Matron / Head of In-patient Services, you’ll set the standard for excellence—championing clinical quality, developing teams, and fostering a culture where staff feel supported, motivated, and empowered to grow. You will bring passion, leadership, and a deep commitment to outstanding paediatric palliative care. You’ll be central to ensuring the children and young people we support receive the safest, highest-quality, and most compassionate care.

Key Responsibilities

• Clinical Leadership: Provide direct support and leadership to our in-house care team, ensuring care meets high quality standards.
• Quality & Safety: Lead patient safety, infection control, cleanliness, and overall clinical governance.
• Management: Oversee workforce planning, including recruitment and retention, finance, budgeting, and performance.
• Staff Development: Mentoring, educating, and developing staff, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Patient Experience: Championing patient‑centred care and ensuring a positive experience for all children, young people and their families.

Experience of working as a clinical lead in a healthcare environment at band 7 level or above required.

About You

• Registered Children’s Nurse.
• Significant leadership experience in a clinical setting, ideally within paediatrics, palliative care, or complex needs.
• Strong understanding of clinical governance, safeguarding, and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and organisational skills.
• Passionate about delivering family‑centred care and supporting children with life‑limiting conditions.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a highly respected award‑winning charity making a profound difference to families.
• Work in a supportive, values‑driven environment.
• Opportunities for professional development and leadership growth.
• Access to wellbeing support and generous employee benefits.

What we offer

In return you will receive a competitive salary along with a range of benefits, which include:

• Pension Scheme: NHS Pension Scheme (for eligible employees) or our stakeholder pension scheme, with up to 7% employer contributions.
• Annual Leave: 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising with length of service; 2 weeks paid sabbatical leave after 5, 10 and 15 years’ service.
• Contractual Benefits: Generous sick pay scheme; Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity leave pay; Flexible working arrangements; Death in service benefits; Reimbursed professional membership fees; Eye care; Employee referral scheme; Blue Light discount card.
• Health and Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme; Occupational Health; Mindfulness sessions; Cycle to work scheme; Mental Health First Aiders.

Safeguarding

An enhanced/standard disclosure will be required for this role. Our recruitment checks, induction and ongoing support and supervision reflect our commitment to safeguarding the families we support.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Shooting Star Children’s Hospice is committed to inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that getting things right is critical for us to live our organisation’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence. We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. Our vision is for Shooting Star Children’s Hospice to be a place where people of all backgrounds, groups and communities feel welcomed to work and volunteer.