About this role
Job summary
We are excited to offer a new opportunity for an experienced and motivated senior nurse to join The Christie NHS Foundation Trust as a Workforce Matron. This newly created role will play a pivotal part in strengthening our nursing workforce strategy and ensuring safe, effective staffing across our clinical services.As the Workforce Matron, you will provide visible, compassionate leadership and expert guidance on safe staffing, recruitment, retention and professional standards. Working closely with the Lead Nurse for Workforce and multidisciplinary teams, you will help ensure the right staff, with the right skills, are in the right place at the right time.You will lead key initiatives including workforce planning, roster efficiency, nurse recruitment and development programmes, and co-ordinate the delivery of high-quality induction and training. You will also support data-driven decision making, champion digital ways of working, and contribute to continuous improvement in patient care and staff experience.We are looking for an inclusive and inspiring leader with strong clinical credibility, excellent communication skills and a passion for developing others. Experience of working in a corporate, workforce or organisation-wide role is highly desirable, alongside the ability to influence across teams and drive strategic change.
Main duties of the job
The Workforce Matron supports the day-to-day operational delivery of safe staffing across clinical services, working closely with ward teams to respond to staffing challenges and maintain safe workforce levels. This includes overseeing roster use, supporting effective deployment of staff, and addressing short-term gaps through practical, timely solutions.The post holder will contribute to the management of recruitment processes, staff movement, and retention initiatives, helping ensure consistent staffing capacity across services. They will also support and deliver targeted education to clinical teams, including guidance on safe staffing tools such as SNCT, and provide training to ensure consistent understanding and application in practice.The post holder will lead and support service improvement programmes, including initiatives to optimise rostering, reduce agency usage, and improve staff wellbeing and attendance. They will also contribute to the development and implementation of nursing workforce-related policies and ensure compliance with national standards and local frameworks.
About us
The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
Job description Job responsibilities
Leadership and Management: Provide visible, accessible, compassionate and inclusive leadership, modelling professional standards and behaviours, and translating the Trust vision and values into day to day practice. Provide effective leadership for clinical based teams, maintaining clinical/professional competence and credibility. Lead on the overarching management of the non-medical prescribing service within the organisation. Lead on projects as identified by the Chief Nurse, Deputy Chief Nurse or Lead Nurse for Workforce. Support the bi-annual establishment reviews, including the delivery of education and training to nursing teams, and the validation of data. Support the Lead Nurse for Workforce in the interpretation and triangulation of data to inform safe staffing recommendations. Lead on nurse recruitment and retention initiatives, ensuring the Trust is proactive in its approach and promotes The Christie as an employer of choice. Lead on the design and development and oversee delivery of induction programmes for registered and unregistered nurses and AHPs. Oversee the rotational nurse programme, including placement management and ensuring all staff are up to date with PDR and mandatory training. Attend trust-wide committees, meetings and external forums as required. Respond to external requests for information ensuring appropriate senior sign off for information has been achieved where appropriate. Be responsible for producing and presenting reports to Trust Committees and other groups/ commissioners as required. Demonstrate and endorse the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour, role modelling a compassionate, inclusive leadership culture. Exercise effective leadership using sound organisation skills and judgement, upholding equality and diversity of colleagues and patients. Keep up to date with the national agenda and understand local policies, practice and frameworks, participating in local, regional or national initiatives. Represent the nursing profession and act as an ambassador. Champion digital ways of working and data driven improvement, ensuring teams are digitally literate and able to adopt technology that enhances care and efficiency. Deputise as appropriate and necessary for Lead Nurse for Workforce at strategic and operational meetings.
Policy and Service Development Lead on the development, implementation and evaluation of policies, procedures and guidelines related to nursing workforce and Non-Medical Prescribing; ensure alignment with regional and national standards/ legislation and Trust governance. Provide expert support to clinical teams to implement safe staffing policy ensuring effective use of SafeCare and Health Roster. Embed digital and data in service improvement, supporting adoption of digital tools and informing local strategies with operational and patient experience insights. experience insights.Full job description attached
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Current professional registration with NMC or another professional body where appropriate. Degree level qualification in healthcare related subject Evidence of relevant study and continuing professional development at Masters level or equivalent. Mentorship/ teaching qualification or equivalent experience
Desirable
Qualified Professional (Nurse) Advocate CNO Safe Staffing Fellow
Knowledge & Experience Essential
Experience in an acute hospital setting Evidence of implementing and managing change using service improvement methodologies to improve services or patient experience Understanding of clinical governance, quality improvement, patient safety, and national healthcare policy frameworks. Experience of policy development and implementation Awareness of national policies and guidance related to nurse safe staffing, including evidence based tools such as SNCT.
Desirable
Budgetary management Management experience at Matron level
Skills Essential
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage effectively with patients, staff, and stakeholders Compassionate and inclusive leadership skills Demonstratable IT skills in being able to find, manage, store and share digital information, data and content Ability to analyse complex data, interpret performance metrics, and implement evidence-based improvements. Strategic thinking
Desirable
Demonstratable use of digital technologies to make service improvements / complete audits / participate in research
Values Essential
Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours Promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion, creating a psychologically safe environment for staff Committed to own and supporting others personal & professional development
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship 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).
Employer details Employer name The Christie NHS FT
Address The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
550 Wilmslow Road
Manchester
M20 4BX
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.christie.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)