About this role
Job summary
The Ward Manager for Jade Ward is responsible for providing strong clinical, professional, and operational leadership to a working age adult mixed gender mental health inpatient ward. As a Band 7 leader, the post holder will ensure the delivery of safe, effective, person-centred, and recovery-focused care that promotes positive patient outcomes and experiences.
The Ward Manager has overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of the ward, including the quality and safety of care, workforce management, service performance, governance, and compliance with Trust policies, national standards, and regulatory requirements. They will lead and support a multidisciplinary team to create a therapeutic, inclusive, and compassionate environment that upholds dignity, respect, equality, and diversity for all service users.
Working collaboratively with service users, carers, senior clinical leaders, and partner agencies, the Ward Manager will drive continuous quality improvement, promote a positive ward culture, and ensure that care is delivered in line with evidence-based practice and the principles of trauma-informed and least restrictive care.
Main duties of the job
As Ward Manager for Jade Ward, you will provide visible clinical and operational leadership for a working-age adult mixed gender mental health inpatient ward. You will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe, and recovery-focused care while leading and developing a multidisciplinary team.
Key responsibilities include:
Leading the day-to-day management of the ward, ensuring safe and effective service delivery. Promoting a positive, therapeutic, and recovery-oriented ward environment. Managing staffing, workforce development, supervision, recruitment, and performance. Ensuring compliance with clinical governance, safeguarding, Mental Health Act, and Trust policies. Monitoring quality, safety, and performance standards, driving continuous improvement initiatives. Managing incidents, complaints, risks, and audits, ensuring learning is embedded into practice. Working collaboratively with service users, carers, community services, and partner agencies to support effective care pathways. Acting as a role model and champion for compassionate, person-centred care, staff wellbeing, and professional excellence. This is an exciting leadership opportunity for an experienced mental health professional who is passionate about delivering outstanding inpatient care and developing high-performing teams.
About us The Ward Manager will demonstrate a commitment to recovery, social inclusion, equality, diversity, and anti-discriminatory practice. They will act as a role model for professional standards within SPFT , fostering a therapeutic ward culture where service users, carers, and staff feel respected, heard, and empowered. SPFT promotes the following Trust Values; Optimism Accountability Commitment Additionally SPFT provides a number of CPD and professional development opportunities.
Job description Job responsibilities Clinical Leadership
Provide visible, accessible, and effective leadership within Jade Ward. Ensure the delivery of high-quality, recovery-oriented mental health care. Promote a culture of safety, compassion, inclusion, and continuous improvement. Lead on reducing restrictive practices and enhancing patient engagement. Ensure robust risk assessment, risk management, and safeguarding processes are in place. Operational Management Maintain responsibility for the day-to-day running of the ward. Ensure effective management of staffing levels, skill mix, patient flow, and bed occupancy. Monitor and improve ward performance against key quality, safety, and operational indicators. Lead investigations, incident reviews, and complaints management, ensuring learning is embedded into practice. Workforce Leadership Lead, develop, and motivate a multidisciplinary workforce. Manage recruitment, retention, appraisal, supervision, and performance management processes. Identify workforce development needs and support ongoing professional education and training. Foster staff wellbeing and create an environment where staff feel valued, supported, and empowered. Quality and Governance Ensure compliance with the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, safeguarding legislation, and Trust policies. Lead clinical governance activities, audits, quality improvement projects, and service developments. Monitor standards of care and implement action plans to address identified risks or areas for improvement. Ensure readiness for internal and external inspections, including CQC requirements. Partnership Working Work collaboratively with community services, crisis teams, social care, primary care, carers, and external agencies to support effective care pathways. Promote co-production and service user involvement in service development and decision-making. Contribute to wider service and organisational objectives as a senior leader within the Trust.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Educated to degree/ diploma level with a relevant qualification or equivalent experience Registered Nurse with current registration (mental health / LD/ Adult) appropriate to the job role Evidence of CPD Completion of Mentorship Course/ENB equivalent Post Basic Courses / relevant Study Days
Knowledge/Experience Essential
Extensive experience of acute care in the care group and demonstrable achievement in clinical practice Experience of providing professional support/supervision and motivation of staff Understanding of Health and Social Care Governance Relevant care group experience of working with people with serious mental health problems Experience of managing staff CPA experience
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 Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address Langley Green Hospital
Crawley
RH11 7EJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)