About this role
Job summary
The Band 7 Ward Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and development of a hospital ward, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality patient care. The post holder provides clinical leadership, manages staff and resources, and ensures compliance with Trust policies, professional standards, and quality frameworks.
Main duties of the job
Main Job Role and Responsibilities
1. Clinical Leadership & Quality of Care
- Provide clear clinical leadership, setting high standards of nursing care
- Ensure safe, evidence-based, and person-centred care at all times
- Act as a role model for professional practice and behaviour
- Respond to complex clinical situations and lead escalation when required
2. Patient Safety & Governance
- Maintain patient safety, infection prevention, and risk management
- Ensure compliance with NHS policies, CQC standards, and trust guidelines
- Investigate incidents, complaints, and concerns; implement learning
- Monitor quality indicators (falls, pressure damage, medication safety)
3. Staff Management & Workforce Planning
- Manage and support nursing and support staff on the ward
- Lead recruitment, retention, appraisal (PDR), sickness and absence management
- Ensure appropriate skill mix and safe staffing levels
- Support staff wellbeing, supervision, and professional development
4. Operational Management
- Oversee day-to-day running of the ward
- Manage patient flow, admissions, discharges, and bed capacity
- Coordinate multidisciplinary team (MDT) working
- Ensure effective communication within the team and with senior management
5. Education & Development
- Support training and competency development of staff and students
- Identify learning needs and ensure mandatory training compliance
- Encourage reflective practice and continuous improvement
About us
St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).
After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.
At gesh we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached supporting document which contains more information about the Ward Manager role at Epsom and St Helier.
Person Specification
Education formal training
Essential
- Registered General Nurse
- Mentorship or equivalent qualification
- Nursing related Degree or Diploma
Desirable
- relevant previous experience
knowledge
Essential
- in depth knowledge of current practice
- Holistic patient assessment
- clinical supervision
- budgetary awareness
skills and abilities
Essential
- manage own workload
- able to respond to emergency situations
- able to communicate efficiently and effectively with other depts and healthcare professionals
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.
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
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
Address
St Heler
Wrythe lane, carshalton
Sutton
SM5 1AA
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)