Nurse Unit Manager

Kellyville Private Hospital; The Hills Shire Council; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Kellyville Private Hospital seeks an experienced Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) to lead the 26-bed Inpatient Drug & Alcohol Unit, overseeing clinical governance, staffing and operational delivery while fostering trauma-informed, recovery-oriented care.

The NUM will drive clinical excellence, staff development and service improvement, balancing frontline clinical work with dedicated leadership time to support quality, safety and patient outcomes.

Qualifications

• Current registration with AHPRA as a Registered Nurse.
• Experience in Nurse Unit Manager or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of substance use disorders and withdrawal management.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary care.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the 26-bed Inpatient Drug & Alcohol Unit.
• Provide clinical leadership in substance use disorders, detoxification and withdrawal management.
• Mentor nursing and multidisciplinary staff to deliver safe, evidence-based care.
• Coordinate complex patient journeys and discharge planning with multidisciplinary teams.
• Drive quality improvement, governance, risk management and patient safety initiatives.

Skills

Nurse leadership

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Staff development

Clinical governance

Risk management

Education

Registered Nurse (AHPRA)

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) to lead our dedicated 26-bed Inpatient Drug & Alcohol Unit. This specialised service provides comprehensive care for individuals experiencing substance use disorders, withdrawal, and co-occurring mental health and psychosocial needs.

This is a unique leadership role that combines operational management, clinical excellence, staff development, and coordination of complex care to ensure exceptional patient outcomes and a safe, supportive treatment environment.

About the Role

As the Nurse Unit Manager, you will be responsible for the leadership and operational management of the ward while fostering a culture of person-centred, trauma-informed and recovery-oriented care.

A key component of the role is providing strong clinical leadership in drug and alcohol treatment and withdrawal management, supporting nursing staff to deliver safe, evidence-based care to patients with substance use disorders and complex clinical presentations.

The NUM will also support the management of complex patient journeys, working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate care, facilitate discharge planning, and address barriers to recovery and successful transition back into the community.

Recognising the importance of maintaining a strong clinical presence, this position includes a balanced model of leadership:

Three days per week with a clinical patient load

Two days per week in a supernumerary leadership capacity

This structure enables the NUM to remain connected to frontline care while dedicating protected time to leadership, quality improvement, staff development, and service innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the 26-bed Inpatient Drug & Alcohol Unit.
• Provide strong clinical leadership in substance use disorders, detoxification and withdrawal management.
• Provide clinical leadership, support and mentorship to nursing and multidisciplinary staff.
• Support the coordination and management of complex patient presentations and treatment journeys.
• Promote recovery-oriented, trauma-informed and person-centred models of care.
• Ensure the delivery of safe, evidence-based withdrawal management and ongoing addiction treatment.
• Foster effective multidisciplinary collaboration across medical, nursing, allied health and community services.
• Drive quality improvement, clinical governance, risk management and patient safety initiatives.
• Support workforce development, recruitment, retention and staff wellbeing.
• Facilitate patient advocacy and family engagement throughout the care journey.
• Maintain high standards of medication safety, clinical documentation, risk assessment and care planning.
• Contribute to strategic service planning, program development and continuous improvement of the Drug & Alcohol service.

About you

You are a dynamic nursing leader who is passionate about drug and alcohol treatment, recovery and supporting individuals experiencing substance use disorders and complex health needs.

You will bring

• Current registration with AHPRA as a Registered Nurse.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in a Nurse Unit Manager, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Clinical Nurse Specialist or equivalent role.
• Strong knowledge and experience in substance use disorders, drug and alcohol treatment and withdrawal management.
• Experience managing complex clinical presentations and coordinating multidisciplinary care.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice, mental health, addiction treatment and recovery-oriented models of care.
• Strong understanding of clinical governance, medication safety, risk management and evidence-based clinical practice.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to staff wellbeing, professional development and building a positive team culture.
• Experience working within inpatient drug and alcohol, detoxification, addiction, mental health or rehabilitation services is highly regarded.

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to lead a specialised 26-bed inpatient Drug & Alcohol service.
• Meaningful work supporting individuals throughout their treatment and recovery journey.
• Dedicated supernumerary leadership time built into the role.
• Strong multidisciplinary and executive support.
• Professional development and leadership growth opportunities.
• Ability to shape and grow a service that makes a lasting impact on patients, families and the broader community.