Assistant Ward ManagerNHS AfC : Band 6

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust; Bradford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Bradford is seeking an Assistant Ward Manager for its acute Older People's Inpatient Mental Health Services. The successful candidate will lead a 22-bedded ward for older adults, ensuring high standards of care and contributing to quality improvement. Ideal for a committed individual with experience in mental health and a desire to enhance patient care. Closing date for applications is November 23, 2025.

Benefits

Increased mileage rates

Health and wellbeing support packages

Development and learning opportunities

Qualifications

• RMN
• Current Registration on part 3 or part 13 of NMC Register
• Experience of working with people with Mental Health Needs.
• Experience of working with older people.

Responsibilities

• Lead a safe and caring culture on the ward.
• Assist the ward manager with operational management.
• Provide clinical expertise and guidance to staff.
• Ensure service meets quality standards.
• Administer medication in line with Trust policy.

Job description

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity within the acute Older People's Inpatient Mental Health Services for a Assistant Ward Manager on Bracken Ward at Airedale Centre for Mental Health. This is a older Adults mixed acute ward which is a 22 bedded ward for older adults 65+

We are looking for someone who is prepared to lead creatively, committed to improving patient and family carer experience, and who will lead and motivate the team to strive for continuous improvement through the development of pathways with across Mental Health Services and with partner organizations in the acute care, voluntary and community sectors.

Areas of focus will include creating a safe and caring culture, quality and safety agendas, safer staffing, meeting key performance indicators, roster management, lessons learnt and enabling development of the team.

Main duties of the job

• To demonstrate a high standard of care to patients and contribute to a safe and developing culture.
• To assist the ward manager with operational management of the ward staff including recruitment, sickness monitoring and appraisals.
• To provide clinical expertise and guidance to inpatient ward staff.
• To ensure the service meets guidance and quality standards set locally, regionally, and nationally.
• To ensure high standards of documentation, care planning and risk assessments are met and maintained.
• To provide relevant training and education as required / requested by the service.
• To contribute to data collection and analysis locally and regionally
• To be an integral part of the senior team.
• To support the team in meeting quality standards, implementing policy, managing change, and delivering innovation
• To monitor and analyse care provision through audits, reviews and engagement and provide leadership on maintaining and improving standards.
• To administer medication in line with Trust policy and NMC guidelines
• To maintain clinical record systems as required.
• To comply with the correct implementation of the Mental Health Act.

Closing Date: 23rd November 2025

Shortlisting Date: 24th November 2025

Interview Date: 8th December 2025 (Subject to change)

Working for our organisation

Everything we do is underpinned by our core values :

• We Care - We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
• We Listen - We understand people’s views and respond to their individual needs
• We Deliver - We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners

We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :

• Increase mileage rates for 3500
• A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
• A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
• Plus many more.

We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.

Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate’s best interest to apply as soon as possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.

Right to Work in the UK

Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.

Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trust’s eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.

As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• RMN
• Current Registration on part 3 or part 13 of NMC Register

Desirable criteria

• Teaching (clinical practice) qualification / certificate or equivalent experience

Experience

Essential criteria

• Assessment, planning, formulation, and evaluation of patient’s psychological difficulties.
• Experience of working with people with Mental Health Needs.
• Experience of working with older people.

Desirable criteria

• Involvement with innovation in Nursing Practice
• Experience of doing audits

Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidates best interest to apply as soon as possible.

In view of Home Office Immigration Regulations all applicants must state their current immigration status, including expiry dates.

Bradford District Care Trust is an award-winning Trust that provides a range of innovative services that have been recognised as best practice nationally. As a provider of care for people of all ages who have mental and / or community health needs we are dedicated to providing a high-quality service, close to where people live and as much as possible tailored to an individual’s needs.

The Trust’s purpose is to create connected communities and help people to feel as healthy as they can be at every point in their lives and our vision is to connect people to the best quality care, when and where they need it and be a national role model as an employer and provide our staff with the best place to work.

Bradford has been awarded the coveted status of UK City of Culture 2025. The year is set to deliver more than 1000 new performances and events including 365 artist commissions, a series of major arts festivals as well as exciting national and international collaborations. Its themes will be rooted in the unique heritage and character of Bradford and will reveal the magic of the district that is held in its people, its ambition, and above all, its potential.

We would welcome applicants with lived experience of providing unpaid care and / or support to a family member or friend with a disability, health condition, frailty, mental health problem, addiction or other health and care needs.

We welcome people from all backgrounds and in particular Bradford District Care Trust is keen to reflect the population we serve, we are currently underrepresented in terms of black and minority ethnic staff. Applications are encouraged from these groups, but it must be stressed that selection will be solely on merit and in accordance with the Trust recruitment policy.

BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.