Band 8a - Night Matron, Medicine

West Herts Hospitals; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking a Night Matron to lead the nursing team across Watford General Hospital and other sites during night shifts. The post offers senior leadership responsibility and a fixed-term 12-month contract.

You will champion safe staffing, patient flow and compassionate care while supporting staff development. The role is based in Watford and involves working nights to ensure high-quality patient care, safety and operational effectiveness across the

Qualifications

• Registered nurse with NHS banding experience.
• Post-registration development at degree level.
• Masters degree or willingness to work towards is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead nursing services across Watford General Hospital at night.
• Ensure safe staffing and patient flow during night hours.
• Drive quality improvement and patient experience in collaboration with frontline teams.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Band 7 experience

Acute care knowledge

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Registered Practitioner

Post-registration development (Degree)

Masters (or working towards)

Tools

Clinical leadership tools

Job description

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Important: West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements or employment offers.

If you receive a job offer or recruitment communication and are unsure whether it is genuine, please verify it using the contact details published on this website. Any request for payment should be treated as fraudulent.

Main area Medicine Grade Band 8a Contract Fixed term: 12 months (Secondment also considered) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 360-A-12000

Department name West Herts - General Staffing Site Watford General Hospital Town Watford Salary £59,798 - £67,020 pa inc. HCA Salary period Yearly Closing 15/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

Do you want to play a key role in improving the experience of our patients and to be part of an innovative and highly motivated senior nurse team making positive changes happen daily?

We are seeking someone that is confident and pioneering who wants to become a matron.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking an ambitious, compassionate and highly motivated nurse to join our senior nursing team as a Night Matron. This exciting fixed-term opportunity offers the chance to lead nursing services across the Trust during out-of-hours periods, driving excellence in patient care, safety and operational effectiveness.

As a highly visible and influential leader, you will play a pivotal role in supporting frontline teams, enhancing patient experience and ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality care every night. This role provides an excellent platform for nurses aspiring to further develop their strategic, operational and professional leadership skills at Band 8A level.

Working for our organisation

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us.

We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.

Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.

Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As Clinical Night Matron, you will be a trusted senior leader across our hospital sites, providing expert nursing leadership, professional guidance and operational oversight throughout the night. Working closely with clinical teams, site management and senior leaders, you will help ensure patients receive exceptional care while supporting staff to deliver their best.

You will champion safe staffing, patient flow, quality improvement and compassionate care, acting as a senior escalation point for patients, relatives and staff. Your leadership will contribute to improving patient outcomes, supporting workforce wellbeing and creating a consistent senior nursing presence across Watford General Hospital, St Albans City Hospital and Hemel Hempstead Hospital.

Person specification

Education

• Appropriate Registered Practitioner
• Evidence of post registration development at Degree level
• Masters’ degree or willing to work towards

Knowledge

• Experience at Band 7 or equivalent
• Current knowledge of clinical practice in an acute setting
• Experience of working in partnership with multi-disciplinary team members

Experience

• Experience and knowledge of clinical practice in an acute setting
• Appropriate operational experience

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services to a core catchment population of approximately half a million people living in west Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. The Trust also provides a range of more specialist services to a wider population, serving residents of North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Hertfordshire.

As an employer of nearly 6,000 people the Trust is one of the biggest employers in the area and sees nearly a million patients each year.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

Name Nicola Pelissero Job title Ward Manager Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07776964280

If you have problems applying, contact

Address West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Recruitment Team
Watford General Hosptial
Vicarage Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0HB
Telephone [phone]