Band 8a -Planned Care Matron, Medicine

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Watford; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health service provider in Watford is seeking a Planned Care Matron to support nursing leadership in achieving operational efficiency and patient care excellence. The role requires significant experience in nursing and the ability to establish career development strategies. The Matron will work closely with various departments to enhance clinical standards and foster a patient-centered approach. Candidates are expected to demonstrate strong leadership and knowledge of acute care settings, ensuring high-quality nursing practices.

Qualifications

• Proven experience at Band 7 or equivalent in an acute setting.
• Strong understanding of nursing standards and quality improvement.
• Experience with elective performance management.

Responsibilities

• Support head of nursing in operational efficiency and workforce development.
• Promote clinical quality and nursing leadership oversight.
• Establish clear career development strategies within elective pathways.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical practice knowledge

Budget management

Patient care

Team collaboration

Education

Registered Practitioner

Masters' degree or willingness to pursue

Evidence of post-registration development at Degree level

Practice assessor or equivalent teaching qualification

Job description

Go back West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Band 8a - Planned Care Matron, Medicine

The closing date is 04 January 2026

The planned care matron will support the head of nursing and deputy divisional director of nursing in achieving consistency in operational efficiency, reduce variations, support elective care delivery, financial accountability and workforce development.

The Matron will be a highly visible, accessible, and authoritative presence in clinical areas to which patients, their families/carers and others can turn for leadership, assistance, advice, and support.

Main duties of the job

Patient Experience: Embed patient experience in the elective care pathway so Ensure the clinical pathways embed a compassionate approach to the most vulnerable patient cohort so Learn, celebrate and share the positive experience from best practices.

Quality & Safety: Promote and sustain clinical quality in elective care delivery. Promote nursing leadership oversight on clinical quality affairs.

Workforce Development: Establish a clear career development strategy within elective pathways supported by a transparent and robust training need analysis and continued professional development plan. Ensure all specialist pathways have the national competency frameworks aligned to their speciality requirements.

Leadership & Management: Establish financial accountability within planned care PAYE and non PAYE spend. Promote best roster practices and workforce management. Ensure quality improvement initiatives in all elective specialty pathways. Support nurse leads in enhancing leadership and management practices. Support in establishment and job plan reviews.

Performance Improvement: Contribute innovative ideas to improve RTT performance. Collaborate with nurse leads and promote advancement of technology adoption within clinical pathway. Support head of nursing in various divisional and trust forums.

About us

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, 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 ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, 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. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance.

www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking

If you have a disability or long‑term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contact [e-mail]. 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.

We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Job responsibilities

Uphold and display the Trust values of empower, compassionate, professional and inclusive. Demonstrate compassionate, inclusive, visible and authoritative leadership to Senior Sisters/Charge Nurses in order to ensure high quality patient centred clinical care is delivered. Ensure nursing practice reflects current clinical developments and is evidence based. Enhancement of own role and that of team members. In conjunction with the Lead nurse and Head of Nursing actively embed the Trusts Nursing & Midwifery Strategy areas of responsibility. Lead on the improvement of nursing standards by promoting best practice nursing care. Participate in the development, use and evaluation of integrated care pathways. Work as part of a local multi‑disciplinary team, in developing models of care. Demonstrate and maintaining clinical credibility by acting regularly as a clinical practitioner in own areas of expertise. Work collaboratively in developing, leading and facilitating a seamless patient pathway through the service. Represent the Division at designated meetings. Deputise for the Head of Nursing as required. Be the Line Manager for the Senior Sisters/Charge Nurses within their defined areas of responsibility. Participate in the Senior Nurse out‑of‑hours rota or Divisional equivalent.

Person Specification

Education

• Registered Practitioner
• Evidence of post Registration development at Degree level
• Practice assessor or equivalent teaching qualification
• Masters' degree or willing to work towards

Knowledge

• Experience at Band 7 or equivalent
• Current knowledge of clinical practice in an acute setting
• Knowledge of RTT management and elective performance
• Experience of working in partnership with multi-disciplinary team members
• implementing complex change in a clinical setting
• Knowledge of current developments in nursing and the NHS
• Developing clinical staff
• Budget management
• Knowledge of the commissioning cycle as it applies to the specialty
• Knowledge of the developments within the integrated care system and how this might impact the role.
• Elective pathway management experience in acute setting

Experience

• Experience and knowledge of clinical practice in an acute setting
• Experience at Band 7 level
• Experience in influencing internal/external activities
• Experience across the scope of the Matron's ten key roles with potential to do all
• Experience of working across networks
• Experience of utilising technology to improve patient pathway optimisation
• Experience of participating in job plan reviews

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.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust