Deputy Ward Leader- Surgical Day case unit- EMPCC

NHS; Leicester; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Leicester is looking for a Deputy Ward Leader for the Surgical Day Case Unit. In this role, you will lead a motivated clinical team, ensure high standards of patient care, and mentor nursing staff. Ideal candidates should possess a nursing degree, a teaching qualification, and a minimum of three years' post-registration experience. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to quality healthcare in a newly developed facility.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 3 years post-registration experience is required.
• Demonstrates a high level of clinical expertise.
• Good understanding of quality, safety, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead a motivated team delivering surgical activity.
• Supervise staff ensuring safety and effectiveness.
• Contribute to service improvement and quality of care.

Skills

Clinical expertise

Project management

Analytical skills

Education

Degree in nursing or a health-related subject

Recognised NMC Teaching and Assessing Qualification

Job description

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Deputy Ward Leader - Surgical Day Case Unit - EMPCC

The closing date is 18 November 2025

We are looking for a Registered Nurse/Practitioner to join our team as Band 6 Deputy Ward Leader for our Surgical Day case unit, in our brand new Planned Care Centre.

The East Midlands Planned Care Centre is a newly renovated, impressive building which opened in December 2024. It is a stand‑alone unit on site at the Leicester General Hospital and was a multi‑million‑pound investment built to improve care and reduce waiting lists for the people of Leicester and beyond.

The vacancy post is part of the ITAPS team and will deputise within two areas: the Surgical Day Case Unit – consisting of TAA, Recovery and Discharge – and the Post‑Operative Unit – which houses an 18‑bedded ward dedicated to elective day case/post‑surgical activity.

Main duties of the job

• Lead a highly motivated, adaptable team in a fast‑paced environment, delivering day‑case surgical activity from multiple specialties.
• Lead same‑day discharge processes with criteria‑led discharge skills.
• Provide visible clinical expertise, daily leadership, direction, and inspirational guidance.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for patients independently.
• Supervise staff, ensuring the caring process is carried out safely and effectively.
• Take charge of the area regularly and participate in effective clinical leadership and management of the team.
• Contribute to service improvement and quality of care provision.
• Mentor, teach, assess and support students and learners, participating in education and development of staff.
• Confidently admit, recover and discharge patients independently.

About us

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023‑2030). We have four primary goals:

• high‑quality care for all
• being a great place to work
• partnerships for impact
• research and education excellence

We embed health equality in all we do – taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

• we are compassionate
• we are proud
• we are inclusive
• we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

Job responsibilities

• Support the Team Leader/Matron to ensure a safe, clean, comfortable and well‑maintained ward/department environment.
• Ensure delivery of care meets the standards set by the Sister/Charge Nurse/Team Leader for own and all patients when in charge.
• Act at all times to provide a personalised service to patients, promoting quality, diversity and rights.
• Contribute to setting, maintaining and monitoring standards of care and lead improvement through benchmarking, audit and research.
• In the absence of the Team Leader, provide adequate support, safe mentorship and supervision of learner nurses and all staff.
• Proactively seek feedback on patient and public experience to address concerns promptly and build on successes.

Please see job description/person specification for further details on the role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Recognised NMC Teaching and Assessing Qualification or equivalent.
• Evidence of post‑registration educational continuing development.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Degree in nursing or a health‑related subject.
• Clinical Leadership Programme (e.g. LEO, RCN, ILM).

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years post registration, including 2 years within the speciality.
• Demonstrates a high level of clinical expertise.
• Good understanding of quality, safety and risk management.
• Knowledge of the role in the context of local and national plans and professional strategies to deliver services within the current and future NHS.
• Experience of Patient and Public Involvement and qualitative data collection applied to improving patient experience.
• Audit experience / research skills.

Skills

• Can analyse activity data and plan workforce accordingly.
• Recognises own limitations.
• Project management.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such a submission for Disclosure will be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Address

East Midlands Planned Care Centre