Deputy Ward Manager

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust is seeking an experienced Deputy Ward Manager to provide senior clinical leadership and support the Ward Manager across the site in the 24-hour management of the acute inpatient environment. You will lead the nursing team to ensure safe, compassionate, evidence-based care for patients in the most acute phase of their illness.

When the Ward Manager is away, you will be the clinical lead on the ground, guiding decisions to maintain ward safety and patient

Qualifications

• Experience as a mental health nurse with leadership responsibilities.
• Experience leading nursing teams and managing complex admissions and discharges.
• Experience in risk assessments and safety planning.
• Mentorship of student nurses and newly qualified staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead nursing teams in delivering high-quality care and oversee admissions and discharges.
• Act as clinical lead in the Ward Manager's absence and ensure ward safety and patient flow across site.
• Lead on risk assessments and safety plans; manage incidents and debriefs.
• Participate in audits and drive the Safety Culture Bundle.
• Supervise Band 5 Nurses and Healthcare Assistants; assist in rosters and recruitment.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Nursing team leadership

Risk assessment & safety planning

Mentorship of students & new staff

CPA compliance

Job description

Are you an experienced mental health nurse ready to step into a pivotal leadership role?

As our new Deputy Ward Manager, you will provide senior clinical leadership and support the Ward Manager and across the site in the 24-hour management of the acute inpatient environment.

You will act as a role model for the nursing team, ensuring that patients in the most acute phase of their mental illness receive safe, compassionate, and evidence-based care.

When the Ward Manager is away, you are the clinical lead on the ground, making pivotal decisions to ensure ward safety and flow.

Clinical Leadership

Lead the nursing teams in delivering high-quality care, overseeing complex admissions and discharges, and ensuring Care Programme Approach (CPA) standards are met, this may be across site.

Operational Management

Assist in the management of rosters, recruitment, InPhase and safeguarding reviews, and the supervision of Band 5 Nurses and Healthcare Assistants.

Risk & Safety

Lead on risk assessments and safety plans. You will be a key figure in managing incidents, conducting debriefs, and ensuring the ward remains a therapeutic environment.

Quality Improvement

Participate in audits (i.e. IPC audits, Risk Assessment and Care Plan Audits, MRSA audits etc. ) and drive clinical excellence through the implementation of "Safety Culture Bundle".

Mentorship

Act as a Practice Supervisor/Assessor for student nurses and a preceptor for newly qualified staff, fostering a culture of continuous learning.

We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.

Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.

Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It’s why we’re passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that’s working well together.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Georgia Baldwin Job title: Ward Manager Email address: [e-mail] Telephone number: 01622 725000