Deputy Ward Manager

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust; South Shields; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An NHS healthcare provider in South Shields seeks a Deputy Ward Manager for their Surgical Centre. The successful candidate will manage nursing staff, ensure high standards of patient care, and support ward operations. The role requires extensive surgical experience and includes responsibilities such as supervising junior staff and ensuring effective communication. This position offers a chance to contribute to a patient-centered environment with a focus on compassion and teamwork.

Benefits

Access to high-quality education and training

Flexible working supported

Employee wellbeing initiatives

Qualifications

• Current Part 1 NMC registration.
• Evidence of CPD.
• Experience as a Band 5.

Responsibilities

• Be responsible for safe nursing care.
• Supervise and educate junior team members.
• Ensure effective communication regarding patient care.

Skills

Awareness of national health and social care policy

Clinical teaching experience

Competent in the use of Microsoft office packages

Education

Degree in nursing studies

Management and leadership qualification

Mentorship or teaching qualification

Job description

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Deputy Ward Manager

The closing date is 05 January 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, highly motivated Registered Nurse with surgical experience to apply for the Deputy Ward Manager position within the Surgical Centre Inpatient ward at ST. In this integral role, you will work closely with the Ward Manager to provide assurance of high standards of patient‑care delivery and ensure smooth running of the ward.

The ward is a productive ward and has been nominated for many excellence reports for the care, compassion and leadership. The ward was the pilot ward for the initiative Marriages Rule – routinely capturing patients' own understanding of their illness and worries and families concerns, which is a national initiative.

The successful candidate will demonstrate flexibility and commitment in their approach to support staff and have extensive surgical experience.

The post holder will promote the positive image of the clinical area and the Trust by being a role model, having a clear vision and using direct clinical leadership to ensure that safe, effective, and holistic patient care is delivered to patients accessing our service.

Main duties of the job

Surgical Centre Inpatients is a busy 24‑bedded, elective and emergency admissions ward. We care for surgical and palliative patients in a setting where all patients are treated with personalised, professional and holistic care. On entry to the ward, each individual (patients, medical staff and relatives) is welcomed by staff into the friendly, open environment, which is fostered through strong leadership and outstanding staff. Teamwork is key: equality and compassion and high standards create harmonious, open and honest practice with clear communication being the heart of the ward.

The successful candidate would provide leadership to the nursing team.

Ensure nursing staff have the correct support, education and competence to fulfil their roles.

Ensure patients receive optimum care for a positive patient experience and outcome.

Support the ward manager by continuously looking to improve service development.

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust – There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award‑winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups. Looking after our workforce's health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high‑quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits – Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co‑ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

• T be responsible and accountable for the safe, effective and compassionate nursing care for all patients in ward/department area.
• To exercise accountability as set out in the NMC Code.
• To supervise, support and educate junior members of the team, acting as a role model.
• Support ward/department manager to ensure organisational goals/objectives are met within ward/department.
• When taking charge of the ward/department or in the absence of the ward/department manager, is directly responsible for ensuring that clinical, professional and cleanliness standards are maintained in the entire ward/department.
• To ensure effective communication internally and externally regarding patient care and resources.
• To comply with the Trust's vision, values and behavioural compact.

Skills and Knowledge

• Awareness of national health and social care policy.
• Knowledge of best practice in area of specialism.
• Thorough understanding of expanded roles/professional practice issues.
• Clinical teaching experience.
• Ability to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information, where persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic or reassurance skills are required.
• Able to work without supervision.
• Competent in the use of Microsoft office packages.
• Evidence of competency in relation to nursing practices appropriate to the post.
• Understanding of budget and financial control systems.

Qualifications

• Current Part 1 NMC registration.
• Evidence of CPD.
• Degree in nursing studies or evidence that currently working towards this.
• Management and leadership qualification, or course.
• Attendance or working towards.
• Mentorship or teaching qualification.

Experience

• Experience as a Band 5.
• Thorough understanding of contemporary nursing issues.
• Evidence of leading change management in ward/dept area.
• Evidence of practice development.
• Experience of coordinating a team in caring for patients from admission to discharge.
• Expertise within the speciality.
• Experience of line management of staff.

Physical Skills

• Ability to assist patients to move as per Trust Moving and Handling Policy.

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.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust