Matron For Paediatrics

St Mary'S Hospital; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking a dynamic Paediatric Matron (Band 8a) to lead our paediatric services. This FTC maternity cover runs from 18 January 2026 to April 2028, offering an exciting opportunity to drive high-quality, safe, and compassionate care with a patient- and family-centred approach.

You will provide visible clinical leadership, develop staff, and contribute to governance, quality improvement, and operational management in a fast-paced environment, collaborating

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse (Child).
• Postgraduate diploma/degree or equivalent experience.
• Management/Leadership certificate or equivalent experience.
• Assessing mentoring qualification.

Responsibilities

• Lead nursing and operational performance within their areas.
• Deliver excellent patient and family experience.
• Promote evidence-based practice and continuous improvement.
• Ensure safe staffing and workforce development.
• Lead governance, quality and patient safety initiatives.
• Support delivery of WLCH strategic objectives.
• Foster a culture of inclusion, learning and accountability.
• Collaborate with senior nursing, medical and operational colleagues to deliver outstanding care and transformational improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Change management

Mentoring

Education

Postgraduate diploma/degree in nursing

Management certificate or equivalent

Assessing mentoring qualification

Job description

Job overview

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Paediatric Matron (Band 8a) to join our dedicated leadership team. This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional nurse leader to drive high-quality, safe, and compassionate care across our paediatric services. The role is a FTC for maternity cover- 18/1/26- April 2028.

As Matron, you will provide visible clinical leadership, support staff development, and ensure the delivery of outstanding patient and family-centred care. You will play a key role in quality improvement, governance, and operational management within a fast-paced and rewarding environment.

Main duties of the job

• Lead nursing and operational performance within their areas.
• Deliver excellent patient and family experience.
• Promote evidence-based practice and continuous improvement.
• Ensure safe staffing and workforce development.
• Lead governance, quality and patient safety initiatives.
• Support delivery of WLCH strategic objectives.
• Foster a culture of inclusion, learning and accountability.
• The Matron will work collaboratively with senior nursing, medical and operational colleagues to deliver outstanding care and transformational improvement.

Working for our organisation

At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.

Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You’ll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.

Benefits include:

• career development
• flexible working and wellbeing
• staff recognition scheme

Make use of optional benefits including:

• Cycle to Work
• car lease schemes
• season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered Nurse (Child)
• Educated to postgraduate diploma/degree level or equivalent experience
• Management/Leadership certificate or equivalent experience.
• Assessing mentoring qualification

Desirable criteria

• Leadership or Management qualification (or working towards this qualification)

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant experience at Band 7 within Paediatric services
• Excellent managerial, leadership and organisational skills
• Excellent teaching, training and preceptorship skills.
• Experience in managing complaints/incidents and quality assurance

Desirable criteria

• Evidence in Quality Improvement/Project Management

Skills and Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Ability to manage change, both personally & as a facilitator
• Previous experience of research and audit
• Strong understanding of governance, risk and safeguarding
• Articulate with advanced written and verbal communication skills

Desirable criteria

• Capable of working strategically (business planning, service improvements, workforce planning

Right to work

If you need sponsorship to work in the UK, please visit the Home Office website for information on sponsorship and visa status before you fill in your application form. Due to recent changes in the UK immigration rules which affect Skilled Worker Visas, Global Business Mobility, Higher Skill Level and Increased Salary Thresholds, please ensure that you are able to meet the requirements to live and work in the UK before applying. Further information about eligibility is available on

We operate a joint recruitment hub across the North West London Acute Provider Collaborative Group. As part of this, your application and personal data may be shared with partner trusts within the group for recruitment and workforce purposes, in line with general data protection regulation (GDPR).

Vacancy Closing Date

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Please ensure you check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process. If you are shortlisted you will be contacted by email and text message (if you provide a mobile contact number).