Ward Leader

Transformation Unit; Truro, Hayle, Penzance; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Optional pension

Life assurance

Childcare Co-ordination Team

Job summary

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust in Truro is seeking a Ward Leader (Band 7) to provide visible leadership on a busy inpatient ward. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, drive safety and quality, and manage staffing, budgets, and patient flow to deliver high-quality care.

The role requires registered nursing with NMC, a nursing degree, and strong leadership skills. The post offers full-time hours and a salary in the band 7 range with NHS benefits and development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration.
• Degree in Nursing or equivalent professional qualification.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development relevant to leadership and clinical practice.
• Experience leading and managing teams and multidisciplinary groups.

Responsibilities

• Provide visible, compassionate leadership to a multidisciplinary team and ensure safe, patient-centred care.
• Manage ward operations including staffing, environment, and resource use.
• Promote patient safety, quality and experience through governance and continuous improvement.
• Lead on incidents, risks, safeguarding, and escalation with learning embedded into practice.
• Oversee recruitment, appraisal, performance management and staff wellbeing.
• Ensure compliance with Trust policies, governance standards and budget management.
• Drive audits, service development and quality improvement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Governance

Clinical leadership

Quality improvement

Education

NMC registration

Degree in Nursing

CPD in leadership

Job description

Main area Elderly Care / Medicine for Older People/General Medicine/Integrated Medicine Grade Band 7 Contract Permanent: Full time Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday) Job ref 156-8354696

Employer Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site Royal Cornwall Hosptial Town Truro Salary £49,387 - £56,515 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 29/11/2026 23:59

Ward Leader

Band 7

Job overview

Are you an exceptional nurse leader ready for your next challenge?

As Ward Leader, you will provide visible, compassionate, and effective leadership to a multidisciplinary team, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centred care within a busy inpatient environment. You will be professionally accountable for the operational management of the ward, leading on quality, patient safety, workforce development, patient flow, and service improvement.

You will work closely with the Clinical Matron, medical colleagues, and the wider multidisciplinary team to create a positive culture that promotes excellence, continuous learning, and innovation. As a role model for professional practice, you will inspire and support staff to deliver outstanding care, ensuring patients and their families receive the best possible experience.

The successful candidate will be an experienced registered nurse with strong leadership skills, a passion for developing others, and a commitment to driving quality improvement. They will be responsible for maintaining high standards of clinical care, ensuring compliance with governance and regulatory requirements, and leading the team to achieve key performance, safety, and quality objectives.

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and forward-thinking leader who is committed to making a lasting difference to patient outcomes, staff wellbeing, and the future development of the service.

Main duties of the job

The Ward Leader provides clinical, operational, and professional leadership to ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and compassionate patient care.

Key responsibilities include:

Leading the day-to-day management of the ward and maintaining safe staffing levels.

Providing visible leadership and support to nursing and multidisciplinary teams.

Promoting high standards of patient safety, quality, and patient experience.

Managing incidents, complaints, risks, and safeguarding concerns, ensuring learning is embedded into practice.

Supporting patient flow, bed management, and effective discharge planning.

Leading staff recruitment, appraisal, performance management, wellbeing, and professional development.

Ensuring compliance with Trust policies, clinical governance, and professional standards.

Managing ward resources effectively, including workforce, equipment, and budgets.

Leading audits, quality improvement, and service development initiatives.

Working collaboratively with the Clinical Matron and multidisciplinary teams to deliver operational and strategic objectives.

Acting as a role model for Trust values through compassionate, inclusive leadership.

Supporting service transformation and continuous improvement to enhance patient outcomes.

The post holder will maintain clinical credibility and contribute to direct patient care when required.

Working for our organisation

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is at the heart of acute and specialist care for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We care for a population of around 470,000 people, a number that increases during visitor seasons. We employ around 6,700 staff, united by a shared commitment to deliver safe, high‑quality care. We provide services across three main hospital sites, with around 780 inpatient beds:

As a teaching hospital, we’re proud to work in partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School, the University of Plymouth School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Peninsula Dental School, supporting the next generation of health professionals. We’re committed to staying at the forefront of medical advance; investing in our people, developing our facilities, and expanding the specialist care we can offer locally so more patients can receive the care they need closer to home. We have a growing reputation for research and innovation that helps shape better care for the future. The Knowledge Spa, located on our Truro site, is a vibrant hub for medical, nursing and professional education across clinical and non‑clinical roles. It plays a vital role in attracting, developing and retaining highly skilled teams.

We are driven by one clear ambition, Outstanding Care for One and All, care that’s safe, kind and high-quality. We are RCHT.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To be an employee of the NHS you need to successfully complete the following:

Identity Checks

Professional registration and qualification checks

Employment history and reference checks

Occupational Health clearance

Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check

We reserve the right to close this advert early.

We may be able to offer flexible working. Please discuss at interview.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration
• Degree in Nursing or equivalent professional qualification
• Evidence of ongoing professional development relevant to leadership and clinical practice
• Compassionate, visible, and approachable leader
• Knowledge of workforce planning and e-rostering systems
• Experience analysing and using performance data to drive improvement
• Acts as a positive role model for Trust values and behaviours

Experience

• Experience of leading and managing teams
• Knowledge of governance, risk management, and patient safety frameworks
• Resilient and adaptable under pressure
• Experience of managing budgets and resources
• Ability to influence and lead change

Statement on the Use of AI

We value authenticity and encourage applicants to complete their application using their own words. Your application should accurately reflect your skills, experience, and motivation for the role. Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may not provide an accurate representation of your abilities and could affect the assessment process.

Misrepresentation of skills, knowledge, or experience, including through AI-generated content, may lead to the rejection of your application, withdrawal of your offer, or your dismissal if you do start with us.

Please be aware that your application and related documents will be retained confidentially for a period of 12 months.

Before You Apply

Please read the job description and person specification carefully before applying.

Sponsorship Information

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for all vacancies..

Applicants must provide accurate details of their immigration status and right to work in the UK. Overseas applicants may also be required to provide criminal record certificates in line with UK immigration requirements. Further guidance is available on the GOV.UK website.

• Benefits include optional pension and life assurance and a dedicated Childcare Co-ordination Team

We are committed to ensuring our staff are developed, engaged and supported to work in different ways to support the ever-changing environment in which we operate.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust is a non-smoking organisation.

Should you require an alternative format of this application form (such as Braille, audio or large print), please telephone [phone]

In submitting an application form, you authorise Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Electronic Staff Record Inter Authority

Royal Cornwall Hospital is an Equal Opportunities employer.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.