Ward Manager

East Of England Community Health And Care Nhs Trust; Norwich; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust is seeking a Ward Manager for Forest Ward, Willow Therapy Unit at Norwich Community Hospital. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, drive high standards of care and oversee day-to-day ward management to improve patient outcomes.

The role requires a registered nurse with management experience, capable of leading service improvements and collaborating across health and social care settings.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with current UK registration and professional body.
• First level degree, diploma or equivalent (DN option) and evidence of management capability.
• Recognised management qualification or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a 24/7 inpatient ward service and ensure high-quality patient care.
• Provide visible leadership to nursing and support staff across the unit.
• Drive governance, safety, audit and continuous service improvement.
• Collaborate with therapy teams, GPs, social care and community partners.
• Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, appraisal and performance management.
• Manage budgets and service pressures while maintaining patient experience.

Education

Nursing degree/qualification

Management qualification

UK registration (NMC)

DN qualification option

Job description

Job summary

Are you a compassionate, dynamic and motivated nurse looking for a rewarding leadership role that combines staff management with patient-centred care? An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Ward Manager on Forest Ward, Willow Therapy Unit at Norwich Community Hospital. Forest Ward is one of two wards within the 48-bed Willow Therapy Unit, providing inpatient reablement care for patients across Norfolk. As Ward Manager, you will provide visible leadership to a dedicated multidisciplinary team, ensuring the ward operates safely, effectively and efficiently. You will promote high standards of care, support staff development and wellbeing, and oversee the day‑to‑day management of the ward to deliver excellent patient outcomes and experiences. Working closely with senior leaders and clinical colleagues, you will help maintain quality and safety standards, lead service improvements, and ensure patients receive compassionate care that promotes dignity, recovery and independence. We are looking for an inspiring and compassionate leader with experience of supporting and developing healthcare teams.

Main duties of the job

• Provide visible and collaborative leadership across the ward, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate care for patients requiring community rehabilitation and recovery services.
• Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team, creating a positive culture that promotes quality improvement, professional development and excellence in patient care.
• Drive high standards of clinical governance, patient safety and patient experience, using audit, quality improvement and evidence-based practice to achieve the best possible outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across health, social care and community services to support seamless patient pathways, effective discharge planning and integrated care delivery to achieve the expected length of stay for the unit.
• Put patients at the centre of everything we do.
• Create a culture where colleagues feel valued, supported and empowered.
• Continuously improve and develop services to meet the needs of our communities.

Job responsibilities

• Lead and manage a 24-hour, 7-day inpatient ward service.
• Working in collaboration with peer ward manager and therapy clinical leads and support across the Unit as required.
• Provide visible clinical and professional leadership to nursing and support staff.
• Ensure delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centred care.
• Support reablement, rehabilitation and discharge planning pathways.
• Work collaboratively with therapy teams, GPs, social care, acute hospitals and community partners.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, appraisal, supervision and performance management.
• Drive quality improvement, governance, audit and patient safety initiatives.
• Manage service pressures, operational performance and delegated budgets.
• Champion innovation and new ways of working to improve patient outcomes and experience.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse.
• First level degree, diploma or equivalent or equivalent post registration experience i.e.: DN qualification.
• Recognised Management Qualification or evidence of working at that level.
• Current registration to a professional body.

Desirable

• Masters degree
• Independent/supplementary prescribing qualification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of leading a team.
• Experience of working in a multi‑agency environment.
• Experience of managing budgets.
• A track record of successful service and policy development and implementation.
• Evidence of post‑graduate development.
• Performance management experience.

Desirable

• Experience of managing a multidisciplinary team.
• Project management.

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Essential

• Change management experience.
• Demonstrates good clinical and professional leadership skills.
• Good communicator.
• Highly motivated and use own initiative.
• Able to provide high standards of care.
• Good observational and reporting skills, analytical skills with the ability to problem‑solve complex situations.
• Ability to manage stressful situations, including able to concentrate in busy, pressured environments and prioritise time accordingly.
• A team player, good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to travel to other locations to support teams and attend meetings.
• Work flexibly to accommodate patient/service needs.

Desirable

• Significant experience in team leadership/managing a team.

Communication

Essential

• Expert communication skills, able to address communication barriers.
• Evidence of tact and diplomacy.
• Empathy and sensitivity.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Coaching/mentoring skills.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Professional appearance.
• Ability to adapt and work clinically, including: able to kneel, bend and stoop, and work in cramped environments, manoeuvre limbs of 5-6kg and patients using handling aids.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Address: Willow Therapy Unit, Norwich, NR2 3TU, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.eastofenglandcommunityhealthandcare.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact:

Service Lead: Luciano Pitasi, [e-mail], 07901916089

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum/pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full‑time

Reference number

839-8365977-GP