Ward Manager

NHS; Yeovil; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a dedicated Ward Manager to oversee a Stroke Inpatient Ward. This role involves clinical and operational management, ensuring high standards of patient care and leading a multidisciplinary team. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, a commitment to patient-centred care, and relevant nursing qualifications.

Benefits

Flexible working options

NHS pension scheme

Generous annual leave allowance

Career development opportunities

Blue Light Card discounts

Qualifications

• RGN Diploma level and working towards or willing to work towards a degree level.
• Experience at Junior Sister level.
• Proven evidence of providing clinical leadership of a team.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate all aspects of ward-based care and operations.
• Ensure safety through risk assessments, audits, and infection control.
• Supervise clinical practice and support policy implementation.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Communication

Organisational skills

Evidence-based practice

Education

RGN Diploma level

Teaching mentorship course

Job description

Job Summary

The Ward Manager role involves leading and coordinating the clinical, managerial, and educational functions of a designated clinical area, ensuring continuity of care across a 24/7 period. It includes providing daily nursing leadership that empowers the team to deliver patient-centred, evidence-based care within a defined budget. The postholder is responsible for maintaining high standards of care, ensuring patient safety and quality, and working with the Matron to address any shortcomings. This position also requires visible and accessible leadership, including direct patient care, and encompasses the clinical and managerial oversight of the ward. Additionally, the individual is accountable for the line management of a multidisciplinary team, acting as the designated budget holder, and participating in the staffing rota and senior nurse rota as part of wider organisational responsibilities.

Main Duties of the Job

This role involves comprehensive responsibility for managing, coordinating, and leading all aspects of ward-based care and operations. The postholder communicates complex and sensitive information with patients, carers, and staff, ensuring empathy and understanding while maintaining visibility and accessibility. They play a key role in multidisciplinary collaboration to deliver patient-centred care and participate in service planning and policy development.

Leadership responsibilities include maintaining ward standards, ensuring safety through risk assessments, audits, and infection control, and leading the response to complaints and incidents. The postholder is also accountable for staff management, including appraisals, development plans, performance management, and recruitment, ensuring all personnel meet required competencies. They manage training records and ensure compliance with Trust policies. Financial duties include monitoring ward budgets, staffing costs, equipment maintenance, and stock levels.

Additionally, they supervise clinical practice, apply evidence-based care models, and support policy implementation and governance by using data, audits, and patient feedback to drive continuous improvement. Administrative responsibilities include managing information systems and documentation, attending key meetings, and ensuring proper communication of organisational updates.

About Us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Details

Date posted: 20 May 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £46,148 to £52,809 a year

Contract: Secondment

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 184-OL-OR-2547

Job locations: Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 4AT

Job Responsibilities

Are you a passionate and experienced nursing leader ready to make a difference in stroke care? We are seeking a dedicated Ward Manager to lead our dynamic Stroke Inpatient Ward, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compassionate care to patients during their recovery journey.

In this vital leadership role, you will oversee the clinical and operational management of the ward, provide expert guidance to nursing staff, and work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to drive excellence in stroke rehabilitation. You will be responsible for maintaining safe staffing levels, upholding national clinical standards, and creating a supportive environment that fosters continuous improvement and professional development.

If you thrive in a fast-paced, patient-centred setting and are committed to leading with integrity and compassion, we welcome your application.

Please also see the detailed Job description attached.

Person Specification

Qualifications (Essential):

• RGN Diploma level and working towards or willing to work towards a degree level.
• Teaching mentorship course
• Experience at Junior Sister level
• Relevant post registration experience
• Proven evidence of providing clinical leadership of a team and leading a team through change
• Experience in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care
• Basic knowledge of budgets
• Ability to undertake skill mix reviews and devise duty rota
• Ability to communicate professionally with people at all levels of understanding face to face, on the telephone, email or written communication, including dealing with incident reports

Desirable:

• First level/ Supervisory Management Qualification or course or relevant experience

Experience (Essential):

• Good knowledge of nursing care
• Ability to make decisions based on evidence-based practice and translate this on the ward
• Established organisational and leadership skills
• Knowledge and understanding of resources supporting the care of stroke patients

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check due to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. Further info at NHS Careers website.

Employer Details

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 4AT

Website: https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/