Ward Manager - York

Brainkind Neurological Centre York; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 48,894 - 59,759; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Cash Plan

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Free parking

Company Pension

Long Service and Staff Awards

Job summary

Brainkind Neurological Centre York in York is seeking an experienced Ward Manager to provide clinical leadership and operational management for the ward, ensuring high standards of care for people with acquired brain injuries.

This full-time role is 35 hours per week with a salary of £54,327 per annum, plus benefits including Health Cash Plan, EAP, pension, extra leave options and free parking. DBS checks and reference checks apply.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a ward or large staff team.
• Ability to inspire and manage teams.
• Experience with complex care/rehabilitation services.
• Understanding of acquired brain injury and related needs.
• Mentorship in Practice qualification or willingness to undertake.
• Strong communication at all levels and governance knowledge.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily clinical and operational leadership ensuring exceptional care.
• Lead by example with evidence-based practice.
• Coordinate admissions and discharges with care teams.
• Establish systems for communication across disciplines.
• Empower staff and promote learning culture.
• Ensure risk management and safeguarding are in place.
• Oversee staffing, rostering, training and mentorship.
• Support preceptorship for new staff.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Project management

Communication

Change management

Clinical governance

Safeguarding

Mentorship

Budgeting

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in leadership or management

Job description

Job Description

Posted Tuesday 21 July 2026 at 00:00

Brainkind is a charity that aims to improve the lives of people with brain injuries in the UK. Our assessment centres, rehabilitation units and hospitals use expert neurorehabilitation to support people to regain the skills they have lost. We treat people with a range of brain injuries – sustained through trauma, illness, substance abuse and more – to recover and meet their personal goals. Our employees are incredibly passionate about the jobs they do – you will find a strong team spirit across our services and amazing colleagues who always pull together and look out for each other.

Ward Manager

Location: York

Hours: 35 hours per week

The service

Brainkind Neurological Centre York supports people with an acquired brain injury and complex needs such as cognitive, physical, and/or emotional difficulties, including physical and verbal aggression, impaired social functioning, and disinhibited behaviour. Our highly skilled team offer compassionate and specialised person‑centred care, in a safe and modern environment.

Main purpose:

• To improve the lives of people with acquired brain injury by minimising the impact of their condition through effective clinical leadership and management of the development and delivery of excellent services to promote recovery and wellbeing for all people we support.
• To manage, lead and co‑ordinate a dedicated team to ensure the delivery of a high standard of nursing care.
• To be responsible for the operational management and leadership of the ward.
• To be professionally accountable and responsible for the delivery of the clinical service by the ward team.
• To manage the direct patient care whilst modelling appropriate clinical behaviours to other staff.
• To promote and monitor safe and effective practice.
• To enhance the service user experience.
• To contribute to the delivery of the organisation's objectives.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

• To provide the clinical and operational leadership on a daily basis ensuring that exceptional standards of care are adhered to all times.
• To provide clinical leadership by acting as a positive role model, who practices evidence‑based care, to ensure high standards of clinical care as well as ensuring that the people we support achieve their goals.
• Ensure effective admission/discharge planning with service user’s care team.
• Establish systems and processes to ensure effective communication and continuity of service user care liaising with inter‑disciplinary teams.
• Empower and enable staff to contribute to the delivery of high quality person‑centred care.
• Promote and facilitate a learning culture within the ward and a culture of reflective practice for all staff.
• Establish highest care standards to meet or exceed current standards as well as ensuring that risk management strategies are in place.
• Responsible for ensuring that all staff recognise the potential for or signs of service user harm, abuse and neglect, including poor clinical practice, report all such occurrences and take all responsible steps to protect the service user. Responsible for ensuring that all staff identify and report concerns regarding safeguarding of all those who may be at risk.
• Take an effective role in staff management, including recruitment and retention, ensuring all staff receive the necessary training and professional development they require as well as managing rostering, holiday and sickness ensuring that the unit is always appropriately staffed.
• Ensure that all staff have access to appropriate clinical supervisions and mentorship and that they know how to access clinical advice on complex issues.
• Ensure Staff Nurses working in the ward are professionally qualified and registered with the NMC.
• Support the induction of new staff and take on the role of mentor for all students and all newly qualified staff.
• To ensure that preceptorship is available to all newly qualified staff.
• Promote the health and wellbeing of staff and note any signs of ill health or stress factors and take appropriate action in line with Brainkind policies.
• To maintain departmental costs in line with the budget and monitor revenue throughout the year.
• To participate in the development of the service business plan as required.
• Promote effective confidential communication with people we support, relatives families, carers and colleagues (including external personnel) providing information and support to in decision‑making and advocate on the people we support behalf.

About you:

• Qualification in a leadership or management module at degree level or above.
• Experience of managing a ward or large staff team effectively to meet the needs of the post fully.
• The experience and ability to lead, manage and inspire a team.
• Proven experience of managing complex and diverse care/rehabilitation services.
• Demonstrate relevant understanding of the challenges associated with working with people with an acquired brain injury and/or associated mental health condition.
• Project Management skills and evidence of change project.
• Relevant experience of developing new or existing services to meet the needs of the identified client groups.
• Mentorship in Practice (MIP) qualification or a willingness to undertake.
• Ability to communicate at all levels, both written and oral and using a variety of media.
• Demonstrate relevant understanding of Clinical Governance and its application in practice.
• Excellent negotiating and influencing skills.
• Detailed knowledge, understanding and skills in approach to clinical risk assessment and supporting development of others.
• Detailed understanding of safeguarding and its application in practice.

REWARDS:

You can look forward to excellent benefits including:

• A competitive salary of £54,327 per annum
• 38 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays) (pro rata)
• Buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave
• Health Cash Plan
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Excellent training and support
• Group life assurance
• Free parking
• Company Pension
• Long Service and Staff Awards

We also put a big focus on employee wellbeing and support. It matters to us that you feel at your best. Career development is a priority. We will ensure you get all the training and learning opportunities you need to achieve your goals.

All successful candidates are subject to compliance checks including 3 years of checkable references and DBS/PVG checks.

Brainkind are a Disability Confident Employer. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy. Brainkind is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive organisation. It is a place where we recognise, celebrate, and live our values which includes offering a range of inclusive employment policies and staff engagement forums to support employees from all backgrounds.