Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and motivated senior nurse to join our Day Surgery Unit as a Band 7 Ward Manager. This is an exciting opportunity for a confident clinical leader who is passionate about delivering safe, high-quality, patient-centred care within a fast-paced surgical environment.
As Ward Manager, you will provide strong, visible leadership to the DSU nursing team, ensuring the efficient running of the unit and maintaining the highest standards of clinical care. You will oversee day-to-day operations, including staffing, patient flow, workforce planning, clinical governance, and the professional development of staff. You will work closely with the Theatre Matron, Lead Nurse, surgeons, anaesthetists, and the wider MDT to support excellent peri-operative care and a safe patient journey.
This role is ideal for a Band 6 or existing Band 7 who can demonstrate robust clinical skills, strong communication, and the ability to lead, inspire, and develop a diverse team. You will champion evidence-based practice, drive service improvements, and foster a positive culture focused on safety, learning, and continuous improvement.
If you are committed to delivering excellent care, supporting staff development, and shaping a high-performing surgical service, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
As the Band 7 Ward Manager for the Day Surgery Unit, you will provide visible clinical leadership, ensuring the safe, effective day-to-day running of the unit and consistently high standards of patient-centred care. You will lead, support, and develop the nursing team through appraisals, personal development planning, training coordination, and by maintaining a positive learning environment. You will manage staffing and resources, including rotas, leave, and bank/agency usage to ensure safe and efficient service delivery. You will uphold high standards of documentation and data quality through regular audits and promotion of evidence-based practice.
A key responsibility will be driving GIRFT (Getting It Right First Time) initiatives, aligning DSU practice with national recommendations, improving pathways, monitoring outcomes, and embedding quality and efficiency improvements. You will lead on patient safety, incident management, complaints, and governance actions. You will maintain a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors, escalating concerns when required, and work closely with the multidisciplinary team to optimise patient flow. You will champion Trust values, support service development, contribute to audits and improvement projects, deliver direct patient care when needed, and deputise for the Matron in operational and strategic matters.
About us
Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.
We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible. Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.
We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.
If you haven't heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probation. Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Provide strong, visible leadership to ensure safe, effective daytoday operation of the Day Surgery Unit.
- Lead and manage the nursing team, ensuring clear communication, professional accountability, and high standards of practice.
- Oversee staffing rotas, annual and study leave, and bank/agency usage to maintain safe and effective staffing levels.
- Support recruitment, retention, induction, and ongoing development of staff within the DSU.
- Conduct appraisals, create personal development plans, and coordinate training needs to support professional growth.
- Deputise for the Matron as required, representing the unit and supporting operational and strategic priorities.
Clinical Responsibilities - Act as an expert clinical practitioner, providing direct patient care when required and modelling best practice.
- Ensure the delivery of safe, efficient, and patientfocused perioperative care in collaboration with surgeons, anaesthetists, and theatre teams.
- Maintain high standards of clinical documentation and ensure regular auditing of nursing records.
- Promote evidencebased practice, supporting staff in delivering care that aligns with Trust policies and national guidance.
- Engage patients, families, and carers in their care, ensuring communication is clear, compassionate, and responsive.
Quality, Governance & Patient Safety - Lead on clinical governance activities for the DSU, including incident reporting, root cause analysis, and implementation of learning outcomes.
- Manage complaints and concerns effectively, maintaining a culture of openness, learning, and improvement.
- Drive GIRFT (Getting It Right First Time) initiatives, ensuring the service meets national quality benchmarks, improves pathways, reduces unwarranted variation, and delivers efficient care.
- Ensure compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards and support quality improvement initiatives.
- Oversee risk assessments, audit programmes, and action plans to ensure continuous enhancement of safety and service quality.
Operational Efficiency & Service Improvement - Manage resources effectively, including equipment, consumables, and budget awareness within the DSU.
- Support pathway optimisation, patient flow, and timely surgical scheduling to maximise theatre utilisation and minimise delays.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary colleagues and managers to streamline processes, reduce inefficiencies, and enhance the patient experience.
- Contribute to service redesign projects, policy development, and operational planning.
Education, Training & Staff Development - Ensure the DSU provides an excellent learning environment for students, trainees, and new starters.
- Coordinate and oversee preceptorship and mentorship within the team.
- Support staff to access mandatory and elective training, ensuring compliance with professional and organisational requirements.
- Encourage staff involvement in research, audit, reflective practice, and qualityimprovement initiatives.
Health, Safety & Infection Control - Ensure all staff comply with infectionprevention and control policies, escalating concerns promptly.
- Maintain a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors, reporting hazards and ensuring timely action.
- Support Trust initiatives relating to safety, wellbeing, and best practice standards.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Provide strong, visible leadership to ensure safe, effective daytoday operation of the Day Surgery Unit.
- Lead and manage the nursing team, ensuring clear communication, professional accountability, and high standards of practice.
- Oversee staffing rotas, annual and study leave, and bank/agency usage to maintain safe and effective staffing levels.
- Support recruitment, retention, induction, and ongoing development of staff within the DSU.
- Conduct appraisals, create personal development plans, and coordinate training needs to support professional growth.
- Deputise for the Matron as required, representing the unit and supporting operational and strategic priorities.
Clinical Responsibilities - Act as an expert clinical practitioner, providing direct patient care when required and modelling best practice.
- Ensure the delivery of safe, efficient, and patientfocused perioperative care in collaboration with surgeons, anaesthetists, and theatre teams.
- Maintain high standards of clinical documentation and ensure regular auditing of nursing records.
- Promote evidencebased practice, supporting staff in delivering care that aligns with Trust policies and national guidance.
- Engage patients, families, and carers in their care, ensuring communication is clear, compassionate, and responsive.
Quality, Governance & Patient Safety - Lead on clinical governance activities for the DSU, including incident reporting, root cause analysis, and implementation of learning outcomes.
- Manage complaints and concerns effectively, maintaining a culture of openness, learning, and improvement.
- Drive GIRFT (Getting It Right First Time) initiatives, ensuring the service meets national quality benchmarks, improves pathways, reduces unwarranted variation, and delivers efficient care.
- Ensure compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards and support quality improvement initiatives.
- Oversee risk assessments, audit programmes, and action plans to ensure continuous enhancement of safety and service quality.
Operational Efficiency & Service Improvement - Manage resources effectively, including equipment, consumables, and budget awareness within the DSU.
- Support pathway optimisation, patient flow, and timely surgical scheduling to maximise theatre utilisation and minimise delays.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary colleagues and managers to streamline processes, reduce inefficiencies, and enhance the patient experience.
- Contribute to service redesign projects, policy development, and operational planning.
Education, Training & Staff Development - Ensure the DSU provides an excellent learning environment for students, trainees, and new starters.
- Coordinate and oversee preceptorship and mentorship within the team.
- Support staff to access mandatory and elective training, ensuring compliance with professional and organisational requirements.
- Encourage staff involvement in research, audit, reflective practice, and qualityimprovement initiatives.
Health, Safety & Infection Control - Ensure all staff comply with infectionprevention and control policies, escalating concerns promptly.
- Maintain a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors, reporting hazards and ensuring timely action.
- Support Trust initiatives relating to safety, wellbeing, and best practice standards.
Person Specification
Education, Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Registered Nurse
- Completed, or willing to undertake, management/leadership qualification or extensive management experience
- Experience managing rotas, staffing, and resources; Experience conducting appraisals and PDPs
- Teaching and Assessing qualification
- Substantial experience at Band 6 or above in theatres/DSU
- Experience leading teams in a clinical environment
- Experience with clinical governance, incident management, and complaints handling
- Strong communication and leadership skills
- Competent IT skills (Microsoft Office / EPR systems)
- Knowledge of peri-operative standards and patient pathways
Desirable
- Leadership qualification at Level 7
- Experience managing change projects
- Recruitment, selection and retention experience
- Research and audit skills
- Experience supporting service redesign or optimisation
- Experience driving GIRFT or efficiency initiatives
Person Specification
Education, Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Registered Nurse
- Completed, or willing to undertake, management/leadership qualification or extensive management experience
- Experience managing rotas, staffing, and resources; Experience conducting appraisals and PDPs
- Teaching and Assessing qualification
- Substantial experience at Band 6 or above in theatres/DSU
- Experience leading teams in a clinical environment
- Experience with clinical governance, incident management, and complaints handling
- Strong communication and leadership skills
- Competent IT skills (Microsoft Office / EPR systems)
- Knowledge of peri-operative standards and patient pathways
Desirable
- Leadership qualification at Level 7
- Experience managing change projects
- Recruitment, selection and retention experience
- Research and audit skills
- Experience supporting service redesign or optimisation
- Experience driving GIRFT or efficiency initiatives
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).