Job Description

We are looking to recruit a Band 7 Ward Manager for our Acute Medical Admissions Unit - AMU Ward 9b.



The Ward Manager role is a pivotal nursing position in the delivery of excellent standards of care through effective leadership and management and so we are looking for an experienced Registered Nurse with a high level of clinical competency in the acute setting, high quality leadership skills and proven management experience to take on the challenge.



The applicant should be a dynamic and highly motivated individual, who will work closely and collaboratively with the established multi-disciplinary team to deliver high quality, compassionate care to our patients.



This role is based at Southport Hospital and gives the opportunity for a dynamic and highly motivated nurse to manage our 28-bedded Unit accepting Acute Medical Admissions and Short Stay patients.



Applicants must possess the necessary knowledge and skills outlined in the job description and the personal specification in order to apply.



Shortlisting Date - 25th September 2025

Interview Date - 7th October 2025



The successful candidate will be highly visible to staff, patients and relatives in their role, and deliver direct patient care whilst managing, leading, and co-ordinating the Unit. You will provide decisive and effective clinical input and demonstrate leadership qualities, effective communication skills, a flexible approach and have the ability to work under pressure.



You must be confident, hardworking and reliable, and have excellent communication skills. You will be a proactive role model, providing inspirational clinical and developmental supervision to all staff on the ward. As a ward manager, you will be expected to work some clinical shifts.



The role will also require you to be able to identify service development needs, contribute to the operational planning, development and evaluation of the service.



The role of ward manager carries 24-hour continuing responsibility for the Unit, and the postholder will primarily work Monday to Friday office hours but will participate in out of hours working to support service delivery.



Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.



We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services:

Acute Care



Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.



Primary Care



Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.



Community Services



Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.



Specialist Regional Services



We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018

Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)

National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme



Provide leadership, management and team development to designated staff group, acting in a consultative capacity, ensuring safe and effective service delivery.

Provide specialist advice, leadership and support to the wider MDT ensuring the patient is at the centre of all decision making.

Ensure high quality care throughout the service by ensuring assessment planning, implementation and evaluation of care delivery

Maintain staff and patient records in compliance with Trust policy

Liaising with internal departments and external agencies in order to provide evidence-based care and contribute to policy and practice changes.

Ensure delegated budget is managed in line with Trust's standing financial instructions

To uphold the standards of professional practice, promoting and maintaining high quality patient care.

Overall responsibility for the management of the department and will be accountable for the quality of care within that environment in line with Trust policy and professional codes and standards

Lead and provide a highly visible presence being responsive and accessible to patients, carers and staff.



Clinical Management



To have overall responsibility for the delivery of high-quality patient care by their team members.

To have responsibility for implementing and maintaining Infection Control Policies and Procedures.

Participate in quality inspections and produce an action plan with clinical and non-clinical services as necessary to ensure identified defects are rectified.

Maintain safe staffing levels, escalating as required.

Ensure patient records are maintained accurately and that documentation reflects care provided.

Maximise the use of clinical resources, monitoring and initiating improvements within the designated department

Maintain clinical competence according to professional standards for example medicine management, maintenance of pumps and infusions, insertion of catheters, removal of sutures, ILS etc

Maintain professional competence, authority and credibility through clinical practice, acting as a role model and leader, providing supervision and support to nursing staff.

Act as an expert clinician, analysing and interpreting complex needs or situations, making judgements based on knowledge

Provide and receive complex, sensitive information where there may be barriers to understanding, using persuasion and reassurance as required

Participate in the investigation of complaints ensuring a thorough, timely and accurate report is produced and agreed actions are implemented

Investigate accidents/incidents implementing actions and reporting to Matron as required by Trust policy.

Act on concerns raised by team members or service users taking appropriate action according to Trust Policies and Guidelines.

Provide timely and accurate data and statistical returns as required.



People Management



Co-ordinate & monitor duty rosters, annual leave, study leave and sickness & absence to ensure effective utilisation and deployment of staff. Assess and interpret complex information to ensure safe staffing within the department at all times.

Plan and implement orientation programmes for all newly appointed staff.

Ensure compliance with Mandatory Training requirements, maintaining records of training and development undertaken.

Ensure regular supervision of staff, undertaking personal development plans in line with Trust policy, identifying training needs

Day to day management of individual / team performance, conduct and behavioural issues, escalating any serious concerns to formal processes.

Ensure effective recruitment, selection and retention of staff in accordance with agreed policies and procedures.

Develop, implement and monitor programmes of specialty based teaching, ensuring leaning objectives are achieved.

To ensure the educational needs of students are met and evaluated during their allocation to the department.



Leadership and Development



Involve patients and carers in the planning and delivery of care, establishing and maintaining effective communication systems to ensure care is responsive to patient needs and wishes.

Continually monitor standards of care and lead initiatives to effect improvements by implementing evidence-based practice.

Assist in the development of policies and protocols relevant to the specialty.

In conjunction with senior leaders, propose and deliver service improvements ensuring evidence based practice is implemented within the department.



Budget Management Responsibilities



Delegated budget holder for the department with overall responsibility to ensuring balance in both pay and non-pay lines.

Attendance at monthly budget meetings to report on variances

Ensure achievement of financial, manpower and operational objectives identified for the department.

Ensure the effective and efficient use of resources and fulfil the responsibilities of budget holder including stock management and care and maintenance of equipment.

Handles patients valuables, ensuring safe storage and transportation



Research and Audit



To develop, undertake and implement audit within the department.

To promote awareness of current research in the department.

To introduce and apply research findings to the department relating to practice where relevant.

To promote and disseminate local/national/international research findings to the department.

To develop and implement methods of auditing nursing practice within own department.



Personal Development



Responsible for ensuring own continuing professional development and identifying development needs within the Trust knowledge and skills development review process.

To identify areas for self-development, areas of interest and training requirements within your personal performance planning and Development Review.

To maintain a professional portfolio and reflective diary for developmental purposes and revalidation.

Support the rest of the team by recognising own and promoting self-help and wellbeing

To attend corporate groups as a representative of the directorate and team.

To represent the clinical area on working groups as appropriate and at relevant conferences at regional and national level and on working groups as appropriate.

To participate in the business planning process, helping to identify areas for service development.

Lead on delegated projects relating to local policy development