Job summary We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and dedicated Mental Health Nurse to join our Acute Directorate as a Matron, with oversight of mental health inpatient wards. The role of the matron is critical in ensuring all patients experience the highest standards of clinical care. This will be achieved through a combination of professional curiosity, daily presence on wards and expert knowledge in care delivery. They will be visible to patients and carers and be available to resolve complex issues as they arise. They will provide line management to ward managers and be sighted on local risks to care delivery and have an ability to work collaboratively with others to put in plans to mitigate those risks. The post holder will take a facilitative and empowering approach, nurturing creativity and being open to doing things differently if the desired outcome improves patient, carer and staff experience. Main duties of the job Oversight of acute wards alongside other matrons (with cross cover between Matron colleagues when needed) to include operational line management of Ward Managers and the following key responsibilities; Leading by example Gaining and providing assurance of quality patient care on a daily basis. Building and sustaining systems of quality assurance Making sure patients receive high quality care Ensuring staffing is appropriate to patient needs Empowering nurses to take on a wider range of clinical duties Improving 'Team areas' cleanliness Ensuring patients' nutritional needs are met Improving wards for patients (to include supporting ward in identification of ligatures and management plan regarding existing ligatures) Making sure patients are treated with respect Preventing (hospital)acquired infection Resolving problems for patients and their relatives by building closer relationship About us Come and work with us in the Garden of England where we combine exceptional professional development opportunities with a tremendous quality of life. We are Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT), providing mental health, learning disability and specialist services, serving 1.8 million people in Kent and Medway, as well as specialist services for adults in Sussex and Surrey. We are rated Good overall by the CQC. Each year we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 people in the community. We are proud to employ over 3,800 people from 66 nationalities, and to serve an increasingly diverse range of communities across rural and urban areas. You will be joining friendly, passionate colleagues, rich in their diversity, who are committed to providing excellent care to our service users and their loved ones. The nature of our work attracts kindness and compassion as standard and everyone from our cleaners and porters to the chief executive and chairman are recognised as playing a vital role in providing an exemplary service. Our strategy Our mission is what we set out to do every day We deliver brilliant care through brilliant people Our vision is where we want to be in the future To provide outstanding care and to work in partnership to deliver this in the right place, for every service user, every time. Check out our recruitment videos Recruitment - YouTube Date posted 17 April 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £53,755 to £60,504 a year plus 1% on-call allowance Contract Fixed term Duration 12 months Working pattern Full-time Reference number 380-AC0694 Job locations Priority House Hermitage Lane Maidstone ME16 9PH Job description Job responsibilities The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010). They will work closely with other matrons, a governance team and local managers to ensure quality data is triangulated and used to inform practice. The post holder will seek to work with others to maximise digital solutions where possible. Please refer to the attached job description for full details and main responsibilities of the role. At KMPT, we are serious about diversity and inclusion, and we are working hard to build this into our DNA. We warmly welcome applications for any of our roles from people from diverse backgrounds, and we are proactively encouraging applications from under-represented communities for our more senior roles, like this one. Job description Job responsibilities The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010). They will work closely with other matrons, a governance team and local managers to ensure quality data is triangulated and used to inform practice. The post holder will seek to work with others to maximise digital solutions where possible. Please refer to the attached job description for full details and main responsibilities of the role. At KMPT, we are serious about diversity and inclusion, and we are working hard to build this into our DNA. We warmly welcome applications for any of our roles from people from diverse backgrounds, and we are proactively encouraging applications from under-represented communities for our more senior roles, like this one. Person Specification Qualifications Essential NMC registration Degree in relevant healthcare subjects Desirable Evidence of level 7 learning Training Essential Preparation of mentors Experience Essential Senior Nursing Leadership experience Quality improvement/assurance experience Desirable Inpatient nursing experience Person Specification Qualifications Essential NMC registration Degree in relevant healthcare subjects Desirable Evidence of level 7 learning Training Essential Preparation of mentors Experience Essential Senior Nursing Leadership experience Quality improvement/assurance experience Desirable Inpatient nursing experience 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. 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust Address Priority House Hermitage Lane Maidstone ME16 9PH Employer's website https://www.kmpt.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)