Job overview
Conveniently situated between the Kent coastline and the capital, the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells area is a great place to live and work. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust operates from two primary hospital sites; our new state of the art Tunbridge Wells Hospital, the first all single room NHS hospital in England, and Maidstone Hospital, where the Kent Oncology Centre is based.
The Trust is highly regarded for the excellent care it provides and for its work with major pharmaceutical companies in conducting vital research to support the development of new cancer treatments.
We are continuing to build a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values as a Trust, therefore, are you looking for a rewarding role supporting an evolving Cancer Performance and Oncology Directorate.
Reporting to the Head of Nursing, through strong clinical leadership the Matron will supporttheWardandDepartmental Sisters/ChargeNursestopromoteexcellencein nursing and midwifery care to maintain and improve clinical standards. The post holder will ensure that all patients are treated with compassion, dignity and respect placing value on the diversity of the local community and beyond.
Main duties of the job
You will be able to further develop their professional career by supporting the Director of Nursing and Quality and Head of Nursing in ensuring the highest standards of clinical care are provided.
The role will require excellent leadership skills and you will need to act as an expert resource and facilitator to support and develop nurses to achieve optimum nursing care and effective implementation of policy and practice. The role also includes working closely with the General Managers and Clinical Director to ensure the smooth and successful running of the service
You should possess excellent communication skills, be visible and accessible. You will need to be flexible and resilient in order to cope with the demands of the role. In addition you must be able to influence and negotiate in order to improve the service your teams provide for their patients.
Working for our organisation
MTW is a large acute hospital trust in the south-east of England.
We provide a full range of general hospital services and some aspects of specialist and complex care to around 600,000 people living in west Kent and East Sussex. We have a team of over 8,000 full and part-time staff. We also provide specialist cancer services to around 2 million people across Kent and East Sussex via the Kent Oncology Centre.
In the 2024 NHS staff survey, our employees ranked MTW among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and the second-best Trust to work for in the South East.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Once your pre-employment checks have been completed you will be contacted by Recruitment to arrange your start date which will be in line with one of our Corporate Inductions.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children).
At MTW, we seek to develop a culture where everyone can reach their full potential with opportunities to grow and develop their career. We recognise and value the unique contributions that each of our staff bring, delivering the best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to being a diverse employer and strive to reflect everyone in our local communities. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences and celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that will make our Trust the best place to work.
We support our staff with disabilities to ensure they have the adjustments they need to be the best they can be in the workplace. Collaborating with Access to Work means that our staff are assessed by experts in the workplace and we ensure that their recommendations are implemented as quickly as possible. You can find out more here: Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Interview Date: To be confirmed.
Person specification
Skills
Essential criteria
1. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
2. Excellent clinical skills
3. Ability to delegate effectively
4. Excellent people management skills
5. Leadership and influencing skills
6. Maintains confidentiality, and is accountable for actions/decisions
7. Able to analyse and interpret findings of audit and develop action plans
8. Ability to work to tight timescales and reprioritise effectively
9. To be aware of the Data Protection Act and implement changes to working practice with regard to new legislation
Desirable criteria
10. Experience in report writing/business planning
Qualification
Essential criteria
11. First level registered Nurse
12. Broad clinical experience relevant to the post
13. A proven track record of operational service management at a senior level in an acute hospital environment, including staff management, financial management and change management
14. Masters level qualification or equivalent experience
Experience
Essential criteria
15. Success in leading and delivering change
16. Ability to manage performance by engaging teams in the strategic direction and delivery plans
17. Able to establishing clear work priorities, delegating effectively, ensuring a capability to deliver, monitoring performance and giving feedback
18. Proven ability to analyse complex problems and to develop and successfully implement practical and workable solutions to address them
19. Ability to think and plan strategically, tactically and creatively
20. Able to prioritise work programs in the face of competing demands
21. A strong sense of personal and team accountability coupled with a clear understanding of the boundaries around delegated authority.
22. A good understanding of the changing NHS environment
Desirable criteria
23. Previous experience as a Matron