Ward Manager (Maternity Cover Jan 2027 till Jan 2028)

Fortius Clinic is seeking an experienced, compassionate and highly motivated Ward Manager to lead our Day Case Ward and support the delivery of outstanding patient care within one of the UK's leading specialist orthopaedic and sports medicine hospitals.

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior nurse with substantial surgical nursing experience to provide visible clinical and operational leadership, develop high-performing teams and contribute to the strategic direction of nursing services.

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of exceptional evidence-based patient care, maintaining high standards of clinical governance, and creating a positive and supportive environment for both patients and staff.

The Ward Manager is an expert nurse responsible for the daily delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care across the ward and day surgery pathway.

The role combines clinical practice with operational and people leadership responsibilities and includes oversight of patient flow, staffing, governance, quality improvement, budget management and regulatory compliance.

The post holder will work Monday to Friday during core service hours and will be expected to spend approximately 50% of their time supporting ward staffing and clinical activity. Flexibility will be required to deputise for the Head of Nursing, Clinical Site Manager and other senior nursing leaders when necessary.

You will:

• Lead the delivery of outstanding, evidence-based patient care.

• Provide visible and inspirational leadership to nursing teams.

• Manage the day-to-day operation of the ward and day surgery pathway.

• Ensure safe staffing levels and appropriate skill mix at all times.

• Lead patient flow, admissions, discharges and bed utilisation.

• Maintain responsibility for the ward environment, equipment, medicines and consumables.

• Monitor and improve service performance against agreed KPIs.

• Lead investigations of incidents, complaints and governance concerns.

• Build effective working relationships with consultants and the multidisciplinary team.

• Champion quality improvement initiatives and service developments.

• Prepare the ward for regulatory inspections, including CQC assessments.

• Support sustainability and environmental initiatives across the service.

• Act as a senior leader within Fortius, contributing to strategic objectives and organisational development.

You will:

• Lead recruitment, induction, retention and workforce planning activities.

• Conduct appraisals, performance reviews and regular staff development meetings.

• Manage sickness absence, performance concerns and employee relations matters.

• Ensure compliance with mandatory training and professional competencies.

• Coach and mentor nursing staff and support career development.

• Foster a culture of learning, accountability and continuous improvement.

• Promote staff wellbeing through supportive and compassionate leadership.

• Ensure effective communication through team meetings, briefings and engagement activities.

• Champion inclusion, equality and diversity within the workplace.

You will:

• Act as a highly visible clinical leader and point of contact for patients, families and staff.

• Maintain high standards of nursing practice in accordance with NMC standards.

• Ensure comprehensive patient assessments and care planning.

• Monitor clinical outcomes, audits and quality metrics.

• Lead medicines management and infection prevention practices.

• Oversee ward-based audit programmes and implementation of actions.

• Ensure accurate clinical documentation and record keeping.

• Respond appropriately to complaints, concerns and patient feedback.

• Drive continuous improvement in patient experience and safety.

• Ensure equipment is maintained, serviced and used appropriately.

• Registered Nurse (RN) with current NMC registration.

• Degree in Nursing or equivalent qualification.

• Significant post-registration experience within a surgical or orthopaedic ward environment.

• Leadership experience at Band 6 level or above.

• Experience managing staffing, rotas and workforce planning.

• Experience conducting appraisals and managing employee performance.

• Experience investigating incidents and handling patient complaints.

• Strong understanding of clinical governance and quality improvement.

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

• Proficient IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel and Teams.

• Ability to lead change and inspire high-performing teams.

• Leadership or Management qualification.

• Master's degree in a health-related or leadership discipline.

• Orthopaedic or surgical specialist qualification.

• Practice Assessor qualification.

• Independent healthcare experience.

• NHS hospital experience.

• Experience leading audits, quality initiatives and policy development.

We are looking for a leader who demonstrates:

• Professional credibility and clinical excellence.

• Strong decision-making and accountability.

• Compassionate and inclusive leadership.

• Excellent organisational and time management skills.

• The ability to influence and inspire others.

• Resilience and adaptability in a fast-paced environment.

• A commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.

Be proactive in identifying opportunities to improve services, enhance patient journeys and deliver meaningful change.

Work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients.

Deliver exceptional patient-centred care and ensure every patient receives an outstanding experience.