Contact information
Adele Kitchen Deputy Assistant Director of Nursing
call: 01924543546 or 07948472606
email: adele.kitchen2@nhs.net
About the role
The Matron’s fundamental role is to improve patients experience and ensure high quality timely care to patients and their families. The post holder will do this through visible inclusive leadership and engagement with frontline staff, patients and relatives and senior management teams. This effective, accessible leadership to all clinical environments within their given area of responsibility, will enable the post holder and their teams to deliver high quality and safe patient care.
The Matron’s role is the cornerstone of improving the quality of patient care. The post holder will be instrumental in promoting high standards of clinical care, reducing health inequalities and improving workforce retention. In addition, staff education and development, will be at the forefront of the Matrons’ priorities delivered in a compassionate and inclusive leadership style which will ultimately ensure patient safety. Matrons provide key assurance to the board, providing evidence that the organisation is delivering safe care and supporting and developing staff to fulfil their roles.
Reporting to the Divisional Nurse Director / Director of Midwifery, the Matron will contribute to, lead and support delivery of the corporate and divisional nursing / midwifery agendas, ensuring the delivery of an efficient, high-quality service where nursing / midwifery practice is evidence based and clinically effective, collaborating as appropriate with the user, carer, partner organisations and staff. As a core member of the divisional senior management team the Matron will ensure the achievement of performance targets, quality indicators, financial oversight and professional leadership.
The Matron will hold responsibility for the operational management and professional leadership of defined clinical areas and groups of staff, with delegated responsibility to ensure that performance, quality and budgetary objectives are met.
Additionally, the Matron is responsible for the delivery of safe, clinically, cost effective and compassionate care within the service providing assurance evidence.
This includes but is not limited to health care acquired infection, privacy and dignity including single sex accommodation, nutrition, patient involvement and engagement, safeguarding vulnerable adults & children, learning and improving service quality by learning from incidents and complaints.
The Matron has line management responsibility for Senior Sisters/Charge Nurses/ Midwives, Specialist Nurses, Advanced Practitioners, Team Leaders and responsibility for the delivery of clinical services. This responsibility may extend to groups of Allied Health Professionals.
Main duties
* Working in collaboration with others, will lead delegated quality improvement initiatives both for divisional and corporate priorities.
* Act as a visible, accessible and influential present role model in the clinical areas, to demonstrate specialist knowledge, strong leadership and clinical skills.
* Model and uphold the Trusts values and behaviours and behave in a professional manner fitting with the position.
* Maintain own professional knowledge and clinical credibility by working within clinical areas on a regular basis.
* Ensure that all staff adhere to the Professional Appearance Policy and take any action as appropriate and required.
* Ensure that clinical areas of responsibility are visited every working shift on the site attended to offer leadership support, assess risk, monitor quality standards and provide visible leadership.
* Demonstrates diplomacy and equity when dealing with sensitive, complex issues e.g., staff conflict, application of personnel policies. Utilises well developed interpersonal, communication, empathy and re-assurance skills when communicating on an individual basis with patients, families and staff for example regarding complaints or complex human resources or professional conduct issues.
* Work in partnership with ward leaders to ensure nursing teams are well led and managed.
* Provide professional leadership to staff within wards/departments, ensuring the patient remains at the centre of professional practice and service delivery.
* Provide line management to ward managers/team leaders and advanced practitioners within areas of responsibility.
* Role model the expected standards of behaviour and positively challenge individuals when performance falls below expected standards.
Essential person specification requirements
* Registered Nurse / Midwife
* First level degree or relevant experience.
* Evidence of on-going CPD at relevant level, short course/specialist training.
* Holds a NMC approved teaching and assessing qualification.
* Masters in a health-related subject or evidence of working at master’s level.
* Significant post registration experience at band 7 level
* Demonstrates an understanding of the role of the Matron.
* Knowledge of current NHS policy and their implication for services.
* Effective leadership and influencing skills.
* Demonstrates an understanding of accountability, responsibility, and authority.
* Knowledge of health and safety issues and processes
* Knowledge of governance and processes
* Demonstrates disability awareness and the need to make reasonable adjustments.
Be part of MY team
We are an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients’ homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.
We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.
If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.
Application guidance:
We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications. While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s important that you personalise your application. Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success. Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.
Our benefits
* Access to the NHS pension plan
* Generous holiday allowance of 27 days plus bank holidays, increasing with 5 and 10 years of service
* Exceptional employee health and wellbeing services
* Extensive benefits and support, including:
* Onsite nurseries and childcare salary sacrifice scheme
* Cycle to work scheme
* Home electronics scheme
* Car lease salary sacrifice scheme
* Working carers support and advice, carers network and carers passport
* Flexible working options and family and carer-friendly policies
* Established staff networks, including LGBTQ+ and Race Equality
* Career progression, training and support
Skilled worker sponsorship
You can find out more about skilled worker and health and care visas on our careers site .