Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the main Outpatient Department at the Tunbridge Wells Hospital. We are seeking an outpatient manager for this this busy and rewarding service to cover a secondment for 9 months.
Outpatients is being transformed and is a dynamic and innovative place to work. The service is changing rapidly to improve services for our patients, increase capacity and be sustainable for the future. We cater for a number of different clinical specialties including orthopaedics and fracture, breast, colorectal surgery, cardiology, neurology, rheumatology, endocrinology, respiratory and vascular. We have excellent staff welfare support and actively encourage staff to be involved in service improvements.
You will need to demonstrate a kind and compassionate attitude. You will be a highly motivated, enthusiastic nurse with excellent communication skills, who is passionate about your work and want to be part of a skilled multidisciplinary team delivering a high standard of care to patients in a fast paced setting. You should have excellent leadership skills and have knowledge of current issues in outpatient care.
Main duties of the job
To manage the day to day running of the department, ensuring an effective and efficient nursing service within available resources. To ensure provision of high quality patient centred care. To act as link between the department and other areas of the Division and the Trust. To lead the department in the development of Divisional, Trust and NHS initiatives. To create and maintain a positive learning environment in the department for the multidisciplinary team.
Working for our organisation
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
to hear what our staff say.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
1. At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
2. Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a employer contribution of 23.7% and life assurance benefits
3. Blue Light card eligibility
4. And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We’ve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children). If a role involves regulated activity and requires a DBS check with a barred list check, you cannot apply if you are on the barred list.
All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.
Following your corporate induction you will be expected to attend the Trust’s 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please email if this is problematic) and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
5. RN1/ RN2/ RN12 or RN Child Registered Nurse on the NMC register. To hold the appropriate level for the area of speciality.
6. Post-graduate level qualification or equivalent experience.
7. Evidence of ongoing professional development in relevant area of speciality supplemented by specialist clinical, managerial training and CPD.
8. Mentorship course.
9. Management qualification or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
10. LEO / Equivalent Leadership Training
11. Masters Degree
12. NVQ Assessors Course
13. To hold a range of management courses
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
14. Experience of managing an area; including management of rotas, resources, budgets and staff.
15. Experience in staff / practice development including undertaking appraisals and Personal development plans.
16. Experience of audit / research-based nursing practice.
17. Experience of resource management.
18. Experience of Clinical Supervision.
Desirable criteria
19. Experience of analysing detailed information.
20. Experience of conducting own projects successfully and follow through action.
Skills
Essential criteria
21. Up to date knowledge of current clinical and professional issues.
22. Awareness of government led and professional issues relating to nursing / patient care.
23. Ability to identify patient and staff issues and proactive in addressing of these.
24. Demonstrate an awareness of clinical governance and risk management and how this effects their role and the department.
25. Ability to administer prescribed medication including blood products
26. Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
27. Strong leadership and team working skills.
Desirable criteria
28. Ability to actively participate in and develop initiatives from the NHS Plan.
29. Ability to use and understand Electronic Patient Records (EPR).
30. Ability to interpret and analyse complex data and findings.