Ward Manager

About the Position

Arden Cancer Research Centre is seeking an experienced, compassionate, and highly organised Ward Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of a clinical ward and help ensure safe, effective, and patient-centred care. The successful candidate will provide leadership to the nursing and ward team, coordinate clinical activities, support staff development, and maintain high standards of care, professionalism, and patient safety.

The Ward Manager will work closely with nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants, administrative staff, and other multidisciplinary professionals to support patients throughout their care journey. The role involves managing staffing and resources, monitoring care standards, responding to patient and family concerns, and ensuring that ward procedures comply with relevant healthcare policies and professional requirements.

The ideal candidate will have strong clinical leadership experience, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to compassionate care, confidentiality, and continuous service improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the daily operation of the ward and ensure that care activities are organised effectively.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and support to nursing staff and other ward team members.
• Coordinate staffing arrangements, shift rotas, and workload distribution to support safe ward operations.
• Promote compassionate, respectful, and patient-centred care.
• Monitor care standards and support compliance with clinical policies, procedures, and professional guidelines.
• Work collaboratively with doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and other departments.
• Support the coordination of patient admissions, transfers, discharges, and ongoing care.
• Monitor patient safety, identify potential risks, and ensure concerns are escalated through appropriate channels.
• Respond professionally to patient and family questions, feedback, and complaints.
• Support staff recruitment, induction, supervision, performance reviews, and professional development, where applicable.
• Identify training needs and encourage continuous learning within the ward team.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential clinical and administrative records in accordance with organisational policies.
• Monitor the use of ward equipment, clinical supplies, and other resources.
• Support infection prevention and control, hygiene standards, and safe working practices.
• Contribute to clinical audits, quality improvement initiatives, incident reviews, and service evaluations.
• Help ensure that patients and families receive clear information about care arrangements and available support services.
• Promote effective communication between ward staff, patients, families, and the wider healthcare team.
• Support the implementation of updated clinical procedures and organisational policies.
• Help manage operational challenges, staffing pressures, and competing priorities in a professional manner.
• Contribute to a positive workplace culture that values teamwork, accountability, dignity, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications & Skills

• Relevant nursing qualification and current professional registration appropriate to the role and jurisdiction.
• Substantial experience in a clinical healthcare setting, ideally with previous ward leadership or supervisory responsibilities.
• Strong knowledge of patient safety, clinical governance, and quality-of-care standards.
• Understanding of infection prevention and control procedures.
• Excellent leadership, staff-management, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to coordinate staffing, workloads, and ward resources effectively.
• Good understanding of clinical documentation, confidentiality, and information governance.
• Ability to manage sensitive patient and family concerns with empathy and professionalism.
• Strong organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Commitment to equality, dignity, safeguarding, and patient-centred care.
• Confidence in supporting audits, incident reporting, and service improvement activities.
• Ability to remain calm and make appropriate decisions in a demanding clinical environment.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and maintaining relevant clinical knowledge.

What the Role Offers

• An opportunity to lead a clinical team and contribute to high-quality patient care.
• Opportunities to develop clinical leadership and healthcare management expertise.
• Involvement in service improvement, patient safety, and quality assurance initiatives.
• Opportunities to support staff training, mentoring, and professional development.
• Collaborative working with multidisciplinary healthcare professionals.
• Potential progression into senior nursing leadership or wider healthcare management roles.
• Access to relevant training and professional development, subject to the employer's arrangements.
• Salary, working hours, pension, leave, and other benefits according to the employer's policies and applicable employment terms.

Pay: £27.00-£38.00 per hour

Expected hours: 48.0 per week

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Company car
• Company events
• Company pension
• Employee mentoring programme
• Employee stock ownership plan
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Flexitime
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Language training provided
• Matching gift scheme
• On-site gym
• Paid volunteer time
• Private dental insurance

Work Location: In person