Modern Matron - Day Surgery Unit & Pre-Operative Assessment (POA)

Job overview

Are you a dynamic, compassionate, and experienced Nursing/ODP leader looking for your next challenge?

We are seeking a dedicated and inspiring Modern Matron to lead Nursing/ODP excellence and deliver high-quality, safe, and compassionate care in our Day Surgery & Pre-Operative Assessment (POA) Units.

This is a pivotal leadership role, offering the chance to drive forward service improvement, patient experience, and clinical standards. As a Band 8a Matron, you will play a key role in shaping and delivering Nursing/ODP strategy while supporting and developing your team.

Main duties of the job

As the Modern Matron, you will be the professional lead and visible clinical leader for both services, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care. You will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to promote safety, efficiency, and excellence across the patient pathway.

Key Responsibilities:
• Provide strong, visible leadership to the Nursing/ODP teams within Day Surgery and POA.
• Lead on service improvements, patient experience, and clinical governance.
• Ensure compliance with national standards and Trust policies.
• Champion compassionate, inclusive, and evidence-based care.

• Work closely with senior clinicians, operational teams, and other stakeholders to optimise surgical pathways and patient flow.
• Act as a role model for clinical excellence and professionalism.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of £1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

o Maintain clinical credibility by regularly practicing within own area of expertise, ensuring that a minimum of 20% of the role is dedicated to clinical activity, including at least one clinical shift per month.

o To be highly visible, accessible and approachable to staff and patients to, ensure that open and honest communication channels are created and sustained, fostering an environment of psychological safety.

o To maintain an overview of the standards of care being delivered across the DSU & POA departments and instigate remedial action if necessary

o To work with the DSU & POA department senior Nurses/ODPs and Practice Development Team to assess the clinical skills required to deliver a safe and high quality service, identifying any deficits and developing programmes to address these issues

o To ensure that patients follow agreed DSU & POA pathways of care and are supported towards safe and effective operations

Person specification

Education, Qualifications, Knowledge, Experience & Skill

Essential criteria

• Degree in Nursing / Operating Department Practice (or equivalent)
• MSc or Commitment to achieve Masters level
• Theatre / POA post reg qualification or equivalent
• Post-registration teaching/mentorship/SSSA qualification with significant mentorship/SSSA experience
• Management or Leadership course
• Current experience of clinical nursing practice in a DSU/POA care setting
• Demonstrable experience of managing change within a clinical environment
• Evidence of Managerial & Leadership skills (Proven leadership in POA or Perioperative settings)
• Well-developed IT/verbal and written communication skills (Computer literate)
• Experience of managing a team including human resources management.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of developing policies and procedures
• Knowledge of standard setting and audit process.

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.