Transfer of Care Lead

Job overview

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

We are seeking a dedicated and inspiring Matron to lead Nursing/ODP excellence and deliver high-quality, safe, and compassionate care in our Anaesthetic and Recovery units, Inpatient Theatres at our Denmark Hill site

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 a Matron, you will be the professional lead and a visible clinical leader for the service, 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 and visible leadership to the nursing and ODP teams within inpatient theatres.
• Lead on service improvement, patient experience, and clinical governance.
• Ensure compliance with national standards, regulatory requirements, 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

Job Summary

• The Anaesthetic & Recovery Matron will ensure that the patient is at the centre of all actions and act as a role model for clinical staff.
• Provide visible leadership and support to theatre and recovery staff, enabling them to maintain high standards of holistic care at all times.
• Ensure the standardisation of Anaesthetic and Recovery services across all relevant areas so that all patients experience equally high-quality care.
• Support the development of a sustainable, safe workforce that is fit for the future within the area of responsibility.
• Ensure services are delivered within a culture where patient safety, high clinical quality, service improvement, and financial accountability are paramount.
• Support the development of clinical governance and service improvement to modernise patient services and ensure the active involvement of patients and carers in the way services are developed, delivered, and evaluated.
• Develop exceptional working relationships both within and outside the organisation, promoting a culture of continuous improvement in quality and safety, and assisting in the implementation of the quality governance strategy.
• Create and maintain environments that support the implementation of the Trust’s vision and values, embedding these into objectives, plans, and business developments.
• Provide effective, visible leadership that fosters a culture of professionalism, compassion, excellence, and quality improvement, including the development of effective team working and maintaining clinical expertise.
• Establish and maintain processes that optimise people and team performance, supporting the recruitment and retention of high-quality staff.
• Hold 24-hour accountability for areas within their responsibility, ensuring efficient and effective operational management of the nursing/ODP workforce and the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based practice across hospital, community, and outreach settings.
• Develop and maintain an inclusive culture of person-centred care within the multidisciplinary team.
• Explore current practice, identify areas for development, and plan appropriate changes using research and experience to evaluate outcomes.
• Co-ordinate practice across multiple clinical areas, ensuring a high standard of cost-effective care delivery.
• Create a care environment that stimulates continuous self-learning, reflective practice, and a sense of ownership, responsibility, and accountability.
• Contribute to identifying and managing issues of poor performance, risk, and complaints; promote and share best practice while encouraging personal development.
• Uphold and ensure Trust values are implemented and monitored to provide assurance that clinical staff behave in a professional manner.

Communication and Representation

• Provide a visible, accessible, and authoritative presence in theatre settings and across all related areas, offering assistance, advice, and support to patients, carers, families, and staff.
• Communicate messages that may be complex, highly sensitive, or contentious, using persuasive, negotiating, or empathetic skills as appropriate.
• Respond promptly to all enquiries and address concerns on the spot where possible.
• Advise the Lead Nurse/Head of Nursing on formal complaints or incidents related to staffing issues and provide support to Co-ordinators during investigations.
• Offer professional and clinical advice to the Lead Nurse/Head of Nursing in the planning of new initiatives and service developments.
• Actively participate in local, corporate, and strategic meetings.
• Work collaboratively with other professionals and support staff to establish multidisciplinary working arrangements within the service and across the Trust.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Ensure the highest standards of patient care by providing leadership to all clinical and associated staff within the groups.
• Act as a role model within the Theatre & Anaesthetic Care Group and across the Trust, ensuring personal competence in both managerial and clinical practice is maintained.
• Participate in and contribute to the corporate development of nursing, midwifery, and ODP practice through Trust-wide lead roles and initiatives.
• Provide continuous professional and operational advice and direction to all staff groups within the organisation.
• Actively participate in governance and risk meetings, contributing to the wider organisational agenda.
• Ensure compliance with NMC/HCPC professional codes, both personally and for the nursing, ODP, and midwifery teams.
• Lead the development and implementation of nursing, ODP, and midwifery care standards in line with recognised best practice, facilitating continuous review, benchmarking, and improvement.
• Ensure privacy and dignity of all patients are maintained in accordance with Trust policy.
• Promote, share, and celebrate best practice.
• Maintain clinical credibility by acting regularly as a clinical practitioner within your area of expertise.
• Be highly visible, accessible, and approachable to staff, patients, and the public to sustain open and honest communication channels.
• Maintain an overview of the standards of care delivered across defined clinical areas and take remedial action where necessary.

Person specification

Education and Qualification

Essential criteria

• Registered Nurse/ODP
• Leadership training
• Masters level qualification or evidence of post graduate study (or equivalent experience
• Current NMC / HCPC registration, UK

Desirable criteria

• Management training

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

• Understanding of complex and acute (staff management/financial management and change management) including sound knowledge of public involvement
• Knowledge of and experience in the operational management of hospital services
• Understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management processes
• Ability to manage conflict in the clinical environment

Desirable criteria

• Experience of policy critique and writing to ensure fit for purpose
• Proven ability to develop highly specialised programmes of care and care packages

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Evidence of participating in clinical audit
• Excellent verbal briefing and communication skills
• Excellent people management skills
• Clinically credible
• Competent computer skills
• Ability to plan and organise broad range of complex activities

Desirable criteria

• Highly developed leadership and influencing skills
• Highly developed physical skills where accuracy is important with a high degree of precision

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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