Matron for Pre-operative Assessment (POA) Cross site

Job overview

Matron for Pre-operative Assessment (POA) Cross site

The Matron for Pre‑Operative Assessment (POA) is a senior clinical and operational leader responsible for delivering a high‑quality, standardised POA service across Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex Hospital. The role ensures that “high‑quality, evidence‑based, compassionate nursing care” is consistently provided and that patients undergoing elective surgery are optimally assessed and prepared. As the cross‑site lead, the Matron plays a pivotal role in supporting safe elective pathways, improving patient experience, and driving alignment with perioperative best‑practice standards.

The post holder provides visible clinical leadership, oversees the POA workforce, and ensures safe staffing, effective resource planning, and robust governance. Key duties include leading recruitment and retention, managing performance, overseeing clinical standards, and ensuring adherence to Trust policies. The Matron is responsible for “risk assessment oversight, early identification of complex patients, escalation processes,” and ensuring timely investigations to reduce avoidable delays or cancellations. The role also includes contributing to business planning, service redesign, and Trust‑wide perioperative transformation initiatives.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will lead and be responsible for the delivery of high quality care and the patient experience in their areas through proactive clinical and professional leadership to nursing staff at all levels within their clinical area of responsibility. The post holder will need to ensure the delivery of high quality, evidence based, compassionate nursing care, and that the workforce is managed efficiently and effectively.
• The post holder will ensure ward sisters have adequate support to enable them to focus on their core responsibilities.
• The post holder will contribute to the on-going implementation of the Trust’s nursing, midwifery and corporate objectives, developing the service and nursing roles to meet the evolving needs of patients and families.
• The individual will undertake the key functions of the Matron Role ensuring the patient experience in wards/ departments is of the highest possible standard at all times with particular emphasis on the provision of dignified and compassionate care which is delivered in a safe and clean environment.
• The post holder will work with the Divisional Nurse and the Senior Management Team in developing and implementing a divisional strategy to achieve the Trust’s objectives and ensure that effective governance arrangements are implemented and maintained.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This role encompasses strategic leadership, operational management, and clinical oversight. The Matron leads senior nursing staff, ensures annual appraisals and PDPs, manages budgets, and drives service improvement through audit, incident management, and patient feedback. They work clinically at least 20% of the time, undertaking daily rounds, monitoring standards, and ensuring compliance with infection control, medicines management, and documentation requirements. The post holder also leads education and workforce development, ensuring robust induction, training needs analysis, and support for students and assessors. As the senior clinical expert for POA, the Matron “ensures strong clinical governance, adherence to national and regional standards, and evidence‑based pre‑operative optimisation,” while representing the service in cross‑site and regional forums to support innovation and integrated perioperative pathways.

Clinical:

• To work in clinical practice for a minimum of 20 per cent of the time, providing clinical expertise and leadership to the team.
• To undertake daily rounds and obtain real time patient feedback; liaise with the person in charge of the unit to assess the environment with regards to cleanliness and clinical standards.
• To ensure the provision of safe, high quality care and treatment for all patients which is delivered within agreed standards, protocols and guidelines . PLEASE SEE JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR DETAILED DUTIES AND MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES