Senior Matron

Job overview

The Senior Matron’s key responsibility is to provide viable, accessible leadership to all clinical areas within their given areas of responsibility.

The Senior Matron will support the Theatres (including the Lewisham Surgical Centre) and Day Care Ward Senior Nurses to promote excellence in nursing care to maintain and improve clinical standards. The post holder will ensure that all patients are treated with compassion, dignity and respect placing value on the diversity of the local community and beyond. They will promote best practice in the prevention of infection through ensuring a clean and safe environment, and that clinical practices are in accordance with Trust policy and best practice guidelines to minimise the risk of infection.

The Senior Matron will support and oversee practice, standards and productivity at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Woolwich.

The Senior Matron will ensure that the patient experience is of the highest quality inspiring patient and public confidence. This will be achieved through high visibility, accessibility and surveillance.

The Senior Matron will report directly to the Head of Nursing who has overarching responsibility for the operational management and strategic direction of nursing.

Main duties of the job

To manage the quality of the provision of nursing care at all times, within area of clinical responsibility, holding the Theatres and Wards, Matrons, Band 7 leads to account for delivery of their key performance indicators in clinical areas. In conjunction with the  Divisional Director of Nursing and Head of Nursing ensure effective action is taken where  Theatre  and ward staff  performance is at risk of falling below expected levels and standards are not maintained.

• Ensuring that the Trust’s Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professional priorities are implemented locally.

To lead and ensure action is taken on issues of staff discipline, grievance, poor performance and sickness, including dismissal.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Review skill mix and deployment of staff within the area of responsibility, working closely with their Matrons and Band 7 leads within the remit of responsibility.

Ensure rostering meets service demands and is cost effective and adheres to Trust guidelines.

Review and agree bank and agency requirements and usage and control bank and agency spend.

Oversee recruitment processes and ensure they are adhered to in a timely manner.

Performance manages staff with direct responsibility for the continuous performance review/appraisal of  Matron, Band 7 leads theatre practitioners

Matron, Band 7 leads in managing staff absence and report trends in sickness absence to the Head of Nursing.

Oversee the process of continuous performance review within the allocated area of responsibility.

Empower and enable staff to perform their roles effectively.