Ward Manager

Job overview

Are you ready to take the next step in your neonatal career and lead a team that makes a real difference to families every single day? If so, a fantastic opportunity has arisen to join our team as the Band 7 Ward Manager leading our Special Care Baby Unit at Worthing.

Beeding Ward is a Level 1 neonatal unit with 2 HDU and 10 special care cots, caring for babies from 31+6 weeks gestation. We are proud to be part of the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Neonatal ODN, working closely with a wide network of passionate, skilled professionals.

In this role, you’ll step into a position where your leadership truly matters. You will shape the daily experience of families and staff, collaborate across a diverse MDT, and play a central role in driving the quality and delivery of neonatal care.

We’re looking for someone with extensive neonatal experience — someone who communicates brilliantly, leads with confidence, and thrives in moments that require quick thinking, proactive decision‑making, and a calm, forward‑focused approach. You will guide and inspire your team, support their development, and maintain flexibility and resilience as priorities evolve.

You’ll be fully supported by our Neonatal Matron and the Neonatal Education team, giving you the structure and mentorship you need to flourish in this exciting leadership position.

Main duties of the job

The Ward Manager will be an integral member of the divisional management team supporting the division in the delivery of all key performance targets. They will be accountable for the provision of effective professional nursing leadership and proactive resource management for the clinical area of their responsibility. As an experienced practitioner the post holder will be expected to focus on providing a clean environment for care, ensuring best practice in infection control, improving clinical care standards and treating patients with dignity and respect within the defined resource allocated.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Leads and articulates clear standards of care for their clinical area including but not limited to; appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio, and acuity & dependency factors.
• Leads by example in the clinical setting maintaining professional behaviour and communications at all times.
• Demonstrates clinical competence in the speciality area they manage.
• Ensures there is an environment that provides caring and compassionate care in their area.
• Ensures their visibility in the clinical area, working with their team supervising and supporting nurses, mentoring band 6s to model the behaviour and standards expected.
• Proactively talks to patients and their relatives related to their  condition, patient experience and discharge plans, to provide leadership and advocacy
• Ensures completion of Family & Friends survey reviews these scores and discusses them with the team to ensure improvements are made and good practice recognised.
• Effective and empathetic in their  response to patient complaints including written responses and inclusive with team learning
• Demonstrates a leadership style that is consistent and congruent with empowerment
• Is responsible for the leading of care within their area to support the harm free care agenda at UHSussex.
• Provides nursing reports at Directorate meetings to highlight key areas of activity/ concern in their ward /clinical area
• Presents risks relevant to their clinical area at site Quality and Safety meetings

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria.

We welcome applications from those who currently hold a UK NMC registration. If you currently hold an overseas nursing qualification and require sponsorship we are not currently direct hiring Internationally Qualified Nurses.