Paediatric Ward Manager - Starlight Ward

 

Job Ref 289-WLCH-82-B

Closing Date 02/07/2026 23:59

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced nurse to join our existing nursing team and work within our friendly and dynamic Paediatric Team in West Middlesex University Hospital, situated in the leafy suburb of Isleworth. Starlight Ward is a 20 bedded ward, with patients ranging from 0-16 with a range of conditions, allowing for growth and exposure as you support an ever-evolving team of excellecent nurses. You will be a compassionate and visible leader and will bring a wealth of clinical knowledge and experience, providing sound clinical expertise to your team and delivering high quality, patient focused care. 

West Middlesex University Hospital forms part of the West London Children's Healthcare, which is made up of hospitals across four campuses, broadening your exposure, as you will be supported by a large team of experienced senior Nursing and MDT colleagues.  This post affords you opportunities for further career development, enhancing your management and leadership skills. Working with our wider team of Ward Managers, Lead Nurses and Modern Matrons,  you will be an active participant in high-level decision-making, to develop best practice, guidance and implement consistent processes across the Paediatric team.

Main duties of the job

You will act as a role model, exemplifying expert clinical care, providing educational support on a daily  basis,  demonstrating and keeping the PROUD values at the heart of everything you do. You will be responsible for the daily clinical and operational management of the dynamic paediatric inpatient areas and lead on innovative quality improvement initiatives. We thrive on improving patient experience and outcomes, which you will contribute to by fostering close working relationships with a busy Paediatric ED to increase patient flow and throughput. 

Please see attached job description and person specification to this advert for further details.

Working for our organisation

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.

We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.

The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.

Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Component

• To be accountable for nursing practice and take every opportunity to sustain and improve knowledge and professional competence of staff.
• To be a clinical expert within the Paediatric specialty whilst delivering high levels of direct care to patients.
• To initiate and lead in ensuring the development of nursing standards and policies.
• To have responsibility for resolving patient/parent complaints relating to clinical care/operational issues within the area.
• To act as a change agent utilising the principles of evidence-based practice promoting family-centred care.
• To recognise deterioration in clinical conditions and initiate a rapid and appropriate response
• To lead on complex patient care and develop packages of care to ensure discharge processes are efficient and comprehensive, incorporating members of the multi-disciplinary team
• To act as an expert clinical resource maintaining a high clinical profile in the clinical area
• To make an assessment of the child and families’ psychological and social needs, implementing an agreed management plan including appropriate referral.
• To ensure that audit procedures are in place for monitoring standards (Infection Control, Cleaning, Documentation and Risk) and audited within the agreed timeframe. To work with the Paediatric Management Team/Clinical Site Manager to ensure timely discharges and admissions and to provide service cover when necessary.
• To coordinate all Safeguarding referrals/concerns liaising with other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Ensure that sensitive patient records are stored appropriately and that Trust Information Governance policies are adhered to.

Management Component

• Be responsible for providing a 24 hour nursing service for the clinical area demonstrating effective leadership and management skills.
• Maintain a safe working environment, recognising the health andsafety requirements of patients, learners, staff and visitors within the area, and undertaking risk assessment and management on a shift basis.
• To effectively manage the allocated budget ensuring that any actual or predicted overspends are reported and investigated. You will also be expected to deliver savings and efficiencies in line with the trust’s objectives.
• To identify and investigate any issues of conduct, discipline and performance within the team in accordance with trust policy and to liaise with the designated Modern Matron and HR team.
• To develop ward/unit policies and guidelines and to ensure these are implemented and audited to ensure compliance and best practice.
• To participate in the organisation and management of any service change and project development in the clinical areas.
• To act as a patient/staff advocate through the application of ethical, legal and professional knowledge and skills.
• To participate/lead in the development of Ward/Department policies and guidelines and ensure these are communicated to all staff.

Development and Education Component

• To provide nursing leadership for implementation and evaluation of all education, training and development of staff. Develop, implement and evaluate policies, guidelines and protocols for the management of patients in the clinical area.
• Create a learning environment for the staff and be aware of the educational needs of learners attending the area.
• Actively support and assist the development of mentorship programmes in the area.
• Provide clinical support and guidance to staff within the area.
• Lead in appraising staff and in identifying training/educational needs and meeting the trust corporate objectives.
• To actively participation in the orientation and development of new staff and students to the area.
• Provide formal and informal training to a variety of staff under the direction of the Paediatric Matron.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the application of new local/national guidelines across the Paediatric Unit.

Research/Audit/Quality Component

• To participate and apply nursing research and audit findings in liaison with Sister/Charge Nurse and Senior Paediatric Nursing Team, and help facilitate appropriate research activities within the area.
• To be responsible for the keeping of accurate and confidential records.
• To critically evaluate the research and audit findings and disseminate these to clinical practice areas and staff to develop best practice.
•  Audit current practices, comparing them to research and national guidance.
•  To attend relevant departmental and directorate meetings relating to clinical governance and to contribute to the clinical governance agenda.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

Essential criteria

• BSc Paediatric Nursing or equivalent
• Registered Nurse on NMC registers. Hold appropriate level for the area of speciality (RSCN/RN Child)
• Mentorship/Teaching/assessing course
• Safeguarding Children Level 3

Desirable criteria

• Relevant quality improvement qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Appropriate experience and competencies necessary for the role
• Experience in coordinating a shift and supervision of staff
• Experience in the recognition of the sick and deteriorating child
• Experience in leading an audit
• Effective clinical leadership and experience in the management of change
• Current experience working in acute paediatric setting
• Proven clinical experience in relevant area
• Evidence of teaching and assessing
• Recent experience caring for children with elevated dependency needs
• General management skills
• Ability to utilise post-registration experience to demonstrate an understanding of the relevant settings.

Skills and knowledge

Essential criteria

• Excellent paediatric skills
• Effective managerial, leadership and organisational skills
• Effective teaching, training and preceptorship skills
• Experience of involvement with safeguarding concerns
• Administration of IV and central lines access
• Understanding of the clinical governance framework and clinical audit process
• Initiative to implement new practice
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and on own initative

Desirable criteria

• Budget and Resource management
• Evidence of effective team building skills
• Experience in leading on change managerment

Important

• The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process.
• If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks after the closing date, we regret that this usually means your application was not successful.
• In submitting an application, you authorise the Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process, should you be appointed to the post.
• During the recruitment process your identity documentation (ie passport, driving licence, visa etc) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, infrared and machine-readable zone security features of the documents provided.
• Employment at the Trust is offered subject to successful completion of a six month probationary period.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.