We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and hard-working Band 7 ward manager to work with the multi-disciplinary team on Ellis Ward, which is an acute admissions ward in the Acute and Urgent Care Service line
Ellis Ward is a very busy, highly functioning 20 bedded mixed acute admissions ward located on the Tolworth Hospital site. We are looking for an enthusiastic and dynamic Ward Manager to join our well-established team within the Acute Care Service line.
The team has an amazing culture of supporting new and existing staff, seeking to establish in them a solid foundation of knowledge of the treatment and management of acute mental health illness; as well as an understanding of what is required to fulfil this role safely.
The team has a very low turnover rate – Our staffing is consistent and reliable, which speaks to the culture of the team.
The successful candidate is expected to work with the ward team and the service line in providing high quality nursing care and leadership. He/she will be a highly skilled and well-motivated individual with considerable experience of working in a dynamic acute mental health service.
The post holder will be responsible for implementing and monitoring all policies and ensuring that the ward functions in line with the Trust and service line philosophy of providing respectful compassionate care that is of the highest quality. The post holder will also ensure that supervision and appraisal systems are robustly implemented and that the care provided is of the highest possible standard in line with the service’s clinical governance framework. The Ward Manager is ultimately responsible for providing a safe environment within which all staff can deliver care and support to patients and their significant others. He/she must ensure effective deployment of resources within agreed budgets.
We are an innovative service and are constantly striving to improve the quality of the service we provide. You will therefore be expected to engage in on-going professional development and appraisal. You will also be expected to contribute to the strategic development of the service. Experience in an acute setting is essential.
You must have a proven ability to work effectively in a team, and have excellent communication and IT skills.
The Trust is also part of the South London Mental Health Partnership (with SLAM and Oxleas) sharing learning, expertise and innovation and improve the quality of care and treatment of our service users and the development of our staff.
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ - we aspire to be ‘outstanding’.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
About our location:
Tolworth Hospital, Surbiton
To create the very best environment to care for our patients, this site’s layout will be transformed in 2026 to add a number of wards to the existing three. Tolworth has a canteen and is near shops, the A3, Tolworth station, and is a bus ride from Surbiton station, with fast connections to Clapham Junction and London Waterloo.
Administrative
• To take responsibility for the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults and Children.
• To co-ordinate bed management for the ward and monitor referrals in conjunction with medical staff.
• To lead in the recruitment, selection and retention of staff in the clinical area.
• To ensure the ward is adequately and safely staffed within the agreed budget and nursing resources are used efficiently to meet identified needs.
• To participate in budget setting and report areas of concern to the Matron.
• To ensure that effective communication is established within the service and external departments e.g. attendance at regular staff meetings, attendance at Ward Manager’s meetings, and team briefing.
• To ensure ward hygiene, ward cleanliness and the maintenance of ward fabric, reporting deficiencies where appropriate to the Matron.
• To ensure systems are in place for the safekeeping of patient’s property.
• To ensure effective implementation, dissemination and monitoring of all Directorate and Trust-wide policies.
• To investigate complaints, accidents and critical incidents in accordance with agreed procedure and prepare timely reports.
• To provide monthly reports to the Matron as required e.g. activity levels, bed occupancy, manpower and expenditure, staffing issues and any other information that the Matron needs to be aware of.
Management
• To work closely with the Matron in the delivery of high quality mental health care.
• To manage the in-patient nursing team.
• To ensure effective management of the e-roster in order to provide consistency in nursing care and a reduction in agency use.
• To effectively manage the ward’s expenditure budget and ensure the most appropriate and cost effective use of resources within the remit of the nursing team
• To provide information where required to the Matron in order to assist with performance reporting to the National Commissioning Team.
• To keep under constant review the overall provision and ongoing development of service delivery, ensuring high standards of professional care, open and transparent communication processes and adherence to the Trust policies, procedures and protocols and a safe and therapeutic environment.
• To have responsibility for the recruitment, selection and retention of nursing staff and to participate in the selection of other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• To monitor sickness and absence of nursing staff.
• To keep nursing job descriptions under review, in order to develop roles to meet the needs of the service.
• To ensure an appropriate Clinical and managerial supervision structure is in place for all nursing staff.
• To ensure that all nursing staff have an annual development review.
• To ensure that appropriate guidance and education is available to nurses.
• To monitor continuing professional development for all nursing staff.
• To represent the service at various management meetings such as the Ward Managers Development day.
• To review and develop policies, procedures and protocols for the service and ensuring that these are implemented and monitored.
• To ensure that effective communication is established within the service and external departments e.g. attendance at regular staff meetings, attendance at Ward Manager’s meetings and team briefing.
• To investigate complaints, accidents and critical incidents in accordance with agreed procedure and prepare timely reports.
Clinical/Professional
• To be responsible for the assessment of care needs, and the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care and recovery for the clients.
• To work with the Modern Matron to establish and maintain high standards of clinical practice and patient care including providing expert nursing leadership in the management of people with acute mental health problems.
• To ensure the named nurse system for patients is in operation on the ward as well as plan, organise and allocate staff with appropriate levels of skills and expertise to be the named nurse to selected group of patients.
• To ensure after-care at the appropriate level (CPA/Section 117) is arranged for each service user on discharge, depending on the individual needs, in conjunction with other disciplines, in particular achieving effective liaison and planning with community teams.
• To ensure that all staff members are aware of current risk assessment procedures and management plans and fully engage in zoning.
• To ensure regular auditing of the interventions carried out by nursing staff take place and that nursing staff reflect on practice.
• To ensure that all staff members are familiar with and observe the provisions of the Mental Health Act, Care Programme Approach, maintain and observe Codes of Professional Conduct and other appropriate legislation.
• To implement and contribute to policy and service development as appropriate.
• To participate in the monthly Ward Managers development programme.
• To adhere to the NMC Code of Conduct at all times.
• To ensure that all staff adheres to the Mental Health Act 1983, and that all relevant documentation is current, updated and appropriately filed.
• To ensure the safekeeping of clients’ money and property, through adherence to the relevant Trust policies.
Training and Development
• To work with the Matron in the development and implementation of clinical governance initiatives and policy review and implement the Nursing Strategy for Specialist Services.
• To ensure the Trust and local induction training is completed for all new staff and that a preceptorship programme is in place for newly qualified staff.
• To receive both professional and managerial supervision and develop and implement supervision and development reviews on the ward, counsel, advise and initiate action where necessary in all matters relating to staff well being.
• To ensure that clinical areas receive regular educational audits and are equipped to provide high quality training to students on placement.
This advert closes on Thursday 28 Aug 2025
