Job summary
This post provides strong leadership, visible, credible, senior nursing presence accessible to staff, patients and their families for advice, assistance and support. The post holder will be accountable for the delivery of optimum quality patient care in their area/s of responsibility, and in line with the ten key matron responsibilities outlined nationally (see below). As Matron the post holder is expected to ensure that the services provided are responsive to patient needs, that the planning of services involves patients and users, and reflects the diverse population served. There is an expectation that the post holder will work closely with Matrons, Head of Nursing and ADM colleagues within the division and across divisional and Trust boundaries in the interest of patient care.

Main duties of the job

• Leading by example.
• Ensuring patients get quality care (positive patient experience, effective nursing care, patient safety).
• Ensuring staffing is appropriate to patient need.
• Empowering nurses to take on a wider range of clinical activities.
• Improving hospital cleanliness.
• Ensuring patients' nutritional needs are met.
• Improving wards for patients.
• Making sure patients are treated with respect and dignity.
• Preventing hospital acquired infections.
• Resolving problems for patients and their relatives

About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations,operatingfrom three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentreand Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that theSouth Westhas to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit andretaina workforce whichrepresentsthe rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your applicationin order toensurewe'remeeting our pledge.

Details
Date posted: 07 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year
per annum, pro rata for part time
Contract: Secondment
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 387-S3334-DJF
Job locations: Bristol Eye Hospital, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS1 2LX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Demonstrate politeness, courtesy and sensitivity in providing compassionate care for patients, visitors/relatives and colleagues. Contribute towards sharing good practice within the ward/department and Trust wide. Promote a positive image Bristol NHS Foundation Trust at all times. Work cohesively with all members of the ward team and promote effective liaison with all members of the multi-disciplinary team in ensuring that the very best services to patients are provided at all times. Act as an expert communicator, inspiring and acting to disseminate relevant information as well as receiving feedback from staff and patients. Communicate effectively within the team, participate in motivating and supporting team members and maintain confidentiality with patients and carers. Give written and verbal advice/teaching to patients and carers. To ensure dissemination of national and local policy and strategy within the specialist areas.

Monitor and ensure standards of nursing care and clinical practice are maintained in accordance with Trust policies and procedures, and through the essence of care benchmarking. As Modern Matron, act as a role model and professional support to nurses at all levels within the Division. To demonstrate autonomy and expertise in the delivery of patient care. To take the lead and co-ordinate action on standards of cleanliness across the areas of responsibility. To ensure the environment is fit for purpose. Participate in Trust-wide nursing projects and activities, communicating Division and department-specific issues to the wider Trust agenda. Provide feedback to Divisional and department nursing on Trust issues and changes in practice. Contribute to clinical governance within the Division, investigating clinical incidents as requested and identifying audit topics for nursing issues. To promote research skills and practice within the area of responsibility. Act as co-ordinator for patient information and involvement within the departments. Ensure that patient literature meets Trust standards and that patient feedback is included in service planning and review. Maintain own professional competence in clinical practice within NMC guidance. Provide specialist clinical advice to staff within the Division as required. To promote and lead change in nursing and clinical practice in order to improve the patient experience. To ensure the area/s for which they are accountable have adequate controls in place and to take appropriate action to ensure delivery of an effective safe nursing service within the designated area/s and the hospital. The spans of control include budgetary control and control of on duty rotas. To lead and hold to account nursing staff, to provide a positive role model and ensure the involvement and active participation of staff groups in the division. To work closely with the Head of Nursing, AGM and Matron colleagues to ensure delivery on the challenging performance agenda, particularly with reference to access targets and budget management. To take responsibility for creating a culture of nursing leadership that delivers tangible outcomes within defined timescales. To actively seek to identify opportunities for new ways of working that improves efficiency and the patient experience. Provide evidence of the delivery of the ten key roles for the Matron. To aim to ensure that nursing services and clinical outcomes are bench marked against high performing organisations nationally and internationally. To ensure clinical practice follows a sound evidence base and is in the best interests of patient care.

Efficiently and effectively manage the financial resources of designated areas to achieve budgetary control, cost improvements and efficiency savings to provide a cost-effective service. Support Band 7 nurses in the efficient management of their resources. Provide regular reports to the Head of Nursing and to the General Manager/Divisional Director. To create cohesive and flexible nursing teams who identify strongly with other nursing and midwifery teams within the Division and Trust. To lead the development of nursing practice and policy within the division, exploring new roles and new ways of working for nurses to support modernisation and achievement of key targets. Efficiently and effectively manage resources so as to maximise service efficiency in order to meet Department of Health and Trust targets. Ensure the designated areas are staffed appropriately by the regular review of skill mix and benchmarking against other similar units. Ensure a high level of awareness of clinical and non-clinical targets, work with stakeholders to achieve targets using a rigorous but supportive culture of performance management. Investigate and draft responses to complaints received, ensuring that national response times are adhered to. Meet with complainants as requested. Formulate action plans for issues raised through the complaints process and ensure these are completed. Participate in the strategic and service planning of the Division. Develop collaborative and co-operative relationships with other healthcare professionals, and participate in professional and managerial meetings, liaising as appropriate. Develop collaborative and cooperative relationships with a multi-disciplinary team. Deputise for the Head of Nursing as required. Ensure the Head of Nursing is kept informed on all aspects of clinical practice within the designated service. Participate in the planning and management of capital projects, as required. Other issues and project work as delegated by the Head of Nursing and Divisional Director. Have input in the formation of the Divisional annual operating plan with focus on the quality section.

Ensure that employment policies and procedures of the Trust are followed. Participate in selection and appointment of staff as appropriate. Monitor sickness/absence levels and take appropriate action to reduce. Support the band 7 nurses in managing absence Promote staff development through regular performance reviews and personal development plans Maintain own professional development and keep up to date with nursing practice. Development in terms of masters modules or leadership programmes. Ensure that the education, training and professional development needs of nursing staff are identified and appropriate plans are in place to meet these needs. Participate in the training of staff as appropriate. Ensure that staff are compliant with their statutory and mandatory training. Proactively work to identify and promote sustainable workforce strategies, ensuring that retention levels are good and that nursing morale remains high. Liaise with the University of the West of England and facilitate the provision of placement of learners.

Demonstrate and promote an understanding of the interplay between research on practice and vice versa to ensure patient care is supported by good evidence and continues to improve. Demonstrate and promote the ability to access up-to-date evidence and critically analyse and synthesise this to inform care practices. Identify gaps in knowledge or deficits in clinical practice and discuss these with relevant teams as possible areas for research or clinical audit. Promote an ethos of striving for excellence through promotion of an enquiry-based culture where staff are encouraged to propose new areas for audit and research studies. Facilitate patient and staff involvement in research studies being undertaken within clinical specialty by enabling staff to:- Have knowledge of inclusion/exclusion criteria and referral of suitable patients to research team.- Provision of appropriate space for research team to see patients- Assist in collection of research data when part of usual clinical care.- Be involved in delivery of research intervention as appropriate and when part of usual clinical care Identify opportunities for staff to develop their own research studies; ensure they are supported in this through contacts with the appropriate departments and groups, e.g. Research and Innovation, Non-medical research group. Work with senior colleagues to co-ordinate research projects within the clinical area, e.g. Masters projects, so they will contribute to a relevant research question which can lead to a grant or fellowship application. Participate in research /evidence into practice training. Be involved in the line management of research teams within clinical area

Person Specification
Knowledge and experience
Essential

• Knowledge of nurse led initiatives & national policy
• Enthusiastic, highly motivated and able to inspire others
• Conscientious, committed, reliable and hardworking
• Strong leadership abilities

Qualifications and Training
Essential

• RGN.1st Level or relevant children's qualification
• Current NMC Registration
• Qualifications and Professional Training Experience / Extended Knowledge
• Master's Degree or equivalent, or willingness to work towards

Desirable

• Leadership/Management Course
• Training in clinical governance

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Ability to establish credibility rapidly with wide range of staff
• Ability to communicate clearly to a range of audiences & disciplines
• Ability to deal sensitively with emotive
• personal insight and awareness
• Good team player
• Experience in leadership
• Managing Difficult situations

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.