Title: Deputy Ward Manager #1194
Job location: Dougie Mac, Adult Services - ST3 3NZ, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
Advertised salary: £49,000 per annum + Anti Social Enhancements
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours a week working nights, with some day shifts required
Closing date: 08/11/2026

The Dougie Mac Adult In-Patient Unit is a specialist 28-bed palliative care service providing high-quality, person-centred care to patients with complex palliative and end-of-life care needs. The service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, ensuring continuous access to specialist support for patients and their families.

The In-Patient Unit delivers holistic assessment, care, and symptom management for individuals with life-limiting illnesses, supporting them through periods of complex need, symptom crisis, rehabilitation, and end-of-life care. Working within a multidisciplinary team, the service aims to enhance quality of life, promote dignity and choice, and ensure care is tailored to the individual goals and preferences of each patient.

The team provides physical, psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual support to both patients and those important to them, recognising the significant impact of serious illness on families and carers. Care is delivered in partnership with wider healthcare professionals and community services to ensure seamless, coordinated care and effective discharge planning where appropriate.

Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Ward Manager, the Deputy Ward Manager will support the leadership, management and operational delivery of the In-Patient Unit, ensuring the provision of high-quality specialist palliative and end-of-life care for patients and those important to them.

The post holder will provide visible clinical and professional leadership, supporting the Ward Manager to deliver safe, effective, responsive and compassionate services. They will promote a culture of excellence, professionalism, teamwork and continuous quality improvement, ensuring that patients and families remain at the centre of all decision-making and care delivery.

A key component of the role is the leadership and operational management of the night service, providing senior clinical nursing leadership outside of normal working hours. The Deputy Ward Manager will act as the designated nursing lead for the In-Patient Unit overnight, supporting clinical decision-making, patient flow, workforce coordination, effective resource management, the escalation of concerns and the maintenance of service continuity.

The Deputy Ward Manager will deputise for the Ward Manager as required, providing leadership and oversight of the service in their absence. They will contribute to workforce development, clinical supervision, education and mentorship, fostering a positive learning environment that supports staff wellbeing, professional growth and high standards of care.

The post holder will play a key role in clinical governance, quality assurance, patient safety and service improvement initiatives, ensuring compliance with professional, regulatory and organisational standards. They will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues and external partners to support the delivery of seamless, coordinated care and contribute to the achievement of the Hospice's strategic objectives and values.

Why Join Dougie Mac?
At Dougie Mac, we care deeply about the people who make our work possible. Whatever your role, you'll be part of a supportive, values-led organisation where everyone is encouraged to grow, contribute, and make a real difference.

As a Dougie Mac employee, you'll benefit from:

• 35 days of annual leave, rising with length of service
• Options to buy and sell annual leave
• Hospice-paid Healthcare Cash Plan
• Competitive Pension Scheme
• DBS paid for by the hospice
• Learning and Development opportunities
• Free on-site parking

Join us and be part of a local charity that puts people at the heart of everything we do.

How to Apply
Please complete the application form in full, paying particular attention to your personal statement. This should clearly demonstrate how you meet the criteria in the job description and person specification. See the Recruitment Process Document for more information.

Contact:
Kath Marks, IPS Ward Manager
kathmarks@dmhospice.org.uk | 01782 344300

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not provided. We reserve the right to close this vacancy and interview early, in the event of a large number of applications. Job Description and Person Specification below. Our shortlisting process is based on these documents. In accordance with our safer recruitment policy CVs alone will not be accepted. We are strongly committed to the Safeguarding of our adults and children.