Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated nurse leader to join East Kent Hospitals as Matron for Neurology Services. This role will provide senior nursing leadership across our developing Neurology Service.

You will work alongside consultants, specialist nursing teams, allied health professionals and operational leaders to ensure the highest standards of patient care, safety and experience.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious individual who is passionate about service transformation, workforce development and delivering outstanding care for patients with complex neurological conditions.

About the Role
As Neurology Matron, you will:

• Provide visible and compassionate leadership across Neurology Services.
• Lead the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality patient care.
• Drive quality improvement, innovation and service transformation.
• Develop and support specialist nursing teams.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, retention and succession planning.
• Ensure delivery of excellent patient experience and patient safety outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with regional neuroscience networks and external partners.
• Contribute to strategic planning and future development of Neurology Services.

Come and help shape the future of Neurology Services at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.

Informal Enquiries
For an informal discussion please contact the Associate Director of Nursing.

Closing Date: 02 November 2026

Main duties of the job
The Neurology Matron will provide visible authoritative presence, inclusive leadership and professional accountability ensuring delivery of well-led, safe, effective, responsive and compassionate care. The Matron has a pivotal role in creating best experiences in the safest environment for our service users where patient is always put in the centre of everything we do.

The Stroke Matron will lead service improvement, workforce establishment, and governance in line with the role expectations set out in the NHS England Matron's Handbook (2021). The post holder will act as a clinical leader, role model, and advocate for service users and staff groups. It is envisaged that 80% of this role will be spent on Leadership and Management and 20% spent on the direct Clinical Capacity.

The Neurology Matron works within the Care Group's Corporate Team to drive the Quality and Compliance for NHS Fundamentals of Care. There is an expectation that the post holder will work closely with other Matrons and Multidisciplinary colleagues within the department and Care Groups and Trust boundaries in the interest of patient care.

The job holder will have developmental opportunities within the Corporate Team supported by the Directors of Nursing and Quality.

About us
We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Band: Band 8a
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 344-9853KCH

Essential Qualifications

• RGN 1st level qualification Currently Registered Nurse on the NMC
• Master's Degree or equivalent or willingness to work towards
• Knowledge and qualification on Patient Safety and Clinical Governance Process
• Teaching qualification or equivalent
• Demonstrable CPD

Desirable Qualifications

• Leadership and Management Course
• Previous experience of specialism
• Attended/completed Matron's Development Days or equivalent

Essential Clinical Skills

• Proven Leadership and management experience at a senior level
• Proven record of leading and effectively managing clinical services in Acute Sector
• Experience of successful resource and budget management
• Experience in managing risks within department and service development
• Experience of Workforce Management and Development

Desirable Clinical Skills

• Project Management
• Quality Improvements
• Conducting audits
• Interview skills and experience
• Experience of working under operational pressure with safe decision making

Essential Personal/Professional Attributes

• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Demonstrable ability to produce complex reports and formulate policies
• Ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
• Ability to use initiative for decision making and deal with sensitive/complex situations and professionalism under pressure

Desirable Personal/Professional Attributes

• Emotional Intelligence

Essential Governance

• Seven Pillars of NHS governance - Experience of Clinical Risk management
• Patient Safety and Knowledge and experience of National Patient Safety framework and application
• Good understanding of handling Formal Complaints

Desirable Governance

• Conducting complex investigation/SIs Thematic analysis
• Creating Action Plans

Essential Other

• Professional credibility
• Ability to demonstrate Trust's Values and leading by example, ability to show compassion and emotional support
• Self-motivation and ability to motivate others
• Good IT skills and ability for teaching/presentations

Desirable Other

• Customer Care

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. 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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, Canterbury, CT1 3NG, United Kingdom

For questions about the job, contact:
Associate Director of Nursing, Ann Croft, ann.croft6@nhs.net, 07955320812