Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen, due to promotion, for the position of Emergency Department (ED) Matron. We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated, and committed senior ED nurse to join our team in this role.

The Matron will be an accessible clinical expert, responsible for the delivery and maintenance of high-quality patient care, as well as the implementation of innovative ways of working in collaboration with the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT).

The post holder will work closely with the other Matron for ED and the Head of Nursing and will be responsible for leading and managing the nursing workforce within the ED. They will also play a key role in both the operational and strategic management of the department.

Main duties of the job
Our ED is a vibrant, dynamic, and rewarding place to work. We are committed to delivering outstanding patient care to the communities we serve and are equally dedicated to supporting the professional development, well-being, and success of our staff.

The department incorporates a fully integrated Urgent Care Centre (UCC) and sees more than 120,000 patients each year, presenting with a diverse range of clinical conditions and care needs. In addition to the UCC, our clinical areas include Triage, the Major Treatment Area, Resuscitation, and an 11-bedded Acute Assessment Unit (AAU).

This is an exciting opportunity to join a high-performing team and play a key role in shaping the future delivery of emergency and urgent care services.

The Matron's role focuses on the 10 key responsibilities outlined in the Matrons Handbook (2019)

• 1. Inclusive leadership, professional standards and accountability.
• 2. Governance, patient safety and quality.
• 3. Workforce planning and resource management.
• 4. Patient experience and reducing health inequalities.
• 5. Performance and operational oversight.
• 6. Digital and information technology.
• 7. Education, training, and development.
• 8. Research and development.
• 9. Collaborative working and clinical effectiveness.
• 10. Service improvement and transformation.

About us
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is a community focused provider of local and acute care, providing high quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley. With a turnover of around £700 million, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham and a range of community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup.

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement.

Job responsibilities
Risk Management and Clinical Governance

• Ensure patients receive care in a clean, safe, and well-maintained environment, taking prompt action to address any identified concerns.
• Lead and champion infection prevention and control practices, promoting compliance and challenging poor standards where necessary.
• Manage complaints, incidents, and serious adverse events, undertaking investigations and root cause analyses to identify learning and drive improvements in practice.
• Ensure risk assessments are completed, monitored, and action plans implemented across all areas of responsibility.
• Lead the implementation of patient safety initiatives, quality standards, and clinical performance measures to improve outcomes and patient experience.
• Share best practice and contribute to organisational learning through the Matrons' Forum and other governance structures.
• Work closely with the Senior Matron and Head of Nursing to monitor, maintain, and continually improve clinical standards across the department.

Professional Leadership and Workforce Management

• Provide visible, accessible, and compassionate leadership for patients, carers, visitors, and staff. Deliver professional and clinical leadership, supporting the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality care.
• Develop and support Sisters, Charge Nurses, and other clinical leaders to enhance leadership capability and succession planning.
• Ensure compliance with Trust policies, procedures, professional standards, and regulatory requirements. Represent the Trust at local, regional, and national forums, promoting excellence in nursing practice and patient care.
• Ensure staff receive appropriate education and training, including infection prevention and control, in accordance with Trust requirements.

Education, Research and Workforce Development

• Work with the Head of Nursing and Practice Development Team to identify workforce development needs and implement training programmes.
• Promote a culture of lifelong learning, professional development, and evidence-based practice.
• Support and facilitate research, innovation, and quality improvement activities within the department.
• Ensure staff receive regular appraisal, complete mandatory training, and have access to relevant development opportunities.
• Monitor study leave, competency achievement, and educational compliance to ensure consistency, equity, and workforce capability.
• Ensure clinical areas provide high-quality learning environments for students and learners.

Patient Experience and Professional Standards

• Promote excellence in patient care through visible leadership, regular clinical assurance activities, and quality monitoring.
• Foster a welcoming, compassionate, and supportive environment for patients, families, visitors, and staff.
• Act as a strong advocate for patients, ensuring privacy, dignity, and respect are upheld at all times.
• Develop effective mechanisms for obtaining and responding to patient feedback, driving improvements in experience and outcomes.
• Collaborate with the wider management team to maintain compliance with clinical governance and regulatory standards.

Operational and Strategic Leadership

• Ensure compliance with the Matrons' Charter and all relevant infection prevention, health and safety, and decontamination standards.
• Maintain competence in the use of equipment relevant to the clinical area and ensure staff are trained appropriately.
• Work in partnership with clinical and operational leaders to develop and deliver directorate objectives, service plans, and strategic priorities.
• Lead and contribute to service improvement, transformation, and modernisation programmes that enhance patient care, efficiency, and service delivery.
• Work collaboratively with Clinical Leads, General Managers, Heads of Nursing, and multidisciplinary teams to deliver local, corporate, and national priorities.
• Support partnership working with external organisations, patients, carers, and the wider community to improve integrated care and service development.
• Lead and promote the contribution of nursing to service redesign, innovation, and continuous improvement, ensuring nursing expertise influences decision-making and organisational development.

Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential

• Registered nurse qualification
• Degree or equivalent clinical/advanced practice
• Minimum 5 years post registration
• Master's Degree or working towards

Desirable

• Evidence of post registration/qualification
• Management/Leadership qualification

Experience
Essential

• Clinical expertise relevant to the post
• Experience of managing staff
• Minimum of 3 years' experience working at Band 7 or equivalent in an acute setting.
• Leadership of clinical governance and patient safety
• Achievement of high quality patient care through evidence based practice
• Management of finances within a budget, including delivery of cost improvements
• Management/Clinical Leadership experience
• Experience of successfully leading and implementing change
• Experience in analysing complex problems and implementing workable solutions
• Ability to think and plan strategically, operationally and creatively and to prioritise work programs in the face of competing demands

Knowledge
Essential

• A good understanding of the changing NHS environment
• Ability to be intellectually flexible and to look beyond existing structures, ways of working, boundaries and organisations to produce more effective and innovative service delivery and partnerships

Desirable

• Ability to work on service development projects

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