Job summary
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

The Cardiology Division at Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced and motivated Ward Manager to lead our dedicated inpatient cardiology team. This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic leader with a passion for delivering high-quality patient care, developing staff, and driving service improvement within a busy and progressive clinical environment.

As Ward Manager, you will provide strong clinical and operational leadership, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and compassionate care for patients across the ward. You will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the ward, including workforce planning, budget management, quality assurance, patient flow, and staff wellbeing. Working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, you will foster a positive culture that promotes excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.

A key aspect of the role will be supporting and developing a highly skilled nursing workforce, ensuring staff are equipped to deliver evidence-based care while encouraging professional growth and learning. You will lead on quality improvement initiatives, patient safety programmes, and the implementation of Trust and national standards, while maintaining a focus on delivering an outstanding patient experience.

Main duties of the job
As Ward Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the clinical, operational, and professional leadership of the ward, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centred care. You will act as a visible and credible clinical leader, supporting and developing staff while promoting a positive team culture and ensuring compliance with Trust policies, professional standards, and national guidance.

You will lead the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based care, ensuring high standards of nursing practice are maintained across the ward. Working closely with the multidisciplinary team, you will coordinate complex patient care, manage patient flow and bed capacity, and ensure effective communication with patients, families, and colleagues.

The successful candidate will be an experienced registered nurse with excellent leadership, communication, and organisational skills. They will be passionate about developing others, driving service improvement, and creating a safe, supportive environment for patients and staff. The ability to manage competing priorities, make sound clinical and operational decisions, and lead through change is essential

About us
Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!

The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.

We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

• Flexible working hours
• Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
• Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
• Discounted gym memberships
• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
• Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
• Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
• Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
• On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
• On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
• Support in career development
• Flexible staff bank
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will be an experienced registered nurse with excellent leadership, communication, and organisational skills. They will be passionate about developing others, driving service improvement, and creating a safe, supportive environment for patients and staff. The ability to manage competing priorities, make sound clinical and operational decisions, and lead through change is essential.

Key skills and qualities we are looking for include:

• Strong clinical credibility and commitment to delivering outstanding patient care.
• Proven leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Experience in workforce planning, staff development, and performance management.
• Ability to manage clinical risk and respond effectively to emergency situations.
• Commitment to quality improvement, audit, research, and evidence-based practice.
• Strong organisational and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage resources effectively.

This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated leader who is committed to delivering high standards of care, developing staff, and contributing to the ongoing improvement of services for patients and their families.

Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Significant experience within Acute Cardiology
• 2 years post registration experience working within Cardiology
• Experience working at a Sister or equivalent Band 6
• Ward Manager experience

Skills
Essential

• Enhanced Practice Skills
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to lead, motivate and to encourage others in a team.

Attitude, aptitude
Essential

• Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
• Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Ability to work well under pressure

Qualifications
Essential

• NMC registration as a Registered Nurse
• To have completed Mentor preparation program or demonstrate mentorship experience
• Post Registration qualification relevant to the speciality

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