Job summary
Are you an experienced, dynamic nursing leader with a passion for delivering exceptional surgical care? We are seeking an inspirational Surgical Matron to join our senior nursing team and lead the development of safe, high-quality, patient-centred services across our Surgical Division.

You'll be part of a progressive, supportive organisation committed to professional development, innovation, and delivering outstanding care. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact on surgical services and shape the future of patient care

Main duties of the job
As Surgical Matron, you will provide visible, proactive leadership to ensure excellence in clinical standards, operational performance, and patient experience. Working closely with multidisciplinary teams, you will champion best practice, support quality improvement initiatives, and drive a culture of compassion, accountability, and continuous learning.

You will:

• Lead and support nursing teams across surgical wards/theatres to maintain outstanding patient care
• Uphold professional standards, clinical governance, and regulatory compliance
• Use your expertise to influence service development and evidence-based practice
• Promote a positive working environment that supports staff wellbeing, development, and retention
• Collaborate with senior leaders to deliver efficient, safe surgical pathways and optimise patient flow
• Respond to operational pressures, ensuring safe staffing and high-quality care at all times

About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

Details
Date posted: 25 June 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 179-8082843-S
Job locations: West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2QZ, United Kingdom

Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential

• Appropriate Clinical Registration.
• 1st Degree in health-related area. Or relevant experience
• Ability to study at Masters level.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Desirable

• Completion of a research module/ course.
• Completion of a leadership programme/course.
• Masters course

Experience and knowledge
Essential

• Demonstrated history of post registration experience.
• Experience at Band 7 level as a ward manager or equivalent (i.e. project coordinator, practice facilitator) in an acute hospital setting.
• Introduction of change at ward/speciality level.
• Knowledge of clinical governance and risk management.
• Understanding of wider Trust issues and national targets.
• Understanding of principles of research.
• Understanding of Patient and Public Involvement.

Desirable

• Practice development, project management.
• Experience of clinical audit.

Skills and abilities
Essential

• Excellent professional role model. Good leadership skills.
• Effective team working, facilitation and influencing skills.
• Understanding of multi-disciplinary team working.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Able to establish good relationships with patients and the public, inspiring confidence.
• Ability to prioritise workload and problem solving.

Desirable

• Presentation skills.
• Report writing.
• Development of business plans. Media skills.
• IT literate.

Personal qualities
Essential

• Ability to motivate others.
• Committed to quality improvement.
• Ability to articulate the value of nursing and its contribution to the health care agenda.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Able to work well independently and as a team member.
• Approachable.
• Able to recognise own limitations.

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).

Employer details
Employer name: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Address: West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2QZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.wsh.nhs.uk

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Head of Nursing for Surgery, Liz Cotton, liz.cotton@wsh.nhs.uk, 0128713000