Job summary
The post holder will provide clear, visible and accountable leadership and operational management of nursing teams across medical wards and units within Emergency and Integrated Medicine Division. They will be accountable for the delivery of safe, high-quality and person-centred care, ensuring that nursing practice consistently meets professional, organisational and regulatory standards. The Matron will maintain a strong clinical presence, acting as a senior clinical leader, role modelling excellence and supporting complex decision-making. They will foster an inclusive and supportive culture where staff are valued and developed, while holding individuals and teams to high standards of care, behaviour and performance. The post holder will lead the development of nursing capability in clinical practice, complex case management, patient flow and timely discharge, ensuring services are efficient, responsive and aligned to organisational priorities. They will hold delegated responsibility for resources and budgets, and provide leadership and operational oversight across allocated wards, working closely with Ward Managers to ensure safe, effective and high-quality care and a positive patient experience. The Matron will play a key role in ensuring standards of care are consistently achieved and sustained, with a focus on identifying and addressing variation and improving quality across services.

Main duties of the job

• Provide visible and effective clinical leadership across all areas, role modelling high standards of care and professional behaviours
• Maintain a strong clinical presence, supporting staff in clinical decision-making, complex patient care and discharge planning
• Foster a culture of compassion, inclusion and psychological safety
• Promote a culture where high standards of care are expected, supported and consistently demonstrated
• Address concerns in practice promptly with clear expectations and appropriate support
• Ensure Trust values are embedded in practice and behaviours
• Lead development of nursing teams in clinical skills, complex case management, patient flow and discharge
• Champion equitable care and reduction of health inequalities
• Develop and support integrated care pathways
• Act as an advocate for patients and staff
• Ensure effective management of patient safety, safeguarding and clinical risk
• Lead incident review and ensure learning is embedded
• Promote high standards in infection prevention, medication safety, nutrition and pressure ulcer prevention
• Support clinical supervision, reflective practice and staff wellbeing

About us
Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.

Details
Date posted: 06 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £66,274 to £73,496 a year Inclusive of Inner HCAS per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: EIM Matron
Job locations: Whittington Hospital, Magdala Avenue, London, N19 5NF, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Accountable for the operational performance of allocated wards and unit.
• Ensure services are safe, effective, responsive and well-led.
• Maintain a visible leadership presence across clinical area.
• Ensure safe staffing and appropriate skill mix.
• Oversee workforce performance, supporting development and addressing concerns appropriately.
• Lead recruitment, retention and succession planning.
• Manage sickness absence and promote staff wellbeing.
• Ensure appraisal, supervision and development processes are effective.
• Manage delegated budgets and resources efficiently.
• Monitor temporary staffing usage.
• Ensure high standards of documentation and communication
• Lead service delivery, change initiatives and workforce planning
• Maintain a safe, clean and well-managed environment

Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential

• Registered Adult Nurse
• Management Qualification (or equivalent experience
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development (ability to work at Master's level/willingness to undertake Master's Degree)

Desirable

• Nurse Independent Prescribing Qualification (or willingness to undertake
• Advanced Physical Assessment Qualification (or willingness to undertake)

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Experience working at Band 7 level or above
• Understanding of team development and leadership
• Current knowledge of issues affecting the provision of health services
• Understanding of Quality Assurance and monitoring systems
• Knowledge and application of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF)

Skills and abilities
Essential

• Able to work flexibly and contribute to programmes of change using advanced negotiating skills
• Ability to project plan and carry out clinical audit
• Time management skills
• Ability to work to deadlines and deliver agreed objectives

Personal qualities
Essential

• Ability to challenge traditional views and work practices

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Clear understanding of clinical site management and patient flow
• Clear understanding of acute performance targets

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).

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: Whittington Hospital NHS Trust
Address: Whittington Hospital, Magdala Avenue, London, N19 5NF, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Deputy ADON EIM
Elaine McWilliams
emcwilliams@nhs.net
02072883227