Senior Matron for Emergency and Acute Medicine inLewisham inLewisham PUBLISHED FRI 6 DEC 2024

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced nurse leader to join our team in the Acute and Emergency Services Team as Senior Matron.

The team encompasses the Emergency Department, Acute Medical admissions Unit, Same Day Emergency Care Unit, Cardiac and respiratory wards. Working closely with the Head of Nursing, Clinical Director and General Manager, you will support delivery of key strategic objectives around improving staff experience, achieving optimal performance and operational flow, and delivering high quality, safe patient care.

As the Senior Matron, you will provide innovative clinical and professional leadership to the nursing staff at all levels within the Directorate. Your responsibilities will include ensuring that effective governance arrangements are maintained, that nursing care is delivered to a high standard, and that nursing resources are managed efficiently. You will be supported by two 8a Senior Nurses and a team of Band 7 nurses working across various clinical areas. This position is busy and challenging, yet highly rewarding, with significant opportunities for development for the right candidate. You will receive support to excel in this role.

About us

Care Provision

To always manage the quality of the provision of nursing care, within their wards / Emergency departments by:

• Holding the Departments/Wards, Matrons, Sister/Charge Nurse to account for delivery of their key performance indicators in clinical areas on Tendable.
• In conjunction with the Directorate's Divisional Director of Nursing and Head of Nursing ensure effective action is taken where nursing performance is at risk of falling below expected levels and standards are not maintained.
• Ensuring that the Trust's Nursing and Midwifery priorities are implemented locally.
• To lead and ensure action is taken on issues of staff discipline, grievance, poor performance and sickness, including dismissal.
• To assist in the role and maintenance of the Trust Compassion in Care project.
• Be accountable to the Head of Nursing for the overall quality of nursing care within the area, taking a proactive approach to performance management of quality issues.
• Ensure that Divisional audit programmes are consistent with service objectives.
• Be responsible for monitoring the quality of environmental services within the care area.
• Ensure that a Quality Monitoring Programme is fully implemented across and that action is taken to achieve and maintain quality standards in all areas.

Risk & clinical governance:

• Ensure patients are cared for in a clean and safe environment, including the appropriate decontamination of multi-use equipment, taking remedial action if standards are not maintained.
• Be champions for driving the infection prevention and control agenda and challenging poor practice.
• Take the lead on managing and monitoring complaints and adverse incidents, including serious untoward incidents. Liaise with the PALS Department regarding informal complaints and where possible actively diffuse complaints to avoid escalation and implementing action plans to prevent reoccurrence.
• Undertake root cause analysis and develop action plans, ensuring that this leads to change in practice.
• Ensure Risk Assessments are undertaken, and action plans implemented in the Emergency department and Ward areas within their remit.
• Lead on the implementation of patient safety strategies such as Tendable Ward audits, ITAP and CQC
• Share best practice and drive improvements in patient care through the Matrons' Forum.
• In conjunction with the ED Head of Nursing, the Senior Matron will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining excellent clinical standards within the clinical teams.

Professional leadership and staff management:

• Be a visible leader who is accessible to patients, visitors, and staff.
• Provide professional and clinical leadership within the Emergency Department and acute wards.
• Take forward and develop, the nursing and midwifery contribution to excellent service provision.
• Develop Departments Sister/Charge Nurse in leadership and management.
• Ensure that nursing staff comply with Trust-wide policies and procedures.
• Represent the Trust at local and National forums promoting achievements in patient care.
• Ensure that all staff working within the ward / department will receive education in infection prevention and control in line with Trust policy.
• Deputise for the Head of Nursing in their absence.