Neurology Matron

This is a senior nursing post leading Neurology Services at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, across a developing service. The post holder leads safe, high-quality patient care, quality improvement and service transformation, and develops specialist nursing teams. Workforce planning, succession planning and strategic development of the service are central to the role. The job is split roughly 80% leadership and management and 20% clinical work, and it requires current NMC registration.

• Provide visible, compassionate leadership across Neurology Services
• Lead the delivery of safe, effective, high-quality patient care
• Drive quality improvement, innovation and service transformation
• Develop and support specialist nursing teams
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, retention and succession planning
• Ensure excellent patient experience and patient safety outcomes
• Work with regional neuroscience networks and external partners
• Contribute to strategic planning and future development of Neurology Services
• Lead service improvement, workforce establishment and governance in line with the NHS England Matron's Handbook (2021)
• Act as clinical leader, role model and advocate for service users and staff
• Drive quality and compliance for NHS Fundamentals of Care within the Care Group's corporate team
• Work closely with other matrons, consultants, specialist teams and multidisciplinary colleagues

• RGN first level qualification
• Master's degree or equivalent, or willingness to work towards one
• Knowledge and qualification in patient safety and clinical governance
• Teaching qualification or equivalent
• Demonstrable continuing professional development

• Current registration with the NMC

• Proven senior-level leadership and management experience
• Proven record of leading and managing clinical services in the acute sector
• Successful resource and budget management
• Managing risk within a department and service development
• Workforce management and development

• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Producing complex reports and formulating policies
• Prioritising and meeting deadlines
• Using initiative for decision making and handling sensitive or complex situations under pressure
• Good IT skills and ability to teach and present

• Project management, quality improvement and audits
• Interview skills and experience
• Working under operational pressure with safe decision making
• Emotional intelligence and customer care
• Complex investigations, serious incidents, thematic analysis and creating action plans
• Leadership and management course
• Previous experience of the specialism
• Attendance at Matron's Development Days or equivalent

• Developmental opportunities within the Corporate Team, supported by the Directors of Nursing and Quality