Paediatric Ward Manager

Due to the promotion of the current Ward Manager, an exciting opportunity has arisen for a permanent Ward Manager on our Children's Ward at Ormskirk Hospital.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated leader to manage our Children's Ward which includes 17 inpatient beds, 4 day case beds and a 6 bed Assessment and Observation Unit, caring for children from 0 - 16 years.

You will be responsible and accountable for the leadership, development quality improvement and management of services within the Children's Ward ensuring the provision of safe, efficient and quality of care to children, young people and their families across a 24 hour period, 7 days a week.

You will work closely with the Paediatric Matron and other Paediatric Managers to ensure the safe running of the Department.

Responsible for providing leadership and management to nursing and support team and associated staff to ensure effective running of ward/department.

Provide leadership, specialist advice and support working with nursing teams to ensure appropriate assessment of patients needs, development of care plans, implementation of care plans and maintenance of associated records.

Liaise with other agencies in planning programmes of care and/or health and education programmes

Responsible for ward/department budget management

To work within the NMC Code and professional nursing guidance

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Please see Job Description and Person Specification attached.

Advertising Date: 15th October 2026

Closing Date: 29th October 2026

Shortlisting Date: 30th October 2026

Proposed Interview date: 10th November 2026

Please note this vacancy may close early if a high number of applications is reached.

• Registered Children's Nurse. Degree / Diploma Level
• Current NMC Registration
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Leadership training or qulification or equivalent experience

• Able to demonstrate knowledge of NMCprofessional standards for practice contained within the code
• Experience of managing teams
• Experience of service development, such as clinical pathway management
• Substantial experience of working in a clinical environment
• Understanding of budget management within the NHS at departmental level
• Experience of involvement in relevant research/audit to underpin evidence-based practice
• Understand key features of clinical governance and risk

• Current up to date and relevant clinical skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent organisational and management skills
• Able to act as a leader, effectively managing staff in the department
• Accountable for own professional actions
• Ability to network and build relationships at all levels act as a change agent
• Computer literacy eg experience of electronic patient record

• Frequent sitting or standing in a restricted position; occasional moderate effort for several short period.
• Walks, stands most of shift; occasionally moves, occasional manoeuvres patients.
• Frequent…