Ward Manager - Children's Ward

About The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Children’s Services team as the Ward Manager for Gate 46 at Pinderfields Hospital. Following the departure of our current Ward Manager, we are looking for an experienced, compassionate and ambitious children’s nurse who is ready to lead one of our busy and rewarding paediatric inpatient areas.

Gate 46 is a dynamic general children’s ward incorporating acute paediatric inpatient care and elective day surgery. Caring for babies, children and young people with a wide range of medical and surgical needs, our team prides itself on delivering high‑quality, family‑centred care in a supportive and collaborative environment.

As Ward Manager, you will provide visible clinical and operational leadership, inspiring and developing a highly skilled multidisciplinary team while ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate care. You will be responsible for workforce management, quality improvement, governance, patient experience and service development, working closely with the wider Children’s Services leadership team to shape the future of paediatric services across the Trust.

• Provide visible, compassionate leadership to the nursing and multidisciplinary team, promoting a positive, inclusive and high‑performing culture.
• Maintain overall responsibility for the safe, effective and efficient operational management of Gate 46, including the general children’s ward and day surgery.
• Ensure the delivery of high‑quality, family‑centred care that meets national standards, Trust objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Lead on workforce planning, recruitment, retention, staff wellbeing, appraisal, performance management and professional development.
• Ensure safe staffing levels, effective roster management and appropriate use of resources to maintain patient safety and service efficiency.
• Drive quality improvement, patient safety and clinical governance, using audit, incident investigation, learning from events and patient feedback to improve practice.
• Lead the implementation of evidence‑based practice and support innovation across the service.
• Work collaboratively with medical colleagues, allied health professionals, operational teams and community partners to ensure effective patient flow and timely discharge.
• Manage the ward budget and resources responsibly, ensuring best value while maintaining high standards of care.
• Act as a role model for professional practice, maintaining clinical credibility and providing support and expert advice to the wider team.
• Lead service developments and contribute to Trust‑wide paediatric initiatives and strategic objectives.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding responsibilities, infection prevention, medicines management, health and safety, and all relevant Trust policies.
• Promote an environment that supports learning, education and the development of students, newly qualified nurses and the wider workforce.

• Registered Children’s Nurse with current NMC registration.
• Significant experience in acute paediatric nursing.
• Proven leadership experience, ideally at Band 6 or above.
• Knowledge of clinical governance, patient safety and quality improvement.
• Experience of staff management, including rostering, appraisals and performance management.
• Excellent communication, organisational and decision‑making skills.
• Ability to lead change and manage competing priorities.
• Commitment to delivering high‑quality, family‑centred care.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.

• Leadership or management qualification.
• Experience managing a paediatric inpatient and/or day surgery service.
• Experience of budget management and service improvement.
• Teaching or mentoring qualification.

We are an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients’ homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.

We support work‑life balance and…