Clinical Matron
Full description
North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.
Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.
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Job Overview
An opportunity has arisen available for an outstanding Senior Nurse to join our Surgical teams as a Clinical Matron. The role will support the delivery of the quality and safety agenda within the division with specific focus on our emergency pathways cluster. We welcome applications from individuals with varied experience and are looking for individuals with drive, vision and passion for patient care within these specialties.
Main duties of the job
You will be a skilled and experienced Registered Nurse who must be able to demonstrate the relevant level of experience, qualifications and competencies to lead our nursing teams. The Clinical Matron will work in a ‘triumvirate role’ with the cluster manager and lead clinician, ensuring patient safety, quality and financial management for the service.
We view the Clinical Matron role as being pivotal in supporting the delivery of our vision. Working within the framework of the modern matron principles, your key role will be to ensure clinical quality standards are achieved. This will be demonstrated through inspirational and visible clinical leadership to the nursing teams working within the medicine division whilst operationally delivering on key trust targets related to patient flow.
As part of the management team within surgery your role will be fundamental in developing the focus of the patient experience and the quality agenda. This role will be pivotal in the planning, implementation and delivery of emergency pathway services. You will provide visionary supportive and challenging leadership to enthusiastic and experienced multi – professional teams.
If you have extensive experience in a leadership role and have an exceptional track record of leading teams, then we would like you to be part of our team, championing the patient experience and continuing the development of nurse-led services.
Working for our organisation
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.
With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
To provide clinical, professional and nursing managerial leadership to a group of wards in a clinical team/ teams.
To be identifiable, highly visible, authoritative and accessible to patients, carers and staff for assistance advice and support.
To ensure that the fundamentals of care are delivered to the highest possible standards ensuring that the privacy and dignity of patients is respected. To ensure that the clinical environments are always clean and that the best practice in infection control is observed at all times.
To represent the clinical specialty and the Surgical Division as required internally and externally, deputising when requested for the senior nursing team.
Person specification
Education/Training/Qualifications
Essential criteria
Nursing qualification with live NMC registrationEducated to Masters level or equivalent qualification and /or experienceFirst level degree or equivalent qualification in a subject relevant to roleEvidence of continuous professional development
Skills
Essential criteria
Ability to establish credibility rapidly with wide range of staffAble to support staff and develop team working conducive to quality and effective patient careExcellent written, verbal and non-verbal communication skillsKnowledge and evidence of delivering current nursing/midwifery quality indicators
Desirable criteria
Previous experience of staff consultation
Knowledge, training and experience
Essential criteria
Evidence of project management/service improvement skillsEvidence of formal leadership & management developmentStrong leadership abilities with the ability to be flexible and adaptable in a changing environment, and to effectively design, implement and sustain change
Desirable criteria
Knowledge and understanding of a medicine Division
We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.
As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge. The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers. BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview. If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system. The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system. By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.
Important
Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.
Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification
Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.
As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.
When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.