Job overview

My name is Mel and I am the Divisional Director of Nursing for Surgery.  Together with Elaine, our Deputy Divisional Director of Nursing for Surgery and with our team of six Matrons, we are responsible for the effectiveness of professional leadership and development of nursing within the Surgical Division in order to facilitate the delivery of excellent clinical practice. 

Are you ready to make a real difference?  We’re looking for an experienced, passionate senior nurse or HCPC‑registered professional to join our Surgical Division as a Matron for a six month period.  This is your chance to lead with confidence, champion innovation, and shape the future of patient care in a supportive, forward-thinking team.

Do you thrive on the challenge of ensuring quality, safe care and fostering a positive experience for both patients and staff?  If so, we want you to bring your passion and expertise to our team.

At the RUH we’re proud of our collaborative, supportive culture.  As part of our senior team, you’ll join a group that values collaboration, understands the challenges we face, and works together to provide outstanding care and exceptional leadership.

Main duties of the job

Why this role matters

As a Surgical Matron, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping nursing practice and driving excellence across our division.  This isn’t just a job - it’s an opportunity to influence patient outcomes, empower staff, and contribute to service improvements that make a tangible difference.

What you’ll do:

·         Lead and inspire teams to deliver safe, compassionate, patient-centred care

·         Champion evidence-based practice and innovative approaches to improve outcomes

·         Act as a visible, accessible role model for staff, patients, and families

·         Support the Clinical Lead and Specialty Manager with the corporate nursing agenda

·         Manage Senior Sisters/Senior Charge Nurses/Team Leaders effectively and fairly

·         Drive quality initiatives, audits, and service improvements while maintaining financial performance

What we’re looking for:

 ·         An experienced senior nurse or HCPC‑registered professional with proven leadership skills

·         A strong commitment to quality, safety, and continuous improvement

·         Ability to mentor, motivate, and support nursing professionals

·         Passion for making a difference and delivering excellence in care

Working for our organisation

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

By working together, we make a real difference for our patients, each other, and our community. Every role matters in delivering the exceptional, person‑centred care we’re proud of.

We’re committed to a compassionate, inclusive culture where kindness is championed, differences are valued, and diversity makes us stronger.

We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential. We prioritise staff wellbeing  – and yes, we even have a pool! 

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