Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 354-AN-21027
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Langley Green Hospital
- Town
- Crawley
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 20/08/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Ward Manager
NHS AfC: Band 7
Come and join us
We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.
At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.
We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.
We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn’t based on your real experience.
Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we’ll explore your examples further at interview, so it’s important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page.
We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.
Job overview
The Ward Manager for Jade Ward is responsible for providing strong clinical, professional, and operational leadership to a working age adult mixed gender mental health inpatient ward. As a Band 7 leader, the post holder will ensure the delivery of safe, effective, person-centred, and recovery-focused care that promotes positive patient outcomes and experiences.
The Ward Manager has overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of the ward, including the quality and safety of care, workforce management, service performance, governance, and compliance with Trust policies, national standards, and regulatory requirements. They will lead and support a multidisciplinary team to create a therapeutic, inclusive, and compassionate environment that upholds dignity, respect, equality, and diversity for all service users.
Working collaboratively with service users, carers, senior clinical leaders, and partner agencies, the Ward Manager will drive continuous quality improvement, promote a positive ward culture, and ensure that care is delivered in line with evidence-based practice and the principles of trauma-informed and least restrictive care.
Main duties of the job
As Ward Manager for Jade Ward, you will provide visible clinical and operational leadership for a working-age adult mixed gender mental health inpatient ward. You will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe, and recovery-focused care while leading and developing a multidisciplinary team.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the day-to-day management of the ward, ensuring safe and effective service delivery.
- Promoting a positive, therapeutic, and recovery-oriented ward environment.
- Managing staffing, workforce development, supervision, recruitment, and performance.
- Ensuring compliance with clinical governance, safeguarding, Mental Health Act, and Trust policies.
- Monitoring quality, safety, and performance standards, driving continuous improvement initiatives.
- Managing incidents, complaints, risks, and audits, ensuring learning is embedded into practice.
- Working collaboratively with service users, carers, community services, and partner agencies to support effective care pathways.
- Acting as a role model and champion for compassionate, person-centred care, staff wellbeing, and professional excellence.
This is an exciting leadership opportunity for an experienced mental health professional who is passionate about delivering outstanding inpatient care and developing high-performing teams.
Working for our organisation
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical Leadership
- Provide visible, accessible, and effective leadership within Jade Ward.
- Ensure the delivery of high-quality, recovery-oriented mental health care.
- Promote a culture of safety, compassion, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
- Lead on reducing restrictive practices and enhancing patient engagement.
- Ensure robust risk assessment, risk management, and safeguarding processes are in place.
Operational Management
- Maintain responsibility for the day-to-day running of the ward.
- Ensure effective management of staffing levels, skill mix, patient flow, and bed occupancy.
- Monitor and improve ward performance against key quality, safety, and operational indicators.
- Lead investigations, incident reviews, and complaints management, ensuring learning is embedded into practice.
Workforce Leadership
- Lead, develop, and motivate a multidisciplinary workforce.
- Manage recruitment, retention, appraisal, supervision, and performance management processes.
- Identify workforce development needs and support ongoing professional education and training.
- Foster staff wellbeing and create an environment where staff feel valued, supported, and empowered.
Quality and Governance
- Ensure compliance with the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, safeguarding legislation, and Trust policies.
- Lead clinical governance activities, audits, quality improvement projects, and service developments.
- Monitor standards of care and implement action plans to address identified risks or areas for improvement.
- Ensure readiness for internal and external inspections, including CQC requirements.
Partnership Working
- Work collaboratively with community services, crisis teams, social care, primary care, carers, and external agencies to support effective care pathways.
- Promote co-production and service user involvement in service development and decision-making.
- Contribute to wider service and organisational objectives as a senior leader within the Trust.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to degree/ diploma level with a relevant qualification or equivalent experience
- Registered Nurse with current registration (mental health / LD/ Adult) appropriate to the job role
- Evidence of CPD
- Completion of Mentorship Course/ENB equivalent
- Post Basic Courses / relevant Study Days
Knowledge/Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive experience of acute care in the care group and demonstrable achievement in clinical practice
- Experience of providing professional support/supervision and motivation of staff
- Understanding of Health and Social Care Governance
- Relevant care group experience of working with people with serious mental health problems
- Experience of managing staff
- CPA experience
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Daisy Marchant
- Job title
- General Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01293590400
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