Matron/Lead AHP SURGERY | East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust


Company:	ESHT
Salary:	£57,528 - £64,750 Per annum, Pro rata
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Eastbourne, BN21 2UD
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	28 Sept 2026
Closing date:	30 Oct 2026

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Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for the professional and operational leadership of our clinical services in the newly created 8a Matron roles.

These are senior clinical leadership roles with responsibility for a diverse portfolio of services, in our Clinical Divisions.

As Matron, you will provide visible, compassionate leadership to multidisciplinary teams, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality patient care. You will have a proven ability to uphold professional, clinical and regulatory standards through robust governance, audit, quality improvement and assurance processes.

Working closely with operational, nursing and medical colleagues, you will support service development, workforce growth and innovation across the paediatric pathway. You will promote a culture of accountability, learning and continuous improvement, challenging poor practice where necessary and driving high standards of care.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, communication and relationship-building skills, with experience of managing change, operational pressures and compliance with national standards and quality indicators. A commitment to improving patient safety, experience and outcomes will be at the heart of your approach.

There are opportunities across our Surgery Division

General Surgery / Breast - CONQUEST

Head and Neck ( ENT, Maxillofacial and Ophthalmology) - EASTBOURNE / BEXHILL

Urology/ Vascular - EASTBOURNE

What we are looking for

• Registered Nurse or AHP with active NMC/HCPC registration.

• Significant senior leadership experience within clinical services and ability to provide senior operational and professional leadership out of hours.

• Proven ability to embed, monitor and improve clinical standards and quality outcomes.

• Strong experience in governance, patient safety, quality improvement and service assurance.

• Demonstrable ability to lead teams, influence practice and deliver sustainable service improvement.

• Values-driven leader with a visible, compassionate and inclusive leadership style.

Provide visible clinical and professional leadership

Ensure the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality care

Lead quality improvement, patient safety, governance and assurance programmes.

Monitor clinical standards, audits, incidents and performance, driving continuous improvement.

Develop and support the workforce through recruitment, education, appraisal and professional development.

Work collaboratively with nursing, medical and operational leaders to improve services and patient pathways.

Lead on safeguarding, infection prevention, risk management and regulatory compliance.

Manage staffing, resources and operational performance to ensure safe and sustainable services.

Provide expert professional advice and act as a visible role model for compassionate leadership.

Participate in the Matron of the day rota which includes evening and weekend working.

A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.

There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.

Statement on the Use of AI

We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.

Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.

We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.

Please see attached the job description

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch

Please note previous applicants need not apply

This advert closes on Monday 12 Oct 2026

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