Modern Matron - Urgent and Emergency Care

Due to internal promotion, an exciting opportunity has arisen for a Modern Matron to join the Urgent & Emergency Care team at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, on a secondment basis for an initial period of 3 months. We are looking for an enthusiastic, experienced nurse who is keen to be part of a fast-paced and ambitious environment where every day is different.

The UEC portfolio includes responsibility for the Emergency Department, two Urgent Treatment Centres, Same Day Emergency Care and the Emergency Admissions Unit.

In particular, the Modern Matron will lead in UEC areas on patient safety, patient experience and staff experience, with a focus on leading on complaints, PALS and incidents, in addition to providing operational oversight and support in the aforementioned clinical areas.

There is an experienced and supportive team of unit managers working at a high level of competence; in recent months UEC performance has shown sustained improvement and the successful candidate would be well placed to continue to support with these improvements.

The post is full time with opportunity for compressed hours.

Main duties of the job

Provide strong dynamic management and leadership of the nursing and midwifery workforce in the Business Unit, working in collaboration with the service line managers, Matrons, Ward sisters / charge nurses / specialist nurses and other clinicians.

Take a lead role, supported by the Chief Matron, in developing and improving nursing practice and education throughout the Division, in order to ensure high quality, safe and effective health care services for patients.

Support in delivering high quality effective services within budget, identifying opportunities for cost improvement where possible.

Accountable for the monitoring and maintenance of professional standards within the Business Unit, and, in collaboration with the Chief Matron, Director (and Deputy Director) of Nursing, Midwifery & Quality and other Matrons, develop a strategy for Nursing and Midwifery, which delivers excellence in nursing and midwifery care.

Work closely with the Associate Director of Quality and Associate Director of Risk, Chief Matrons, matrons and teams to ensure the delivery of robust patient safety, quality, clinical governance and clinical risk management strategies within the business unit.

Responsible and accountable for ensuring a safe, clean clinical environment, including leading on infection prevention and control and safeguarding priorities for the business unit.

About us

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronymICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

Details

Date posted

15 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,528 to £64,750 a year

pro rata

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time,

Compressed hours

Reference number

297-8294192

Job locations

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Queen Elizabeth Avenue

Gateshead

NE9 6SX

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

To directly manage a number of ward and department managers and specialist nurse dependent on area of work

To have budgetary responsibility with the ward / department manager for areas managed

To ensure compliance with Trust policy in respect of sickness absence and the use of the human resource to ensure optimum productivity

To expand nursing and midwifery development opportunities in conjunction with the local, regional and national agendas.

To lead the provision of the quality, risk and safety agenda across area of clinical practice

To provide professional leadership to nurses and midwives

To promote a culture that supports quality and excellence across the professions of Nursing and Midwifery.

To support the development of improved risk management processes relating to clinical practice across the profession.

Carry out out of hours visits to wards and departments, providing nursing leadership as part of quality and safety reviews.

Job responsibilities

To directly manage a number of ward and department managers and specialist nurse dependent on area of work

To have budgetary responsibility with the ward / department manager for areas managed

To ensure compliance with Trust policy in respect of sickness absence and the use of the human resource to ensure optimum productivity

To expand nursing and midwifery development opportunities in conjunction with the local, regional and national agendas.

To lead the provision of the quality, risk and safety agenda across area of clinical practice

To provide professional leadership to nurses and midwives

To promote a culture that supports quality and excellence across the professions of Nursing and Midwifery.

To support the development of improved risk management processes relating to clinical practice across the profession.

Carry out out of hours visits to wards and departments, providing nursing leadership as part of quality and safety reviews.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• RN, current NMC Registration
• Degree in Health related subject
• Evidence of ongoing professional development

Desirable

• Masters Degree relevant to practice
• Leadership Qualification

Skills, Knowledge and Aptitude

Essential

• Evidence of applied leadership skills
• Evidence of clinical governance knowledge
• Management and development skills

Experience

Essential

• Experience of effectively managing people and resources
• Significant senior nursing experience

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• RN, current NMC Registration
• Degree in Health related subject
• Evidence of ongoing professional development

Desirable

• Masters Degree relevant to practice
• Leadership Qualification

Skills, Knowledge and Aptitude

Essential

• Evidence of applied leadership skills
• Evidence of clinical governance knowledge
• Management and development skills

Experience

Essential

• Experience of effectively managing people and resources
• Significant senior nursing experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website .

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website .

Employer details

Employer name

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Queen Elizabeth Avenue

Gateshead

NE9 6SX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.qegateshead.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Queen Elizabeth Avenue

Gateshead

NE9 6SX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.qegateshead.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

To directly manage a number of ward and department managers and specialist nurse dependent on area of work

To have budgetary responsibility with the ward / department manager for areas managed

To ensure compliance with Trust policy in respect of sickness absence and the use of the human resource to ensure optimum productivity

To expand nursing and midwifery development opportunities in conjunction with the local, regional and national agendas.

To lead the provision of the quality, risk and safety agenda across area of clinical practice

To provide professional leadership to nurses and midwives

To promote a culture that supports quality and excellence across the professions of Nursing and Midwifery.

To support the development of improved risk management processes relating to clinical practice across the profession.

Carry out out of hours visits to wards and departments, providing nursing leadership as part of quality and safety reviews.

Qualifications

Essential

• RN, current NMC Registration
• Degree in Health related subject
• Evidence of ongoing professional development

Desirable

• Masters Degree relevant to practice
• Leadership Qualification

Skills, Knowledge and Aptitude

Essential

• Evidence of applied leadership skills
• Evidence of clinical governance knowledge
• Management and development skills

Experience

Essential

• Experience of effectively managing people and resources
• Significant senior nursing experience