Ward Manager

Job summary Sue Ryder, South East Region Duchess of Kent Hospice RG30 2DX - Occasional travel across the region (RG7 4AB & OX10 6SL) Interviews will be held at Duchess ok Kent Hospice on Wednesday 23rd of September Sue Ryder is here to make sure everyone approaching the end of their life or living with grief can access the support they need. There is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need, but with our support, no one has to face dying or grief alone. We are there when it matters. About us Sue Ryder South East Region offers a range of hospice and community nursing services in Berkshire West and South Oxfordshire, including Reading, Newbury, Wokingham, Wallingford and Henley, and many more local communities in between. We support people aged 18 and over who are living with life-limiting conditions such as cancer, heart failure and lung disease by combining specialist medical care for managing pain and other symptoms with other emotional, practical and spiritual support. We are able to provide incredible care at our Duchess of Kent Hospice inpatient unit, and our CNS team are on hand to visit people and provide care for people in their own home. About the Role We are seeking a compassionate, motivated professional to lead and develop our In-Patient Unit. The ideal candidate will have strong palliative care experience, excellent communication skills, and the ability to inspire teams and drive evidence-based practice. Main duties of the job Working closely with the Head of Clinical Services, you will assess referrals with health and social care partners and ensure patients (and families where appropriate) are fully involved in care planning. You will manage staffing and rota planning, provide out-of-hours clinical support, and maintain effective communication across departments and external agencies, including healthcare professionals and junior doctors. A strong understanding of safeguarding and relevant legislation is essential, with the ability to apply policy and evaluate its impact on care delivery. Occasional travel to our other sites is required. About you You should be a Registered Nurse (RGN or RNA) with significant specialist palliative care experience and preferably hold a post-registration qualification (or working towards) in Palliative Care. You will have experience of caring for individuals with specialist palliative care needs, managing teams and experience in staff development, education and clinical effectiveness. FTC or interim candidates will also be considered for this role while we are recruiting in to the permanent post About us Benefits : Enhanced pay for unsociable hoursCompany pension schemeContinuation of NHS pension (terms and conditions apply)27 days holiday rising to 33 with length of service plus bank holidaysNHS annual leave honoured (terms and conditions apply)Enhanced maternity and paternity payEnhanced sick payElectric Vehicle SchemeHealthcare Cash plan, to claim back costs of routine healthcareDeath in Service benefitStaff discount of 10% on new goods online at shop.sueryder.orgStructured induction programme and learning and development opportunities.For more of our employee benefits please visit our website: www.sueryder.org/jobs/careers-in-palliative-care/benefits-of-working-for-sue-ryder/ Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion At Sue Ryder, we recognise that a diverse workforce allows us to provide the best care and support. We are committed to encouraging equity, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. We welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and those living with disabilities. For more information on our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work, please visit: www.sueryder.org/jobs/equity-diversity-inclusion Join us in creating a culture where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to thrive. Details Date posted: 21 August 2026Pay scheme: OtherSalary: £50,088 to £61,165 a year DOE per annum, pro rata - excluding enhancementsContract: PermanentWorking pattern: Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hoursReference number: B0475-26-0084Job locations: Sue Ryder, Duchess of Kent Hospice, Reading, RG30 2DX, United KingdomJob responsibilities Please see the supporting document for the full job description. If you have any further questions or enquiries then please do not hesitate to contact the Recruiter. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Person specification: Experience Essential -NMC registered Nurse (RGN or RNA) and experience managing clinical operations Skilled in developing accessible policies and adjustments-Effective leadership and inclusive communication-Commitment to quality, safety, and dignityDesirable -Experience leading CQC inspections or audit preparation-Formal leadership or coaching qualification