Matron for Pre-operative Assessment (POA) Cross site

The Matron for Pre-Operative Assessment (POA)

The Matron for Pre-Operative Assessment (POA) is a senior clinical and operational leader responsible for delivering a high-quality, standardised POA service across Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex Hospital. The role ensures that “high-quality, evidence-based, compassionate nursing care” is consistently provided and that patients undergoing elective surgery are optimally assessed and prepared. As the cross-site lead, the Matron plays a pivotal role in supporting safe elective pathways, improving patient experience, and driving alignment with perioperative best-practice standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides visible clinical leadership.
• Oversees the POA workforce.
• Ensures safe staffing, effective resource planning, and robust governance.
• Leads recruitment and retention.
• Manages performance.
• Oversees clinical standards.
• Ensures adherence to Trust policies.
• Responsible for “risk assessment oversight, early identification of complex patients, escalation processes,” and ensuring timely investigations to reduce avoidable delays or cancellations.
• Contributes to business planning, service redesign, and Trust-wide perioperative transformation initiatives.

Duties

• Lead and be responsible for the delivery of high-quality care and the patient experience in their areas through proactive clinical and professional leadership to nursing staff at all levels within their clinical area of responsibility.
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, compassionate nursing care.
• Ensure the workforce is managed efficiently and effectively.
• Ensure ward sisters have adequate support to enable them to focus on their core responsibilities.
• Contribute to the ongoing implementation of the Trust’s nursing, midwifery, and corporate objectives, developing the service and nursing roles to meet the evolving needs of patients and families.
• Undertake the key functions of the Matron Role ensuring the patient experience in wards/departments is of the highest possible standard at all times with particular emphasis on the provision of dignified and compassionate care which is delivered in a safe and clean environment.
• Work with the Divisional Nurse and the Senior Management Team in developing and implementing a divisional strategy to achieve the Trust’s objectives and ensure that effective governance arrangements are implemented and maintained.