Community matron
Healthcare

How to become a community matron

You can get into this job through:

• working towards this role
• applying directly

Work

You can get into this job through professional development training with your employer.

You'll need to be a registered nurse in any branch, or other registered health professional, for example a speech and language therapist.

You'll also need:

• to study for an appropriate postgraduate master's qualification
• specialist knowledge across different nursing procedures and practice
• in-depth knowledge of long-term health conditions and treatments
• experience of leading and managing a team

Direct application

You can apply directly if you're a registered nurse or health professional and have between 3 and 5 years' post-registration experience. Some employers may also ask for:

• a degree or postgraduate diploma in community practice, specialising in district nursing, health visiting or practice nursing
• a relevant teaching or mentoring qualification
• a nurse prescribing qualification

More info

Registration

• you'll need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Further information

You can find out more about working in healthcare from Health Careers.

What it takes

Skills & Knowledge

You'll need:

• customer service skills
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be flexible and open to change
• sensitivity and understanding
• to enjoy working with other people
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restriction & Requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

What you'll do

Day to day

In your day-to-day duties you may:

• carry out physical examinations and treatments
• refer patients to a specialist
• manage the care and support patients receive
• identify patients who may be at risk of being admitted to hospital when they don't need to be
• manage services to make sure the focus of care is in the home and community for as long as possible
• teach patients, carers and relatives to spot changes that could lead to conditions getting worse
• organise extra support, like home care or respite care
• make sure policy guidelines and procedures are followed
• maintain patient records

Working environment

You could work at a hospice, in a prison, at an adult care home, at a client's home or in an NHS or private hospital. Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

Career path and progression

Career path & progression

With experience, you could progress to service management level and become head of community nursing. You could also move into health promotion work, teaching or training.