Associate Director of Nursing

Job overview

Permanent | Full Time | Assessment events will take place week commencing 9th March 2026

Sheffield Children’s is a unique organisation — friendly, compassionate and committed to creating healthier futures for every child and young person. We are seeking two outstanding senior nursing leaders to join us as Associate Directors of Nursing: one supporting our Medicine Care Group and one within our Community, Wellbeing and Mental Health Care Group. These roles suit experienced nursing leaders who champion high standards of care and are confident, visible and supportive across teams and services.

As an Associate Director of Nursing, you will be a trusted and influential leader, working as part of the Care Group Triumvirate to shape priorities, strengthen nursing culture and ensure children, young people and families are central to all decisions. You will support multidisciplinary teams across varied clinical areas, promoting safe, effective and kind care.

Your leadership will drive nursing quality, governance and patient safety, while supporting operational delivery and workforce innovation. You will work closely with senior colleagues and system partners, and act on behalf of the Deputy Chief Nurse when required.

With a proud 150‑year heritage and exciting developments ahead, including the opening of the National Centre for Child Health Technology, this is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of children’s healthcare.

Main duties of the job

Sheffield Children's is a unique place to build your Senior Nursing career. We are one of only three dedicated specialist children's hospital trusts in the UK - and the only one providing integrated hospital, mental health and community services exclusively for children and young people.

What You'll Lead

Your leadership will directly shape how our nursing services evolve to meet the needs of children and young people across South Yorkshire and beyond. You will thrive in this role if you can provide:

• Visible, compassionate professional leadership across clinical areas, ensuring high standards of nursing practice and modelling our Trust vales.
• Quality, governance and patient safety oversight, acting as the accountable officer for nursing quality and leading continuous improvement.
• Safe, effective operational delivery, including oversight of staffing, acuity, resources and service flow.
• Nursing workforce strategy and development, shaping future workforce models and supporting recruitment, retention and education.
• Strategic influence and partnership working with the Care Group Triumvirate, across the Trust, and with system partners - deputising for the Deputy Chief Nurse when required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information about these opportunities, please see the attached Role Information Pack, job description and person specification.

This role has been assigned the occupation code 1171 using the CASCOT coding tool. To check the eligibility of this code for sponsorship and right to work please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations-and-codes

Diversity Statement

At Sheffield Children’s, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyone’s success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members.

Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at [email protected]. Together, we’re building a workplace where everyone belongs.

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