Head of Nursing - Urgent and Emergency Care

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced and dynamic senior nursing leader to join our Urgent and Emergency Care Directorate as a key member of the Directorate leadership team.

The postholder will provide visible, compassionate professional leadership, working closely with the General Manager, Clinical Director, Heads of Service, Matrons and multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, high-quality care and an excellent experience for patients and staff.

The role has a strong focus on quality, safety, performance and service transformation. The successful candidate will use data, professional judgement and feedback to identify opportunities for improvement, challenge existing ways of working and support innovative solutions that improve patient flow, quality and productivity.

People leadership will be central to the role, supporting staff engagement, recruitment and retention, professional development and succession planning while promoting a positive and inclusive culture.

Working with the Directorate leadership team, the postholder will contribute to workforce and business planning, financial management and delivery of Trust priorities. They will be confident working in a complex, fast-paced environment, influencing across professional boundaries and supporting teams to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients.

Main duties of the job

• The postholder will provide senior professional and operational leadership for Urgent and Emergency Care, working with the General Manager, Clinical Director, Heads of Service, Matrons and multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, effective and high-quality patient care.
• They will lead service development and support delivery of operational, quality, workforce and financial priorities in line with Trust objectives. Using data and performance information, they will identify opportunities for improvement, develop action plans and ensure improvements are implemented and sustained.
• The postholder will provide visible professional leadership, supporting high standards of clinical governance, patient experience, risk management and infection prevention and control. They will ensure learning from complaints, incidents and feedback informs continuous improvement.
• The role includes leading workforce development, recruitment and retention, staff development and succession planning, while promoting a culture of engagement and innovation. The postholder will support service redesign, business planning and effective financial management, working collaboratively across professional and organisational boundaries.
• As a key member of the Directorate leadership team, they will work closely with the General Manager and Clinical Director and deputise for the General Manager when required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The postholder will provide senior professional nursing leadership across Urgent and Emergency Care services, working in partnership with the General Manager, Clinical Director, Heads of Service, Matrons and multidisciplinary teams to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality patient care.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Provide visible, credible and compassionate nursing leadership across Urgent and Emergency Care services, promoting high professional standards and a positive culture for patients and staff.
• Lead and support the delivery of quality, safety and clinical governance priorities, including patient experience, complaints, risk management, infection prevention and control and compliance with Trust and regulatory standards.
• Work with the General Manager and Clinical Director to deliver key operational and performance objectives, developing and monitoring improvement and corrective action plans where required.
• Use performance, quality and workforce data to identify areas for improvement, inform decision-making and ensure actions deliver measurable and sustainable outcomes.
• Lead and support service improvement, transformation and redesign, working collaboratively with clinical and operational teams to identify opportunities to improve patient care, flow, efficiency and experience.
• Support the development of business cases, capital schemes and other service developments within the Directorate.
• Ensure national guidance and Trust policies relevant to patient care and service delivery are effectively implemented and embedded across services.
• Lead and support the nursing workforce agenda, including recruitment and retention, workforce planning, induction, appraisal, education, training, professional development and succession planning.
• Coach, motivate and develop teams, promoting engagement, accountability and continuous improvement while creating opportunities for staff to develop and progress.
• Work collaboratively across professional and organisational boundaries, developing strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and representing Urgent and Emergency Care at relevant meetings and forums.
• Contribute to the effective management of Directorate resources and budgets, working with operational colleagues to understand financial performance, identify efficiencies and ensure resources are used effectively.
• Support annual business planning and the delivery of financial, workforce, quality and performance objectives.
• Ensure patient and staff feedback, including complaints, compliments and other patient experience information, informs service planning and improvement.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively, ensuring appropriate escalation and keeping senior leaders informed of significant professional, operational and patient care matters.
• Provide professional advice and leadership during periods of operational pressure and support effective management of risk and service pressures.
• Deputise for the General Manager as required and contribute fully to the collective leadership of the Directorate.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.