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Job requirements
Essential
34 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Experience
Significant acute operational nursing experience in a complex healthcare organisation
- Experience
Evidence of nursing leadership role in an acute setting
- Experience
Ability to analyse complex problems and to develop practical and workable solutions to address them
- Experience
Ability to manage and deliver to deadlines and within resources
- Experience
Experience in the supervision and management of staff and students
- Experience
Experience in complex employment related issues
- Experience
Experience of using acuity tools and triangulation of data to review and ensure safe skill mix
- Experience
Manager on-call
- Experience
Evidence of leading and managing change within a complex environment
- Experience
Experience of representing a service within a Trust setting
- Experience
Experience of managing a budget
- Experience
Experience of managing other staff groups
- Experience
Managing a cross site, complex function
- Experience
Experience of SLAs and contractual working
- Skills & Aptitudes
Ability to self-evaluate and self-reflect
- Skills & Aptitudes
Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills suitable for a range of audiences, including chairing of meetings
- Skills & Aptitudes
Ability to initiate and implement change and improvements
- Skills & Aptitudes
Good analytical and organisational ability
- Skills & Aptitudes
Ability to demonstrate and model strong leadership skills
- Skills & Aptitudes
Awareness of developments in the NHS and service delivery
- Skills & Aptitudes
Ability to influence and facilitate MDT working
- Skills & Aptitudes
Able to communicate with patients and families in an empathetic manner regarding their treatment and procedures and communicate complex sensitive information
- Skills & Aptitudes
Effective problem-solving skills
- Skills & Aptitudes
Good computer skills
- Skills & Aptitudes
Experience of implementing Evidence Based Practice
- Skills & Aptitudes
Applies working knowledge of relevant health legislation
- Personal Qualities & Attributes
Ability to lead by example, promoting the highest standards of personal and professional conduct, integrity and probity
- Personal Qualities & Attributes
High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement and flexibility in approach and attitude
- Personal Qualities & Attributes
Committed to the continuous development of staff and self
- Personal Qualities & Attributes
To be flexible, decisive, using sound judgement in decision making in a timely and confident manner
- Education & Professional Qualities
Registered trained nurse MSc and/ or equivalent clinical experience that recognises highly developed and complex levels of knowledge
- Education & Professional Qualities
Management/leadership qualifications or equivalent experience
- Education & Professional Qualities
Specialist knowledge at doctorate level or equivalent experience in a related field
- Education & Professional Qualities
Evidence of continuing personal development
Desirable
Not listed in the available specification.
Job overview
We are seeking an exceptional, inspiring and experienced nursing leader to join Royal Free London Group, as Head of Nursing for our Emergency Department at North Middlesex health unit. This pivotal role sits within our Divisional Leadership Team, shaping high-quality services and create environments where staff can truly thrive.
At Royal Free London we have set out an ambitious plan to enable our staff to deliver world-leading healthcare for all our patients, meet growing demand and create a healthier future for local people and those further afield who come to our hospitals for specialist treatment.
Our clinical vision is transforming how we deliver world-class care, and the way people access our services. Our hospitals have different opportunities and challenges based on the patients they care for. We have developed local clinical priorities that reflect the needs and expectations of those different communities
About You
You will be a credible, visible and values-driven nursing leader, able to:
- Envision and implement future models of nursing care aligned to system priorities.
- Lead through influence, collaboration and clinical credibility.
- Foster high-performing, compassionate teams and inclusive, positive working cultures.
- Balance strategic leadership with operational grip and delivery.
- Champion equality, diversity and inclusion for patients & staff.
Main duties of the job
As Head of Nursing for the Emergency Department, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across a diverse workforce, driving excellence in patient experience, quality, safety, workforce development and performance. You will work closely with clinical, operational and executive colleagues to shape the future of emergency care and ensure the department continues to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex healthcare landscape.
You will be a credible clinical leader who is highly visible within the clinical environment, approachable to staff, and committed to creating a positive and inclusive culture.
You will have:
- Significant senior nursing leadership experience within an acute setting.
- A proven track record of delivering improvements in quality, safety and patient outcomes.
- Strong experience of workforce planning, recruitment, retention and staff engagement.
- Excellent leadership, influencing and relationship-building skills.
- Experience of leading cultural change and service transformation.
- A passion for developing people and creating high-performing teams.
- The ability to balance operational pressures with strategic vision and innovation.
- Evidence of successful partnership working across professional and organisational boundaries.
- Ensure delivery of safe, evidence-based, compassionate and person-centred care.
- Strengthen patient pathways, improve outcomes, & enhance experience for service users.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at the North Middlesex University Hospital
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.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Head of Nursing with Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust in London, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Nurse (adult and children) role. The advertised salary is £85,641 - £97,746 Including Outer HCAS per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 08 Nov 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (19 Oct 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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