Job overview
We are seeking an experienced and ambitious senior nurse to join West London NHS Trust as our Lead Nurse for Practice Development, Education and Quality within Community Health Services. This is an exciting opportunity to lead nursing education, practice development and quality improvement across a diverse portfolio of community services, influencing the development of a skilled, confident and high-performing nursing workforce.
Working closely with senior clinical and operational leaders, you will provide professional leadership for nursing practice, clinical skills development and workforce transformation. You will play a key role in shaping how nursing standards, education and quality are delivered across the service, ensuring staff are equipped to provide safe, effective and evidence-based care. As a senior leader, you will help drive innovation, improve patient outcomes and create a culture of continuous learning and excellence.
Main duties of the job
As the Lead Nurse for Practice Development, Education and Quality, you will lead clinical education, workforce development and practice improvement programmes across Community Health Services. You will provide professional leadership and line management to Practice Development Nurses and Clinical Practice Improvement Leads, supporting the delivery of high-quality, safe and evidence-based care.
You will oversee clinical training, competency frameworks, preceptorship programmes and career development pathways, ensuring nurses have the knowledge, skills and support required to meet professional standards. You will lead and support quality improvement initiatives, clinical audits and governance activities, using evidence, data and learning to improve patient care and workforce performance.
The successful candidate will demonstrate expert clinical nursing skills, strong leadership and people management abilities, excellent communication and influencing skills, and experience of leading change within complex healthcare environments. You will be able to coach, teach and assess advanced clinical practice, analyse complex information, support workforce planning and drive improvements in quality, patient safety and professional standards.
The post holder will work closely with nursing, medical and allied health professional leaders across the Trust, represent Community Health Services in local and regional forums, and contribute to strategic service development.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Expert clinical aptitude, with the ability to perform, teach and assess advanced clinical skills to a high standard.
- Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities and maintain high‑quality decision‑making.
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Highly developed teaching, facilitation and presentation skills.
- Competent IT user, able to use clinical systems, audit tools, digital learning platforms and data dashboards
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- Ability to analyse complex information, contribute to research activity and support literature and peer review processes.
Knowledge
Essential
- In‑depth knowledge of community nursing clinical skills and evidence‑based practice.
- Understanding of NMC standards for education, supervision and assessment.
- Knowledge of competency frameworks, preceptorship and workforce development models.
- Understanding of governance frameworks, regulated practice requirements and clinical risk
- Knowledge of Training Needs Analysis (TNA), workforce planning and safer staffing principles
Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration nursing experience, with a strong background in delivering high quality clinical care in either a hospital or, preferably, a community healthcare setting.
- Demonstrable expert clinical competence in community based nursing practice, including: Physical Assessment, Woundcare, management of deteriorating patients, advanced nursing skills including IV and syringe pump management
- Experience performing, teaching and assessing advanced clinical skills.
- Experience supervising and managing staff
- Experience contributing to research, literature reviews or peer review activity.
- Experience leading practice improvement initiatives and supporting regulated practice.
Desirable
- Experience working across multiple community service areas.
- Experience commissioning or designing specialist training programmes.
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Adult, Mental Health or Learning Disability)
- Evidence of advanced clinical skills training relevant to community nursing.
- Teaching, assessing or practice education qualification (or equivalent experience).
Desirable
- Master’s degree or working towards.
- Clinical supervision training.
- Advanced Clinical Practice /Non medical prescribing qualification
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Lead Nurse for Practice Improvement with West London NHS Trust in Southall, London, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Nurse (adult and children) role. The advertised salary is £72,719 - £83,505 per annum inclusive of HCAS (Outer). The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 11 Aug 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 (28 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job 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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