Associate Chief Nurse - Operations and Patient Experience (IPC)

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading children's hospital in London seeks an experienced Associate Chief Nurse to provide senior nursing leadership and manage operational performance. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong clinical leadership, ensuring high-quality care standards and an excellent patient experience. Ideal for those with significant experience in children's nursing and operational management. Competitive salary and full-time permanent contract offered.

Benefits

Focus on professional development

Inclusive working environment

Contribution to nursing strategy

Qualifications

• Significant experience at a senior operational level in a private hospital or NHS private patient unit.
• Experience of managing robust governance and performance management systems.
• Experience in leading transformational change.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional and clinical nursing leadership across the Directorate.
• Work collaboratively with the Managing Director and Clinical Director to assure leadership.
• Lead the nursing team across the relevant areas within the Directorate.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Demonstrates excellent communication skills

Ability to build and develop teams

Financial management skills

Education

RSCN / RN Child with current registration

Relevant First Degree

Relevant Master’s Degree

Job description

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a senior nurse leader to join the International & Private Care Directorate at our world-class children’s hospital. The postholder will be one of the senior leaders with accountability for the operational performance of the directorate. The Associate Chief Nurse will play a pivotal role in ensuring that exceptional quality, safety, and patient experience standards are maintained and improved.

The post of Associate Chief Nurse - Operations and Patient Experience (International and Private Care Directorate) will lead a team in the provision of a responsive service at Great Ormond Street. International and Private Care (I&PC) treats and cares for children with an unrivalled range of conditions across specialties. I&PC employs approximately 300 clinical and non-clinical staff across 53 inpatient beds and ten outpatient rooms. There are also funded beds on NHS wards for specific pathways when appropriate. As the ACN you will lead the nursing team across the relevant areas within the Directorate.

Main duties of the job

• You will provide professional and clinical nursing leadership, advice and development, and contribute to Trust-wide and national projects.
• You will have significant experience at a senior nursing level in a relevant children’s in-patient environment.
• You must demonstrate strong leadership, management, professional and operational delivery of high-quality clinical care standards across the Directorate, ensuring children are treated with dignity and respect.
• As part of the Senior Leadership Team, you will work collaboratively with the Managing Director International, Clinical Director I&PC and Deputy Director I&PC to assure the Executive Team and Trust Board that robust governance and performance management systems are in place to deliver high-quality child- and family-centred care and services.
• You will provide strong, effective, visible leadership and be a positive role model. You will be part of a successful senior nursing team, supporting the delivery of excellent nursing care across the hospital.

About us

The post holder will have significant experience at a senior operational level in a private hospital or NHS private patient unit. The post holder will work with the nursing workforce team to ensure nursing recruitment and retention remains a priority. There is an opportunity to be part of a leadership team delivering the Trust's Nursing Strategy, Safe in our Hands, to achieve joy at work. We are committed to a diverse workforce and welcome applications from underrepresented groups including people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic heritage, people with a disability, and people from LGBTQ+ communities.

Our hospital is committed to an open and inclusive environment. Staff networks include REACH, ENABLED, PRIDE and Women’s networks, sponsored by a member of the Executive Management Team.

Details

• Date posted: 16 September 2025
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 8c
• Salary: £85,431 to £97,148 a year inclusive
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 271-IPC-7408318
• Job locations: Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3JH

Job description

This job description is intended as an outline of the areas of activity and can be amended in light of the changing needs of the service and will be reviewed as necessary in conjunction with the post-holder.

Person Specification

Values Essential

• Gosh values
• Understanding of Diversity and Inclusion challenges in the workplace

Academic/Professional qualification/Training Essential

• RSCN / RN Child with current registration with NMC
• Relevant First Degree
• Relevant Master’s Degree
• Attendance on a clinical leadership programme

Desirable

• Post-registration qualification
• Attendance on a management training programme
• Coaching or mentoring qualification

Experience/Knowledge Essential

• Significant experience at a senior operational level in a relevant children’s environment
• Significant experience at a senior operational level in a private hospital or NHS private patient unit
• Significant experience managing teams and team building
• Experience of workforce planning / role redesign
• Managing the recruitment process
• Track record in retaining nursing staff
• Experience of developing and nurturing staff, succession planning
• Experience of managing professional development and professional conduct issues
• Experience of managing robust governance and performance management systems
• Experience in leading transformational change
• Experience of working with children and families from the UK and Overseas to improve patient experience
• Experience in leading on quality, standards of care, clinical audit, benchmarking and clinical improvements
• Management of complaints and incidents and implementation of subsequent learning
• Managing safeguarding concerns
• Experience of training and development implementing evidence-based practice or nursing research in practice
• Financial management experience
• Experience of dealing with a range of complex issues within a political and/or demanding stakeholder environment

Desirable

• Experience in leading clinical developments / change in children’s care and/or nursing practice

Skills/Abilities Essential

• Excellent interpersonal, managerial, organisational, and influencing skills
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills, excellent written and presentation skills
• Demonstrable clinical, operational and strategic leadership skills
• Ability to build and develop teams and maintain constructive working relationships
• Effective team player, able to work within and across different teams
• Ability to contribute to the development and implementation of the Trust strategic vision and the Vision for nursing
• Ability to develop staff through mentoring / clinical supervision
• Ability to operate and think laterally at an operational and strategic level
• Evidence of personal insight and sound judgement
• Professional credibility
• Financial management skills
• Workforce planning / redesign skills
• Ability to give clinical advice and provide the clinical contribution to business planning processes

Personal Attributes Essential

• Has the ability to influence with professionalism
• Shows compassion and integrity and can demonstrate a values-based approach to daily leadership in practice
• Demonstrates honesty and humility

Disclosures and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service will be required.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For details visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. See also guidance on overseas criminal records checks.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.

Employer details: Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3JH. Website: https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/