Associate Nurse Director

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare organization in Sunderland is looking for an experienced Associate Nurse Director to lead the nursing team within their Inpatient Care Group. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership in achieving clinical excellence while ensuring high-quality patient care. Essential qualifications include being a registered nurse and possessing extensive knowledge in various nursing and HR areas. This permanent role offers the chance to make a significant impact in a supportive and dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive specialist knowledge of nursing issues.
• Knowledge of HR processes including recruitment.
• Ability to reflect on and analyse serious incidents.
• Understanding of budget management.
• Ability to demonstrate leadership through change.

Responsibilities

• Provide visible leadership to nursing workforce.
• Ensure high quality patient care and interventions.
• Establish effective communication systems for nursing issues.
• Embed professional standards in operational services.
• Work collaboratively within the leadership team.

Skills

Verbal and written communication skills

Problem-solving ability

Interpersonal skills

Leadership through change management

Education

First level registered Nurse

Degree level education or equivalent experience

Recognised teaching qualification

Recognised management qualification or equivalent experience

Job description

Associate Nurse Director

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Closing date: 27 January 2026

We are seeking a highly motivated individual to take up the post of Associate Nurse Director (8b) within the Inpatient Care Group on a permanent basis.

CNTW has developed a model of service delivery which is characterised by Clinical Business Units working within the 4 localities across the Trust's geographical footprint. Each Clinical Business Unit has a collective leadership team, comprising 5 key individuals who are jointly responsible for the operational and clinical management of all activities within the Clinical Business Unit.

The successful candidate will work within the South Inpatient Collective Business Unit as part of the collective leadership team, with the Associate Director, Associate Medical Director, Associate Directors for Psychology, and Associate Director for Allied Health Professionals. The collective leadership team is jointly responsible and accountable to the Triumvirate Group Directors.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated senior nurse to join the Collective Leadership team in the role of Associate Nurse Director. Reporting directly to the Group Nurse Director, the role is to support the CBU's in the achievement of its shared objectives. The AND role has professional line responsibility to core Trust Quality and Safety business, including recruitment of Nursing Staff, Health and Wellbeing, Safeguarding and Infection, Prevention and Control.

Main duties of the job

The Associate Nurse Director will be expected to display the Trust values at all times work as part of collective leadership team which will ensure that the effectiveness and safety of patient care is delivered in a patient centred manner whilst ensuring that decision making is as close to the patient as possible.

The Associate Nurse Director will provide highly visible leadership ensuring the nursing workforce and clinical teams develop high quality evidence based clinical and nursing care and interventions consistently through the service area.

The Associate Nurse Director will ensure effective communication systems are in place for the communication of professional nursing issues, advice and professional leadership primarily within their respective sphere of responsibility, reflecting the Trust strategy.

To ensure high quality care, nursing interventions and professional standards are embedded within operational services.

About us

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

• Extensive specialist knowledge of and experience of a range of professional nursing issues.
• Knowledge and experience of HR processes including recruitment and selection, discipline and grievance, appraisal and personal development planning.
• Ability to reflect and critically analyse serious and untoward incidents.
• Understanding of the management of budgets and financial planning.
• Ability to demonstrate leadership through change management.

Education and Qualification

• First level registered Nurse.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.
• Recognised teaching qualification.
• Recognised management qualification or equivalent experience.

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to prepare and present concise reports. Able to manage time and self effectively and meet strict deadlines.
• Ability to solve problems and work on own initiative.
• Proven ability to solve highly complex clinical and professional issues.
• Excellent interpersonal and diplomacy skills being able to communicate with a diverse audience to gain their respect and confidence.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust