Deputy Chief Nurse

Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust; Harlow; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is seeking an exceptional Deputy Chief Nurse to drive the nursing, quality, patient safety and workforce development agenda across the Trust. You will work with the Chief Nursing Officer to lead strategic transformation and deliver outstanding patient care and professional practice.

As a visible and inspirational leader, you will empower teams, foster collaboration with system partners, and shape governance and clinical standards at board level to

Qualifications

• Senior nurse or midwife with track record of leading transformation in complex healthcare environments.
• Experience leading quality improvement programmes and governance.
• Experience collaborating with boards, regulators and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic nursing leadership across the Trust to shape the nursing, midwifery and AHP agenda.
• Lead quality, patient safety and governance initiatives with harm-free care and continuous improvement.
• Oversee portfolios including safeguarding, infection prevention and control, and workforce safeguards.
• Drive workforce transformation, recruitment strategies and succession planning.
• Depose for the Chief Nursing Officer at Board and committee levels when required.
• Lead organisational improvement and service transformation to deliver strategic objectives.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Nursing leadership

Governance

Workforce planning

Recruitment

Professional development

Education

Nursing degree (RN)

Job description

The The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wavea national programme that’s changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector.

This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.

We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Are you an exceptional nursing leader ready to make a lasting impact? The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT), we're looking for an ambitious and influential Deputy Chief Nurse to help shape the future of nursing, quality, patient safety and workforce development across our organisation.

Working alongside the Chief Nursing Officer, you'll play a pivotal role in driving excellence in patient care, leading strategic transformation, and championing the nursing, midwifery and AHP agenda. This is an exciting opportunity to influence care at Board level, lead major quality improvement programmes, and develop a workforce that delivers outstanding care every day.

You'll be a visible and inspiring leader, empowering teams, fostering innovation, and building strong partnerships across the wider health and care system. With responsibility for key portfolios including vulnerable people, harm-free care, workforce safeguarding, recruitment and retention, and professional practice development, you'll have the opportunity to deliver real change that benefits patients, staff and communities.

If you're a compassionate, credible and forward-thinking senior nurse or midwife with a track record of leading transformation in complex healthcare environments, we'd love to hear from you.

Join us and help deliver safer care, stronger teams and a healthier future for the communities we serve.

Main Duties of the Deputy Chief Nurse

The Deputy Chief Nurse is a senior leadership role responsible for supporting and deputising for the Chief Nursing Officer, ensuring the delivery of outstanding patient care, professional standards, and workforce excellence across the Trust.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Providing strategic nursing leadership across the Trust, helping to shape and deliver the nursing, midwifery and AHP agenda.
• Leading quality, patient safety and governance initiatives, ensuring high standards of care, harm-free practice and continuous improvement.
• Overseeing key portfolios including safeguarding and vulnerable people, infection prevention and control, falls prevention, workforce safeguards, recruitment and retention, practice development, and ward accreditation programmes.
• Driving workforce transformation, including safe staffing, workforce productivity, new roles, international recruitment, retention strategies and succession planning.
• Providing visible and inspirational professional leadership, supporting and developing nursing, midwifery and AHP teams to deliver exceptional patient experiences.
• Representing the Trust internally and externally, working with system partners, regulators and professional bodies, and deputising for the Chief Nursing Officer at Board and committee level when required.
• Leading organisational improvement and service transformation programmes, helping to deliver the Trust's long-term strategic objectives and quality ambitions.
• Managing performance, budgets and people, including line management responsibilities, disciplinary processes and delivery of key operational and financial targets.
• Participating in the Trust Gold Commander on-call rota, providing senior leadership and decision-making during operational incidents and emergencies.

In summary:

This is a high-profile executive nursing leadership role focused on delivering safer care, stronger teams, workforce innovation and exceptional patient outcomes across PAHT.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

The Deputy Chief Nurse is a key executive nursing leadership role, supporting and deputising for the Chief Nursing Officer in delivering the Trust's strategic, professional, operational and clinical objectives. The post holder will provide visible leadership across the organisation, driving improvements in quality, patient safety, workforce development and service transformation while ensuring the highest standards of patient care.

Strategic Leadership

• Support and deputise for the Chief Nursing Officer in corporate and strategic leadership responsibilities.
• Lead the development and implementation of the nursing, midwifery and AHP agenda across the Trust.
• Contribute to strategic business planning, policy development and service redesign.
• Represent the Trust at local, regional and national forums, including system-wide partnerships and quality improvement initiatives.
• Promote sustained improvements in patient experience, staff experience and clinical outcomes.

Professional Leadership

• Provide expert professional leadership, advice and support to nurses, midwives, AHPs and clinical professionals across the Trust.
• Develop clinical leadership capability and support professional practice, education and research.
• Promote collaborative and integrated working across disciplines and services.
• Deputise for the Chief Nursing Officer at Board meetings, Trust Committees and external stakeholder forums.
• Lead complex workforce, professional practice and disciplinary investigations where required.

Quality, Governance and Patient Safety

• Lead implementation of the Trust's Quality Strategy and Ward Accreditation Programme.
• Promote a culture of safe, reliable, patient-centred care and continuous improvement.
• Oversee quality governance systems, ensuring professional standards are maintained and enhanced.
• Monitor quality indicators, risks, incidents and patient safety concerns, ensuring effective action plans are implemented.
• Lead key portfolios including:
• Vulnerable People (safeguarding, dementia, learning disabilities and mental health)
• Harm Free Care (falls prevention, tissue viability, nutrition, infection prevention and control)
• Practice Development and Workforce Safeguards
• Fundamentals of Care Programme
• PACE Ward Accreditation Programme
• Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, including safeguarding and infection prevention standards.

Workforce Development and Planning

• Lead the nursing, midwifery and AHP workforce agenda across the Trust.
• Ensure safe staffing, workforce productivity and effective workforce planning.
• Develop and implement recruitment and retention strategies, including international recruitment programmes.
• Support succession planning, talent management and leadership development.
• Lead actions arising from national workforce reviews and external inspections.

Operational and Financial Management

• Hold accountability for services and budgets within the delegated portfolio.
• Ensure financial targets and efficiency programmes are achieved.
• Monitor service performance and take corrective action where required to meet Trust objectives.
• Provide professional advice and support to divisional nursing and midwifery teams to improve operational delivery and performance.

People and Leadership Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and inspire teams to deliver excellent patient care.
• Support Divisional Directors of Nursing and senior clinical leaders in achieving operational, quality and workforce objectives.
• Act as a role model for compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership.
• Coach and mentor senior nursing, midwifery and AHP leaders, supporting career progression and professional development.
• Promote innovation, research, learning and the sharing of best practice locally, regionally and nationally.

Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including:
• Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB)
• NHS England
• Care Quality Commission (CQC)
• Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
• Local Authorities
• Safeguarding Boards
• Universities and education partners
• Represent the Trust in system-wide initiatives and healthcare partnerships.
• Engage patients, carers and the public in service development and improvement.

Additional Responsibilities

• Maintain a visible leadership presence within clinical environments.
• Produce reports and presentations for the Board, committees and organisational forums.
• Participate in the Trust's Gold Commander On-Call rota, providing senior leadership during major incidents and operational pressures.
• Maintain professional registration, ongoing professional development and compliance with all Trust policies and mandatory training requirements.

In summary:

This is a highly influential executive nursing leadership position responsible for driving quality, safety, workforce excellence and professional leadership across the Trust, while supporting the delivery of outstanding care and long-term organisational transformation.