Deputy Head of Nursing - Specialist Ambulatory Medical Services (SAMS)

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Greater London seeks a Deputy Head of Nursing. The position offers a 10-month secondment, ideal for advancing your nursing career. You'll provide leadership across various services, ensuring quality and safety in patient care. The ideal candidate has substantial experience as a Matron or Unit Manager, demonstrating strong leadership skills and a track record in clinical governance. Join us to enhance your operational leadership in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• Substantial post qualification experience managing nursing teams.
• Experience in leading and delivering change and performance.
• Ability to implement clinical governance principles.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional leadership across key services within SAMS.
• Work collaboratively to ensure patient and staff support.
• Lead on quality initiatives and monitor performance.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical governance

Change management

Strategic planning

Conflict management

Education

Degree level education or equivalent

Job description

Job overview

Ready to take the next step in your nursing career?

We have an exciting 10-month secondment opportunity for a Deputy Head of Nursing within Specialist Ambulatory Medical Services (SAMS) at Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

As Deputy Head of Nursing, you’ll join the senior nursing leadership team and the Directorate Management Team, working closely with the Head of Nursing and other Deputy Heads of Nursing.

You’ll provide professional leadership across several key services within SAMS, including :

• Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRH)
• Ophthalmology
• Centralised Outpatients

This is a fantastic development opportunity for anyone looking to enhance their operational leadership skills in a dynamic and innovative directorate.

Closing date : 28th December 2025

Main duties of the job

The Deputy Head of Nursing will work as part of the Directorate Management Team (DMT) alongside the Head of Nursing to deliver our wide-ranging strategic, quality and transformational objectives.

You will need to have experience of leading nursing and clinical services as well as a proven track record of putting safety, quality and patient experience at the heart of all you do.

The role also supports on the delivery of partnership working across other clinical groups to ensure effective pathways and processes are in place to support patients and staff across the Trust.

Working for our organisation

SAMS directorate is a newly formed directorate with the bringing together of Medical Specialties and Specialist Ambulatory Services, which consists of 19 services which span across outpatients, inpatients and community.

The directorate employs over 1400 staff made up of diverse range of professions including Nurses, Medical Staff, Allied Health Professionals, Clinical Psychologists and Admin and Clerical staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Toberesponsiblefortheoperationalmanagementanddeliveryofservicesinthe clinicalservices as part ofthe directorateDMTand provideclinicalleadershipto both clinicaland supportservices.

• Toprovidestrongprofessionalandmanagerialleadershiptothegeneralandspecialist nursingteamsworkingcollaborativelywithAlliedHealthProfessionals toensure high qualitystandardsofcare,clinicalgovernance,effectivenessanddeliveringonkey nationalandlocalperformance targets.
• Toplayakeyroleinservicetransformationacrossthedirectorateanddeliverandlead effectivepartnershipworkingwithallhealthandsocialcareproviders,multidisciplinary teamandvoluntary / third sectororganisations andcommissioners.
• Tomaximiseproductivitywithintheteamsusingeffectivemodelstoincrease efficiency.
• Toensurethatthepatientexperienceisthehighest qualityinspiringpatientandpublic confidenceand that allpatients are treatedwith compassion,dignityandrespect.
• To deputisefor theHead ofNursingon professionalleadershipmatters as required.
• Toleadonthedevelopmentandeducationofthenursingworkforce,supporting delivery ofclinicalsupervisionfornursesacross thedirectorate.
• Toacceptdelegatedresponsibilityforqualityimprovementandpatientsafety(QIPS) andleadon qualityinitiativesin conjunctionwith the QIPSteam
• Tosupportthedeliveryofthepatientexperienceagendaandprovideregularreporting on quality measures acrossthedirectorateservices.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Degree level education / Professional equivalent / Demonstrate ability to operate at this level
• Demonstrable capability and capacity for clinical service management at a senior level in a large, complex acute hospital environment, including staff management, financial management and change management

Desirable criteria

• Management course / qualification

Previous experience

Essential criteria

• Substantial post qualification experience as Matron / Unit Manager or equivalent, managing nursing teams.
• Demonstrable previous success in leading and delivering change and performance by engaging clinical teams in strategic direction and delivery plans, establishing clear work priorities with them, delegating effectively, ensuring a capability to deliver, monitoring performance and giving feedback.
• Ability to think and plan strategically, tactically and creatively, and to prioritise work programs in the face of competing demands.
• Knowledge and ability to implement principles of clinical governance including audit, risk management, supervision, clinical effectiveness, continuing professional development, quality standards and outcomes.

Desirable criteria

• Workforce review & redesign

Skills & knowledge

Essential criteria

• Ability to manage and deliver to deadlines and within resources
• Highly developed leadership and influencing skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams, and have them understand the Trust’s and your performance expectations
• Ability to inspire, motivate and empower teams around common goals, to manage conflict and handle conflicting views

Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity , gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity / paternity, or marital / civil partnership.