Head of Nursing (Adult Acute Care)

NHS; Exeter; On-site; GBP 74,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

An established healthcare provider is looking for a passionate Head of Nursing for Adult Mental Health Acute Care. This pivotal role involves leading nursing teams to deliver high-quality, compassionate care while ensuring adherence to professional standards and regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will drive quality governance, workforce development, and clinical service improvements within a newly established service. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of mental health care, fostering a culture of inclusive leadership and patient engagement. Join a dynamic team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the community.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in senior leadership roles within healthcare.
• Strong knowledge of mental health legislation and practices.
• Proven track record in workforce management and development.

Responsibilities

• Lead and ensure high-quality, safe, and compassionate care.
• Champion trauma-informed and patient-centered nursing practices.
• Promote continuous quality improvement and governance.

Skills

Leadership in Nursing

Mental Health Care

Quality Assurance

Patient Safety

Workforce Development

Clinical Governance

Trauma-Informed Care

Operational Management

Education

Masters' Degree or Equivalent

Registered Nurse - Mental Health

Tools

Quality Management Systems

Clinical Protocols

Job description

Job summary

Head of Nursing Adult Mental Health Acute Care

Are you an experienced nursing leader passionate about delivering high-quality mental health care? We are seeking a Head of Nursing to join us in the transformation and creation of a new Adult Acute Care Directorate.

Working alongside the Service Director and Clinical Director, The Head of Nursing for Adult Mental Health Acute Care is a key leadership role within the Adult Directorate Senior Leadership Team, providing strategic and professional oversight across inpatient wards, including the Place of Safety. Working closely with the Trust Lead Nursing and Professions Team, this role ensures the highest standards of nursing practice, staff development, and patient care.

The Head of Nursing drives quality governance, workforce planning, and clinical service improvements, fostering a culture of compassionate, inclusive leadership. They will champion trauma-informed care, patient and family engagement, and adherence to professional standards, regulatory requirements, ensuring safe, high-quality, and evidence-based care for individuals experiencing acute mental health crises.

Our Adult Acute Care Directorate is a newly established service, and as such, the teams and care pathways are still being defined.

Currently, the following services sit within this evolving framework:

• Adult Inpatient Wards
• Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit
• Place of Safety
• Patient Flow Optimisation

Main duties of the job

• Strategic Nursing Leadership Provides professional leadership to Acute Care Teams, ensuring high-quality, safe, and compassionate care.
• Workforce Development & Retention Supports the recruitment, training, and development of nursing staff, fostering a culture of continuous professional growth.
• Clinical Excellence & Best Practice Ensures nursing standards align with evidence-based practices, regulatory requirements, and national healthcare priorities.
• Patient Safety & Quality Assurance Leads initiatives to maintain high patient safety standards, regulatory requirements, oversee governance structures, and promote continuous service improvements.
• Trauma-Informed & Patient-Centred Care Champions compassionate, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed nursing practices that empower patients and families.
• Operational Efficiency & System Leadership Works collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to optimize patient flow, discharge planning, and care coordination.
• Nursing Professional Standards & Accountability Maintains adherence to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Practice, promoting professionalism, safety, and trust.
• Inclusive & Compassionate Leadership Embodies and promotes a workplace culture of respect, diversity, empowerment, and psychological safety for nursing staff.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Details Date posted

09 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£74,290 to £85,601 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0346

Job locations

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF

Job description Job responsibilities

The post holder will be part of the Senior Leadership Team within the Adult Directorate with an important direct link to the Trust Lead Nursing and Professions Team (Chief Nursing Officer, Deputy Director Nursing and Associate Director Nursing). Alongside the Service, Clinical, Associate Directors and Medical Team, they will be responsible for the professional leadership of the Adult Inpatient Wards including the Place of Safety, with a strong working connection into the Trust Operational Leadership Team, ensuring patients cared for within the Adult Directorate receive compassionate, high-quality care.

Professional Standards and accountability

The Head of Nursing for Adult Inpatient Services is responsible for maintaining nursing professional standards across all Adult inpatient areas ensuring clinical practice alignment personally and within the wider nursing team, with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Practice - prioritising people, practicing effectively, preserving safety, promoting professionalism and trust. Working closely with all multidisciplinary colleagues, the Head of Nursing will lead and champion infection prevention and control standards, safer staffing assurance in collaboration with Senior Nurse Managers and in promoting efficiency within the inpatient setting. The Head of Nursing will also lead and champion all Allied Health Professionals professional standards adherence connecting closely with the Heads of each Profession.

Culture

Within their role the Head of Nursing will role model and provide senior leadership promoting a culture of compassionate and inclusive leadership where all staff understand their role and responsibilities and are highly motivated to provide excellent care for patients. This incorporates championing the Triangle of Care approach with carers, families and supporters whilst working with a coproduced approach where the patients voice is heard and valued. Demonstrating leadership where diversity is valued, staff feel they belong and are empowered to deliver great care and patient experience. As a compassionate and inclusive leader, the Head of Nursing will create an environment where there is no bullying, staff authentically experience empowerment and where learning and quality improvement are an everyday focus.

Developing Clinical Practice

Key responsibilities include leading on reviewing and developing relevant evidence-based clinical protocols and ensuring adherence to best practices in mental health care. As the Head of Nursing, practice development areas, in collaboration with other professional leads, will incorporate coproduced care planning with family engagement, trauma informed care, building therapeutic relationships and cultural competence. Demonstrating the ability to critically analyse, evaluate research, publications and recommendations from all relevant sources to mental health and having the skills to bring relevant content to staff in a meaningful and learning presentation style.

Quality, patient safety and governance

Working with the multi-disciplinary team and particularly the Senior Nurse Managers to ensure that the quality of care delivered is maintained and improved and not compromised. To ensure that the Directorate is striving for continuous quality improvement and excellence in every service and to ensure that every member of staff is supported and empowered to deliver high-quality care that exceeds patient and carer expectations. Establishing and maintaining effective governance structures and approaches incorporating monitoring metrics on quality, ensuring effective information, easy access to accurate data and learning from errors, concerns and incidents. Provides clarity around the roles and responsibilities for quality and safety of individuals. Ensures there is a clear and agreed approach to taking swift and coordinated action in the event of quality issues being identified.

Continuous Practice Development

Working with the Strategic Workforce Business Partner and the Adult Inpatient Senior Leadership Team, ensuring the Trust People Strategy initiatives connect into the clinical practice and staffing requirements for delivery of safe care. Establishing reflective clinical practice spaces for all inpatient staff to promote continuous learning and professional curiosity. Lead on the Training Needs Analysis for Adult Inpatient Nursing staff whilst working closely with inpatient Ward Managers.

Performance Leadership

Promoting a collegiate and effective system leader approach to ensure best outcomes for patients and their families is essential, this will include a focus on optimising patient length of stay, discharge plans and high-quality co-ordinated care within each inpatient team as well as promoting Patient Rated Experience Measures (PREMs), Patient Rated Outcome Measures (PROMs) and Clinical Rated Outcome Measures (CROMs).

Job description Job responsibilities

The post holder will be part of the Senior Leadership Team within the Adult Directorate with an important direct link to the Trust Lead Nursing and Professions Team (Chief Nursing Officer, Deputy Director Nursing and Associate Director Nursing). Alongside the Service, Clinical, Associate Directors and Medical Team, they will be responsible for the professional leadership of the Adult Inpatient Wards including the Place of Safety, with a strong working connection into the Trust Operational Leadership Team, ensuring patients cared for within the Adult Directorate receive compassionate, high-quality care.

Professional Standards and accountability

The Head of Nursing for Adult Inpatient Services is responsible for maintaining nursing professional standards across all Adult inpatient areas ensuring clinical practice alignment personally and within the wider nursing team, with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Practice - prioritising people, practicing effectively, preserving safety, promoting professionalism and trust. Working closely with all multidisciplinary colleagues, the Head of Nursing will lead and champion infection prevention and control standards, safer staffing assurance in collaboration with Senior Nurse Managers and in promoting efficiency within the inpatient setting. The Head of Nursing will also lead and champion all Allied Health Professionals professional standards adherence connecting closely with the Heads of each Profession.

Culture

Within their role the Head of Nursing will role model and provide senior leadership promoting a culture of compassionate and inclusive leadership where all staff understand their role and responsibilities and are highly motivated to provide excellent care for patients. This incorporates championing the Triangle of Care approach with carers, families and supporters whilst working with a coproduced approach where the patients voice is heard and valued. Demonstrating leadership where diversity is valued, staff feel they belong and are empowered to deliver great care and patient experience. As a compassionate and inclusive leader, the Head of Nursing will create an environment where there is no bullying, staff authentically experience empowerment and where learning and quality improvement are an everyday focus.

Developing Clinical Practice

Key responsibilities include leading on reviewing and developing relevant evidence-based clinical protocols and ensuring adherence to best practices in mental health care. As the Head of Nursing, practice development areas, in collaboration with other professional leads, will incorporate coproduced care planning with family engagement, trauma informed care, building therapeutic relationships and cultural competence. Demonstrating the ability to critically analyse, evaluate research, publications and recommendations from all relevant sources to mental health and having the skills to bring relevant content to staff in a meaningful and learning presentation style.

Quality, patient safety and governance

Working with the multi-disciplinary team and particularly the Senior Nurse Managers to ensure that the quality of care delivered is maintained and improved and not compromised. To ensure that the Directorate is striving for continuous quality improvement and excellence in every service and to ensure that every member of staff is supported and empowered to deliver high-quality care that exceeds patient and carer expectations. Establishing and maintaining effective governance structures and approaches incorporating monitoring metrics on quality, ensuring effective information, easy access to accurate data and learning from errors, concerns and incidents. Provides clarity around the roles and responsibilities for quality and safety of individuals. Ensures there is a clear and agreed approach to taking swift and coordinated action in the event of quality issues being identified.

Continuous Practice Development

Working with the Strategic Workforce Business Partner and the Adult Inpatient Senior Leadership Team, ensuring the Trust People Strategy initiatives connect into the clinical practice and staffing requirements for delivery of safe care. Establishing reflective clinical practice spaces for all inpatient staff to promote continuous learning and professional curiosity. Lead on the Training Needs Analysis for Adult Inpatient Nursing staff whilst working closely with inpatient Ward Managers.

Performance Leadership

Promoting a collegiate and effective system leader approach to ensure best outcomes for patients and their families is essential, this will include a focus on optimising patient length of stay, discharge plans and high-quality co-ordinated care within each inpatient team as well as promoting Patient Rated Experience Measures (PREMs), Patient Rated Outcome Measures (PROMs) and Clinical Rated Outcome Measures (CROMs).

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Educated to Masters' Degree Level or Equivalent
• Registered Nurse - Mental Health

Desirable

• Diploma in Leadership/Management
• Quality Improvement Practitioner

Experience Essential

• Extensive experience at operating at a Senior Leadership level with responsibility for operational matters inc. People management, budgetary responsibility, performance & delivery, safety and quality.
• Highly developed specialised knowledge underpinned by theory and experience in Acute Mental Health and Physical Health Care.
• Operational & People Management
• Experience at leading programmes, tests of change and improvement programmes.
• Proven experience of managing change in a complex system involving multiple agencies
• Knowledge and understanding of partner services across National/Regional health and social care economy.
• A thorough grounded knowledge of mental health conditions and the challenges this brings to the wider health system.
• A thorough understanding of Legislation relating to Mental Health Provisions
• A grounded knowledge of effective leadership
• Healthcare Sector experience
• Extensive experience across Urgent & Emergency Care Pathways and Site Operations within a healthcare setting.

Desirable

• Experience of working across organisational boundaries
• Knowledge of modernisation tools and techniques
• Evidence of leading and/or undertaking clinical audit and/or research
• Evidence of providing strategic leadership and direction for clinical staff, considering national and local economic, political and demographic changes
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the application of evidence-based practice in the domain of Acute Care.
• Quality Management Systems

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Educated to Masters' Degree Level or Equivalent
• Registered Nurse - Mental Health

Desirable

• Diploma in Leadership/Management
• Quality Improvement Practitioner

Experience Essential

• Extensive experience at operating at a Senior Leadership level with responsibility for operational matters inc. People management, budgetary responsibility, performance & delivery, safety and quality.
• Highly developed specialised knowledge underpinned by theory and experience in Acute Mental Health and Physical Health Care.
• Operational & People Management
• Experience at leading programmes, tests of change and improvement programmes.
• Proven experience of managing change in a complex system involving multiple agencies
• Knowledge and understanding of partner services across National/Regional health and social care economy.
• A thorough grounded knowledge of mental health conditions and the challenges this brings to the wider health system.
• A thorough understanding of Legislation relating to Mental Health Provisions
• A grounded knowledge of effective leadership
• Healthcare Sector experience
• Extensive experience across Urgent & Emergency Care Pathways and Site Operations within a healthcare setting.

Desirable

• Experience of working across organisational boundaries
• Knowledge of modernisation tools and techniques
• Evidence of leading and/or undertaking clinical audit and/or research
• Evidence of providing strategic leadership and direction for clinical staff, considering national and local economic, political and demographic changes
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the application of evidence-based practice in the domain of Acute Care.
• Quality Management Systems

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.

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 further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

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 further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF

Employer's website

https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF

Employer's website

https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)