Head of Nursing

King's College Hospital; City Of London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A major UK healthcare provider is seeking a Senior Head of Nursing to lead nursing services and ensure high-quality patient care across its sites. Responsibilities include managing nursing staff, developing strategic nursing visions, and overseeing clinical governance. This role is pivotal in enhancing patient care and involves fiscal management and leadership within teams. The position offers the opportunity to be part of a large, innovative healthcare trust focused on outstanding service delivery and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Leadership and management of nursing and allied health professionals.
• Development of strategic vision for nursing across the site.
• Experience in governance, Infection Control, and Health & Safety.

Responsibilities

• Support leadership and management of nursing staff.
• Develop and implement care group business plans.
• Manage revenue budgets for nursing workforce.
• Lead development of care standards and patient experience.
• Monitor clinical and professional standards for performance.

Job description

Senior Head of Nursing – Job Summary

Reporting to the Clinical Director and working in partnership with the General Manager, the Senior Head of Nursing is a key member of the care group management team, enabling the delivery of outstanding services in accordance with agreed objectives, targets, quality standards, controls and resource constraints.

With specific responsibility and accountability for the leadership and management of nursing and allied health professionals across the care group.

Working with senior nursing colleagues, the Divisional Leadership Team and corporate teams, the post holder has a key role to play in the development of the strategic vision for nursing and midwifery across the site and wider Trust. The post holder has the lead responsibility for governance in the Care Group, including Infection Control, Health & Safety, patient involvement, professional standards, and quality and safety.

Responsibilities

• Provide all necessary support to the overall leadership, direction and management of nursing staff within the care group, working closely with other members of the care group, leadership team, the site executive team and the executive nursing team.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of care group business plans and service strategy, paying special attention to the clinical standards and service improvements that enhance patient care, within and outside the organisation.
• Manage the delegated revenue budgets for the nursing workforce and ensure care group fiscal responsibility.
• Act as a positive role model through the provision of effective, authoritative and accessible professional leadership.
• Lead the development and implementation of standards of care and the patient experience, including for those patients that have pathways that cross care groups and sites.
• Monitor and review clinical and professional standards and in liaison with the Clinical Director for the care group, monitor and manage service performance at all levels, instituting remedial action where necessary.
• Manage and develop nursing staff within the care group, developing strong leadership potential and succession planning including leading and supporting workforce re‑design aligned to an annual workforce plan.
• Represent the Trust within the NHS and community, and with other partner organisations, working closely with them to institute integrated working in the best interests of patient care.
• Lead and participate in professional and clinical committees or projects within the Trust and externally.
• Act as credible and dynamic leader in the delivery of the complex service/operational challenges and changes facing the clinical area.
• Ensure that all touch points within the entire patient pathway understand the importance of their roles, and are able to deliver the best possible patient care, where best practice is shared and celebrated.
• Joint accountability with the Clinical Director and General Manager for patient safety, clinical effectiveness, patient experience and risk management.
• Joint responsibility for the oversight, delivery and management of key performance indicators across the Care Group highlighting areas of concern and agreeing actions with teams to remedy any issues.
• Oversee the use of systems, and relevant reporting, which support better governance and greater safety and quality within the Care Group and support the delivery of a standard approach to reporting incidents ensuring this meets Trust's requirements and promotes a learning environment where quality patient care and safety is the key priority.
• Maintain own personal and professional growth, keeping up to date with changes, new ways of working and future developments.
• To participate in the silver/management on call rota.

Interviews will take place on the 26th February 2026.

About King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15 000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites, including at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.

The Trust's strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach aims to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person‑centred, digitally‑enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus.