Head of Nursing

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Foundation Trust in Milton Keynes is seeking an experienced Head of Nursing to provide strong leadership in mental health services. The ideal candidate will drive the MKMH Nursing Strategy, raise clinical standards, and inspire the nursing workforce. The role involves collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and overseeing quality improvement initiatives. If you have a passion for delivering outstanding care and a vision for the future of nursing, apply now to join this supportive leadership team.

Qualifications

• Strong professional nursing leadership experience.
• Experience in clinical governance and quality improvement.
• Understanding of infection prevention and workforce development.

Responsibilities

• Provide strong professional nursing leadership and raise clinical standards.
• Lead the MKMH Nursing Strategy and align it with Trust-wide objectives.
• Oversee clinical governance and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
• Inspire and develop the nursing workforce.

Skills

Professional nursing leadership

Clinical governance

Quality improvement

Infection prevention

Workforce development

Non-medical prescribing

Education

Nursing qualification

Job description

Are you an inspiring nursing leader ready to shape the future of mental health care in Milton Keynes? We’re seeking a dynamic, visionary Head of Nursing to join the MKMH senior team. You’ll drive clinical excellence, champion innovation, and make a tangible difference to service users, families and staff across a diverse, evolving directorate.

The Head of Nursing for MKMH will provide strong professional nursing leadership across the Directorate and, in so doing, raise standards of clinical practice and the quality of care across all of the Directorate services.

Work closely with the Service Director and Clinical Director, Operational and Clinical Leads, and have a managerial role, leading the MKMH Quality Governance Team alongside key individuals within the Trust, such as the Education, Infection Control, Quality Governance, Health & Safety, and Safeguarding teams.

Be instrumental in developing and supporting the delivery of new innovative clinical models of care, driving the quality and patient experience agenda and improving clinical standards of care across all MKMH settings. This will be in line with agreed objectives, targets, quality standards, resource controls and constraints and the Nursing Strategy for MKMH services. In addition, they will play a key role within the Directorate Management Team regarding core business objectives of the Trust, about nursing and quality, including delivering on budget and key performance indicators.

Working with the Divisional Director of Nursing and their deputies, the Head of Nursing will provide senior leadership in developing safer staffing and skill mix, clinical and professional standards, and developing leadership capacity amongst the nursing workforce across MKMH Services. They will advise the MKMH senior management team and broader directorate on relevant professional and clinical matters, including Physical Health in Mental Health, Infection Prevention and Non-Medical Prescribing.

Why join us?

• Be part of a forward thinking, supportive leadership team shaping mental health nursing across Milton Keynes.
• Work in partnership across MK, the Diggory Division and our wider system—delivering safe, compassionate care and improved outcomes.
• Ready to take the next step in your leadership journey? Apply now to help us deliver outstanding nursing care and a great staff experience at MKMH.

The role

• Provide strong, visible professional nursing leadership and raise clinical standards across all MKMH services.
• Lead the MKMH Nursing Strategy and align it with Trust-wide objectives; drive quality improvement, patient safety and regulatory compliance (including CQC).
• Oversee clinical governance, safeguarding, workforce development and transformation; collaborate across multidisciplinary teams and with external partners.
• Inspire and develop the nursing workforce—embedding a culture of learning, innovation and continual professional development.

This advert closes on Thursday 15 Jan 2026