Head of Nursing - Emergency Medicine

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust; Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone; On-site; GBP 76,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking an experienced Head of Nursing for the Emergency Medicine Directorate. The successful candidate will ensure high-quality nursing care, lead the nursing team, and promote a culture of compassion and efficiency. Applicants should be registered with current NMC registration and possess senior nursing experience in an acute healthcare setting. This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled leader passionate about patient care with a comprehensive benefits package including competitive salary and annual leave.

Benefits

At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays

Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme

Blue Light card eligibility

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse/Midwife with 1st Level degree and current NMC registration.
• Experience at senior nurse level in acute healthcare setting.
• Management/leadership qualification or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Ensure quality nursing practice across the Emergency Medicine Directorate.
• Support a culture of kindness and compassion among nursing staff.
• Lead nursing workforce in delivering person-centred care.

Skills

Excellent clinical skills

Written and verbal communication

Leadership and influencing skills

People management skills

Ability to work to tight timescales

Education

Registered Nurse/Midwife, 1st Level Degree

Current NMC registration

Masters level qualification

Management/Leadership qualification

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

The Medicine and Emergency Care Division is seeking a compassionate, skilled, and experienced nursing leader to take on the role of Head of Nursing for the Emergency Medicine Directorate.

The Head of Nursing will ensure high quality nursing practice and care across the Directorate, whilst promoting the excellence in all areas of clinical practice in order to deliver a high quality patient‑led service which is dynamic, proactive and responsive to health needs.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will report into the Divisional Director of Nursing and Quality and work with the Clinical Director and General Manager as a key member of the Directorate triumvirate. They will have responsibility for quality, governance and professional leadership of the nursing workforce in both Emergency Departments ensuring the delivery of high quality safe, effective, harm‑free person‑centred care.

The successful candidate will have the ability to recognise and support the talents of others whilst supporting a culture of kindness and compassion. Your attention to detail and clear passion for delivering an efficient, high‑quality service will stand you out from the crowd.

About us

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second‑best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.

We are a large acute hospital trust in south‑east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.

Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day‑care beds, diagnostic services (X‑ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.

Looking for flexible working? We are a flexible working‑friendly organisation. Whether it's adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.

Click here to hear what our staff say.

Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:

• At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro‑rate for part‑time staff).
• Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
• Blue Light card eligibility
• And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below

Job responsibilities

Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.

Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children). If a role involves regulated activity and requires a DBS check with a barred list check, you cannot apply if you are on the barred list.

All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.

Following your corporate induction you will be expected to attend the Trusts 2‑week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full‑time (please email [e-mail] if this is problematic) and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom‑based sessions and e‑learning.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse/Midwife, 1st Level/1st Level Degree
• Current NMC registration, UK
• Masters level qualification or evidence of post graduate study (or equivalent experience)
• Management/leadership qualification or additional short courses or equivalent experience obtained through personal or professional lived experience
• Leadership Training

Experience/ Knowledge

• Experience at senior nurse level in an acute Health Care setting
• Knowledge of staff management/financial management and change management
• Extensive knowledge of and experience in the operational management of hospital services
• Experience of Clinical Governance and Risk Management processes
• Experience of working strategically to translate strategy into operational planning and performance management
• Proven ability to manage a budget/multiple budgets
• Proven experience in developing/contributing to Trust wide strategy
• Sound understanding of Health Service policy/National NHS agenda
• Sound understanding of the National nursing and patient agendas
• Understanding of National/local performance targets.
• Commitment to promoting equality and diversity in the workplace and in service delivery and development
• Knowledge of audit
• Service improvement and methodology training
• Proven ability to develop highly specialised programmes of care and care packages
• Has knowledge research methodology.

Skills

• Excellent clinical skills demonstrated through back to the floor working, revalidation and demonstration
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent people management skills measurable by the outcomes of work force retention, conduct, staff engagement and outcomes of team performance.
• Ability of conveying highly complex and contentious messages
• Leadership and influencing skills
• Able to develop and maintain effective working relationships with professional groups and senior managers within the organisation and other agencies.
• Proactive and responsive to health needs
• Maintains confidentiality, and is accountable for actions/decisions
• Computer literate with the ability to utilise excel, word, PowerPoint, teletracking and synapse.
• Able to create reports and to use spread sheets.
• Able to analyse and interpret findings of audit and develop action plans
• Ability to work to tight timescales and reprioritise effectively.
• Ability to impart unwelcome news to staff e.g. where performance targets have not been met.
• To be aware of the Data Protection Act and implement changes to working practice with regard to new legislation
• Able to identify opportunities to develop needs and to change existing practice.

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.

£76,965 to £88,682 a yearper annum pro rata