Head of Specialist Nursing

Leaders In Care Recruitment Ltd; Leeds; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Leaders In Care Recruitment Ltd in North England with national travel is seeking an experienced Head of Specialist Nursing to lead clinical practice across a national care organisation. The role centers on mental health, dementia, complex needs and PBS, shaping specialist nursing across multiple services.

You will provide senior clinical leadership, strengthen governance, and support regulatory compliance while coaching nurses and operational leaders. Regular nationwide travel is involved.

Qualifications

• Must be an RMN with current NMC registration.
• Significant post-registration nursing experience.
• Strong knowledge across mental health, dementia, complex care and PBS.
• Senior clinical leadership experience.
• Experience leading across multiple services or portfolios.

Responsibilities

• Lead specialist nursing practice across mental health, dementia, complex needs and PBS.
• Provide senior clinical advice on complex residents, referrals and admissions.
• Strengthen governance, clinical standards and outcomes across the organisation.
• Support safe admission and transition planning for residents with complex presentations.
• Review incidents, safeguarding concerns, complaints and emerging risks.
• Develop evidence-based clinical policies, procedures and practice guidance.
• Support CQC readiness and wider regulatory compliance.
• Coach Home Managers, Registered Managers and clinical teams.
• Build relationships with commissioners, NHS teams and safeguarding partners.
• Use data to identify trends and drive improvements in care.

Skills

RMN

NMC Registration

Senior clinical leadership

Governance & quality assurance

Mental health expertise

Dementia care

PBS (Positive Behaviour Support)

Education

NMC RMN registration

Job description

Head of Specialist Nursing

Location: North England with national travel

Package: up to £100,000 plus benefits

RMN | Mental Health | Dementia | Complex Needs | PBS

We are looking for an exceptional senior nurse to take the lead on specialist nursing and clinical practice across a national care organisation.

The Head of Specialist Nursing will be a senior, group-wide appointment with the opportunity to shape how complex and specialist care is delivered across a large portfolio of services.

With a particular focus on mental health, dementia, complex needs and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), you will provide specialist clinical leadership while helping strengthen governance, clinical standards and outcomes across the wider organisation.

What you'll be doing

You will act as a senior clinical expert and trusted advisor across the organisation, working closely with Quality, Regulation and Operations.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading specialist nursing practice across mental health, dementia, complex needs and PBS.
• Providing senior clinical advice around complex residents, referrals and admissions.
• Supporting services managing behaviours of concern, mental health deterioration and complex clinical risk.
• Providing professional leadership and support to nurses and clinical teams.
• Leading and developing the specialist services/PBS function.
• Strengthening clinical governance, assurance and quality across multiple services.
• Supporting safe admission and transition planning for residents with complex presentations.
• Reviewing clinical incidents, safeguarding concerns, complaints and emerging risks.
• Developing evidence-based clinical policies, procedures and practice guidance.
• Supporting CQC readiness and wider regulatory compliance.
• Designing and supporting specialist training and development.
• Coaching Home Managers, Registered Managers, nurses and operational leaders.
• Building relationships with commissioners, ICBs, NHS mental health teams, local authorities and safeguarding partners.
• Using clinical and quality data to identify trends and drive measurable improvements in care.

What we're looking for

You must be an RMN with current NMC registration and bring significant experience working with people with mental health needs, dementia, complex needs and/or behaviours of concern.

We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• Significant post-registration nursing experience.
• Strong specialist knowledge across mental health, dementia, complex care and PBS.
• Senior clinical leadership experience.
• Experience working across multiple services, regions or a wider organisational portfolio.
• Strong clinical governance and quality assurance knowledge.
• Understanding of CQC regulation, safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act and least restrictive practice.
• Experience supporting complex referrals, admissions and clinical decision-making.
• The ability to develop clinical practice through coaching, training, policy and professional leadership.
• Confidence working with senior operational leaders and providing constructive clinical challenge.

Your current title could include Head of Nursing, Head of Clinical Services, Group Clinical Lead, National Clinical Lead, Head of Specialist Services, Clinical Director, Clinical Governance Lead or similar.

This role would suit an experienced mental health nurse who wants to combine their clinical expertise with strategic influence, shaping specialist nursing practice across an entire organisation rather than being responsible for just one service.

Location: North England with regular national travel.