Interim Associate Director of Nursing

Integrated Care System; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare organization in Sheffield seeks an Interim Associate Director of Nursing to lead community and mental health services for children and young people. The ideal candidate is a visionary nursing professional with senior leadership experience, capable of driving clinical excellence and service transformation. Competitive benefits and the opportunity to shape the future of children's health services included.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Health and wellbeing programs

Employment benefits

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in a senior leadership role.
• Clinical and management experience in relevant settings.
• Ability to plan strategically and prioritize work.

Responsibilities

• Ensure delivery of high-quality nursing care across the care group.
• Work with stakeholders to meet strategic aims.
• Support workforce transformation and maintain appropriate staffing.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical expertise

Service transformation

Communication

Education

Master's level education

Registered Nurse

Tools

Data analysis

Improvement methodologies

Job description

Go back Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Interim Associate Director of Nursing

The closing date is 10 August 2025

We're looking for an outstanding nursing leader to join our Community Wellbeing and Mental Health Care Group as Associate Director of Nursing (ADN). In this strategic role, you'll shape the future of community and mental health services for children and young people across Sheffield and beyond. Working as part of the Care Group Triumvirate, you'll drive clinical excellence, deliver professional leadership, and provide assurance to our Executive Team and Trust Board on quality, governance, and nursing standards.

You'll lead with purpose, setting standards of care, supporting workforce transformation, and ensuring our services meet the needs of patients, families, and commissioners -- today and into the future.

What We're Looking For:

You are a visionary nursing professional with senior leadership experience, a strong clinical foundation, and a commitment to innovation and collaboration. You're motivated to improve outcomes, energise teams, and help shape a sustainable, high-quality future for community and mental health care.

NMC registration and post-registration experience (ideally in mental health or community settings)

Experience in service transformation, quality improvement, and strategic leadership

The ability to lead across systems and influence integrated care

Passion for digital innovation, new models of care, and professional development

Main duties of the job

The Care Group Associate Director of Nursing (ADN) will work collaboratively and productively with the Associate Director and Associate Medical Director of the Care Group (Care Group Triumvirate) to provide assurance to the Executive Team and the Trust Board that robust systems of governance and excellence in nursing care are in place to enable the delivery of high-quality patient and family led services. This will also provide assurance that those services are meeting agreed objectives and delivered within budget.

The post holder is accountable for the safe, effective delivery of nursing care across all areas of the care group, for setting high standards and meeting the regulatory and commissioner requirements. They will enable nursing colleagues to feel actively engaged and be supported professionally to deliver the best possible care to patients and their families.

The ADN will proactively ensure that the nursing workforce remains appropriate for service demand by supporting the implementation of new workforce models.

The role involves working in partnership with other organisations in the provision and planning of health services, taking forward national and local policies, with drive, passion and enthusiasm to develop a long-term strategic vision that enables high quality and sustainable services.The post holder will deputise for the Deputy Chief Nurse as required.

About us

At Sheffield Children's, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are Outstanding Patient Care, Brilliant Place to Work, and Leaders in Children's Health.

We work with partners across local, regional, and national levels to deliver physical and mental healthcare in both acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are nationally and internationally recognised for their expertise.

We're proud that 73% of colleagues would recommend Sheffield Children's as a place to work, placing us among the top five NHS trusts in England -- and the top-ranked trust in the North East and Yorkshire -- in the latest NHS Staff Survey.

Our nearly 4,000 colleagues bring our CARE values -- Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence -- to life every day, creating a kind, welcoming environment where patients and families feel safe and supported.

As we approach our 150th anniversary in 2026, we're excited to keep building our leadership in children's health, improve experiences for patients and staff, and focus on our communities and population health.

We also offer excellent benefits to support your wellbeing, with generous annual leave and pension schemes, health and wellbeing programmes, and exclusive discounts -- helping you thrive at work and beyond.

Job responsibilities

For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.

Please note that Sheffield Children's uplift pay to meet the Real Living Wage, which is £12.60 per hour.

Diversity Statement

At Sheffield Childrens, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyones success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members.

Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at [e-mail]. Together, were building a workplace where everyone belongs.

#LI-Onsite

Person Specification

Experience

• Substantial experience of working in a senior leadership role
• Evidence of clinical and management experience in the relevant setting to role
• Evidence of being able to plan strategically, tactically, and creatively and prioritise work in a demanding environment.
• Ability to analyse complex problems and to develop practical and workable solutions to address them
• Experience of implementing strategy, setting clear objectives and holding people to account for delivery.
• Experience of using improvement methodologies to lead service change involving colleagues and patients.
• Experience of communicating in multi-cultural environments often dealing with intricate and sensitive issues.
• Proven track record of sound financial management and the delivery of cost improvement programmes
• Evidence of the development of working relationships with stakeholders outside of the organisation
• Research experience

Knowledge

• Ability to provide credible clinical leadership, gaining the respect of all colleagues both inside and outside of the organisation.
• Can question others and constructively challenge in decision making.
• Can cope in complex environments, and deal with challenging situations
• Ability to interpret data to understand the effectiveness of patient care and develop consistent reliable care
• Ability to systematically appraise current practice, systems and processes and identify areas for improvement
• Can communicate with patients in an empathetic manner in relation to treatment and complex issues
• Is aware of developments within the NHS and can understand the potential impact on services.
• Ability to proactively manage complex and challenging situations
• Proficient skills in IT including knowledge of data bases and spreadsheets

Qualifications and Training

• Registered Nurse with current relevant professional registration related to post
• Educated to Master's level or equivalent level of experience
• Recognised leadership course or programme
• Evidence of on-going continuing professional development

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.

Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Becton Centre for Children and Young People

Becton Centre for Children and Young People