Job summary
Are you an experienced senior nurse leader looking to take the next step in your career? We have an exciting opportunity for an exceptional nursing leader to join our Trust and Hospital Group at a pivotal time of transformation and service redesign.

Whilst the postholder will report directly to the Director of Nursing at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, there will be opportunities to work collaboratively across the wider Group, leading and supporting key aspects of the portfolio on a Group-wide basis.

This is an exciting time to join us as we progress our transformation agenda and work collectively to deliver the ambitions set out in Lord Darzi's vision for the NHS, including the "left shift" towards prevention, community-based care, and improved population health outcomes.

We are seeking an outstanding values-based leader with a strong senior nursing leadership background, a commitment to innovation, and a passion for delivering exceptional patient care.

Main duties of the job
As a Deputy Director of Nursing, you will demonstrate a proven track record of senior leadership and successful delivery across a wide portfolio. Working closely with the Director of Nursing, you will support the delivery of strategic and operational priorities relating to quality, safety, patient experience, workforce development, and professional standards.

You will provide visible and credible professional leadership for Nursing, Midwifery, and Allied Health Professionals, ensuring patient experience remains at the heart of everything we do. You will promote excellence in clinical practice, compassionate care, and professional standards.

You will be responsible and accountable for providing comprehensive strategic and operational leadership, guidance, and support to deliver the highest standards of care. You will play a key role in strengthening relationships with regulators, driving improvements in patient experience, and ensuring learning is translated into meaningful and sustainable change.

We are looking for an individual with the drive and ability to inspire others, a passion for developing our future workforce, and the skills to build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

You will deputise for the Director of Nursing across the full portfolio of responsibilities as required and contribute to Group-wide nursing leadership initiatives and programmes.

About us
At the Dudley Group our patients and staff are at the heart of all that we do and that is to provide a world class service that aligns with our vision of "excellent health care, improved health for all". We are seeking to recruit staff who share our vision and values of making Dudley Group an incredible workplace.

As part of the NHS People Promise, your wellbeing is our priority, and we are committed to ensuring our employees achieve a healthy work-life balance supported by our flexible working options and by making reasonable adjustments where possible. We believe no-one should have to sacrifice family, friends, or their personal interests for work. We are a modern employer able to attract and retain high quality staff through our commitment to the NHS People Promise.

As an employer, we foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to contribute their best. We want to ensure that our workforce is representative of the population we serve. More information - inclusive practice people promise.

Dudley Group offer many opportunities for our staff to develop and grow within their roles through our Learning & OD Team. These include topics such as communication, wellbeing, team development, cultural competency, and values.

Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description for full details of the main duties and responsibilities that the post holder is required to undertake.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse/Midwife
• Masters degree level qualification
• Leadership Course
• Evidence of continuous Professional Development relevant to post
• Management qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience

Knowledge
Essential

• Track record of leading individuals and teams to achieve challenging targets
• Evidence of ability to motivate and develop clinical and managerial staff to their potential
• Develop and deliver strategic vision for services
• Ability to translate the national agenda into local action
• Utilise systematic evidence based approach to project management
• Ensure clear accountability for project leads
• Ability to meet challenging deadlines
• Excellent written communication skills
• Highly developed motivational skills and strong commitment to staff empowerment/involvement
• Demonstrate success in working in collaboration and partnership with other organisations
• Committed to working in partnership with the Local HEIs and NHS organisations
• Ability to deal with highly sensitive situations
• Ability to present complex reports and recommendations to senior forums and large staff meetings
• Expert knowledge of current issues in the NHS and the changing nature of healthcare policy
• Understanding of the environment in which the Trust and Group operates both inside and outside the NHS, consistent with our aim to work collaboratively with other agencies and to provide high quality patient care, teaching and research
• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to have difficult conversations
• Ability to deal effectively with conflict
• Ability to deal with highly sensitive situations

Experience
Essential

• Significant experience as a Nurse/Midwife working in a senior role to include challenging the status quo and managing conflict
• Demonstrable success in leading and effectively managing change
• Evidence of engaging stakeholders in developing service improvements
• Ability to manage/influence challenging and complex clinical and personnel issues
• Track record of developing and implementing framework for ensuring Clinical Governance
• Experience of implementing an effective performance management framework
• Experience of workforce planning and development
• Experience of successful budget management at senior level
• Evidence of up-to-date knowledge of issues likely to impact on nursing and midwifery services
• Experience of working with multi-agency committees and establishing relationships with external organisations
• Successful achievement of projects through working closely with multidisciplinary teams
• Evidence of networking with local, regional and national committees
• Strategic awareness of the NHS and commissioning
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of safeguarding, complaints processes and patient experience engagement and pathways in an Acute Trust and Group setting

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Ability to lead on Governance issues at strategic level
• A leader with personal and professional credibility and authority, with potential to achieve a Board level post
• Confident and able to inspire confidence in others
• A change agent who constantly challenges the status quo
• Resilience to work in a pressurised environment
• Strong patient/carer focus
• Utilise feedback to improve own leadership style
• Evidence of ability to influence outcomes at a senior level
• Ability to lead on initiatives at strategic level for corporate nursing
• Evidence of negotiating skills
• Ability to plan, co-ordinate and monitor the delivery of services
• Evidence of innovative and creative thinking in relation to service development
• Demonstrate advanced investigative, report writing and presentation skills
• Provide expert advice to executive team, medical colleagues, general managers, matrons and senior nursing and midwifery and all other stakeholders on professional nursing and midwifery issues
• Ability to champion nursing and midwifery at a strategic level and deputise for the Chief Nurse
• Articulate, assertive and able to communicate at all levels

Desirable

• Recognition and credibility outside the Trust and Group for a contribution to the development of health and health care and/or nursing/midwifery

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

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.