Job summary
We are seeking an experienced, forward-thinking, and values-driven Head of Nursing for Paediatrics and Gynaecology to provide visible, compassionate and strategic leadership across a diverse portfolio of women's and children's services. You will be a Registered Nurse/ AHP with substantial senior leadership experience across services which include paediatrics and women's health, with a demonstrable commitment to improving outcomes and experiences for children, young people and their families. You will lead on the delivery of professional, clinical and quality standards across acute and community services, ensuring safe, effective and compassionate care is consistently delivered.

This senior role holds professional accountability for nursing practice across paediatric, neonatal and gynaecology services, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, responsive and well-led care in line with CQC Fundamental Standards, the NHS Patient Safety Strategy, and national clinical guidance.

Working as part of the senior leadership team and the relevant care groups, you will ensure strong clinical leadership, professional standards and governance are embedded across all services, supporting the delivery of high-quality, equitable care for children, young people, women and their families.

Main duties of the job
You will play a pivotal role in translating national priorities into local delivery, including:

• Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) recommendations for paediatrics, neonates and gynaecology.
• National Patient Safety Alerts and Learning from Patient Safety Events (LFPSE).
• NICE guidance and best practice standards.
• Royal College standards (RCPCH, RCN, RCOG) and relevant safeguarding frameworks.

The postholder will:

• Provide leadership for nursing workforce and professional practice, ensuring safe staffing, skill mix and workforce sustainability across paediatrics, neonates and gynaecology.
• Lead on quality assurance, patient safety and experience, driving a culture of continuous learning, transparency, and improvement.
• Ensure robust systems are in place to meet statutory safeguarding responsibilities for children and vulnerable groups.
• Work in partnership with midwifery, medical, AHP and corporate teams to ensure integrated pathways across maternity, neonatal and paediatric care.
• Support delivery of key performance indicators including waiting times, flow, harm reduction, and patient outcomes.

The role requires a highly visible leader who can operate with credibility across complex systems, balancing strategic priorities with operational delivery, and driving improvement across interfaces between children's, neonatal, and women's health services.

About us
A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.

There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.

Statement on the Use of AI
We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.

Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.

We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.

Job responsibilities
Please refer to the job description attached.
If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.

Qualifications / Training
Essential

• Registered Nurse/AHP/HCS and hold active registration with NMC/HCPC
• Masters level qualification/training relevant to role or equivalent knowledge acquired through extensive experience and training and working towards Masters level qualification
• Evidence of continuous professional development relevant to role to demonstrate expert clinical and leadership skills
• Senior Leadership qualification or training
• Mentoring/Coaching/Supervision qualification or training
• Project Management and Quality Improvement qualification or training

Experience
Essential

• Experience working in a leadership position including contributing to operational management of services.
• Experience in management of health services
• Able to demonstrate experience of: Quality/Service improvement and leading change Operational management and performance People Management - performance, appraisal, sickness, development, retention
• Managing budgets and business planning
• Monitoring, analysing and assessing clinical performance across complex services
• Setting and monitoring standards of care and ensuring this is delivered to an exceptional standard

Setting and monitoring standards of care and ensuring this is delivered to an exceptional standard
Essential

• Knowledge and skills and understanding of: Leadership skills that inspire, engage and motivate a workforce National nursing/professional agenda, NHS targets and regulatory standards and requirements
• Setting workforce standards, managing complex HR issues, multidisciplinary team working
• Quality improvement initiatives, setting and monitoring standards of care across a range of clinical services and able to agree clear performance goals and offer constructive feedback.
• Assessment and management of complex operational and clinical risks and knowledge of clinical and operational governance framework.
• Excellent communication skills, able to engage, negotiate and influence stakeholders, present information, write business cases and service plans.

Other
Essential

• Frequent involvement (both direct and indirect) in emotionally distressing process such as managing significant change including redeployment and redundancy, performance management, complex disciplinary, grievance and appeal procedures as well as responding to complaints
• Able to travel to meet the requirements of the job
• Flexibility in working hours and patterns

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.

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 (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details
Employer name: East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Address: Conquest Hospital, Hastings, TN37 7RD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: http://jobs.esht.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Divisional Director of Nursing and Clinical, Mark Standen, mark.standen@nhs.net, 07880781072

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.
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.