Job summary
**Director of Nursing (Secondment Opportunity until 30 April 2027)**

**Shape the Future of Nursing Leadership at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust**

Are you an exceptional nursing leader ready for your next challenge?

Following the recent implementation of the Trust's new Divisional Structure, we are seeking an outstanding Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Care Professionals to join our newly formed Senior Leadership Team on a fixed-term secondment until 30 April 2027. This is a unique opportunity to influence the future direction of nursing, midwifery and allied health professional leadership at one of the largest and most progressive NHS organisations in the South West.

As a pivotal member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will play a critical role in shaping quality, safety, patient experience and workforce transformation across the organisation, while working closely with divisional, executive and system partners to deliver sustainable improvements for our patients and communities.

This is much more than an operational leadership role. We are looking for a visionary leader who can inspire teams, drive innovation, champion professional excellence and help embed the Trust's ambition to deliver outstanding care through compassionate, inclusive leadership. The successful candidate will provide visible leadership across nursing, midwifery and allied health professions, influencing both organisational and system-wide priorities.

Main duties of the job
**What you'll bring**
You will be:

• An experienced senior nursing leader with credibility at Board or sub-Board level
• A proven transformational leader with a track record of delivering service improvement, cultural change and quality outcomes.
• A skilled collaborator, capable of building strong partnerships across organisational boundaries.
• Passionate about patient safety, workforce development, inclusion and professional excellence.
• An inspiring leader who can motivate others, challenge constructively and translate strategy into action.

**Why this opportunity?**
The Trust is entering an exciting new phase. Our newly established divisional arrangements provide a strong platform to strengthen professional leadership, improve outcomes and deliver our strategic ambitions. As Director of Nursing, you will be at the heart of this transformation, helping to shape how services are delivered and how our people are supported to thrive.

This role offers an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious leader seeking executive-level experience, broad strategic exposure and the chance to make a lasting impact across the organisation and wider health and care system.

**If you are ready to step into a key leadership role and help shape the next chapter of nursing leadership at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, we would love to hear from you.**

Secondment until 30 April 2027.

About us
The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is the main provider of acute and specialist care services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It serves a population of around 470,000 people, a figure that can increase significantly with visitors during the busiest times of the year. We employ approximately 6,700 staff and have a budget of approximately £740 million.

RCHT is responsible for the provision of services at three main sites with approximately 780 inpatient beds:

• Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro
• St Michael's Hospital in Hayle
• West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance

We are a teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School, University of Plymouth School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Peninsula Dental School.

Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, we are continually developing our clinical services as well as our facilities, and are committed to maximising the range of specialist care that can be offered locally. Allied to this is a growing reputation for research and innovation.

The Knowledge Spa on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site is the base for medical and nursing as well as ongoing education for health professions in clinical and non-clinical roles. This plays a vital part in attracting and retaining highly skilled teams of doctors, nurses and other health professionals who support the care of well over half a million people each year.

Job responsibilities
PLEASE NOTE: To view the full Job Description and Person Specification, please click the supporting document on the right-hand side.

To be an employee of the NHS you need to successfully complete the following:

• Identity Checks
• Professional registration and qualification checks
• Employment history and reference checks
• Occupational Health clearance
• Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check
• Right to work in the UK

For further information please visit: Apply through our website.

We reserve the right to close this advert early.

We may be able to offer flexible working. Please discuss at interview.

We may be able to offer sponsorship but this is not guaranteed.

Person Specification
Education, Qualifications and Relevant Experience
Essential

• Registered Nurse with evidence of extensive complex health organisation knowledge and an academic qualification of at least a Masters level.
• Breadth of experience of working at a sub board level in an NHS organisation.
• Proven track record of transformational leadership of services and enabling culture change in teams.

Desirable

• Doctorate in relevant subject area.

Skills and Aptitude
Essential

• Skilled in strategic thinking and able to translate strategy into action.
• Highly developed leadership, negotiation and influencing skills with the ability to motivate, challenge and engage individuals and teams.
• Ability to build personal and professional credibility with board, senior management teams and staff.

Desirable

• Highly skilled in collaboration and bringing together teams and organisations with strong relationships to deliver on the services for patients.

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.

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

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Acting Chief Nursing Officer
Bernadette George
bernadettegeorge@nhs.net
07342082475