Job summary
As our Associate Director of Childrens Services, you have a key role to play in the leadership, operational management, and strategic direction of Chestnut Tree House. We are looking for an individual who shares our passion for excellence, innovation and continuous improvement. Whether through clinical leadership, service development, strengthening quality standards or supporting our workforce, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant contribution to our future.

At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to kindness, respect, integrity and collaboration. We want every colleague to feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their full potential while delivering the very best outcomes for those in our care.

Main duties of the job

• Lead the planning, performance and delivery of Childrens services, holding accountability for quality, patient outcomes, financial control, income and contract compliance.
• Build and sustain strong partnerships with commissioners and system partners, developing and negotiating proposals that expand service reach and impact.
• Lead service improvement and innovation and share learning across the organisation.
• Provide visible, values-led people leadership, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement across all teams.
• Passionate advocate for babies, children and young people
• Child and family centred
• Significant experience in children's palliative/end of life care or children with complex care needs
• Compassionate but accountable leader
• Strategic but operationally grounded
• Professional curiosity, always seeing ways to innovate and improve
• Track record of effective performance management across quality, workforce, operations and finance
• Effective communicator, able to influence and build strong teams
• Experience of leading and supporting teams through change
• Builds effective relationships with key stakeholders across the group and externally
• Confidence in financial leadership, including budget management, income generation and commercial decision making.
• Proven ability to influence and partner with commissioners and system stakeholders
• Highly developed people leadership skills, with the ability to engage, motivate and develop the workforce and build strong teams.

About us
Southern Hospice Group is the largest group of hospices in Sussex and one of the largest in the UK. We are committed to providing exceptional and compassionate care to adults, children and their families across Sussex. Bringing our teams and resources together as one organisation means we can focus on new and exciting visions and plans for our people and patients and provide even greater opportunities for our workforce.

St Barnabas House provides specialist palliative care to adults in the Worthing, Adur, Arun and Henfield areas through a range of services, including in-patient care and community living well services.

Chestnut Tree House is the childrens hospice for East and West Sussex and South East Hampshire, providing specialist palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.

Martlets provides essential care to people affected by terminal illness in Brighton and Hove and surrounding areas. Our expert teams provide the very best care and support, helping patients and their loved ones to live life to the full during the precious time they have together.

Details
Date posted: 03 September 2026
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: £65,724 to £69,983 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: B0265-26-0025
Job locations: Chestnut Tree House, Titnore Lane, Arundel, Worthing, West Sussex, BN18 9BX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
You will be responsible for leading the delivery and ongoing improvement of Childrens Services at CTH. Bringing specialist knowledge, expertise and inspirational professional leadership, you will support our clinical and family support teams to deliver high-quality care. Working closely with the Director of Nursing and Care, you will help shape the future strategy and direction of CTHs clinical and wider services, identifying opportunities to expand provision and reach more children, young people and families across Sussex.

The postholder will be responsible for leading the delivery and ongoing improvement of Childrens Services at CTH. Bringing specialist knowledge, expertise and inspirational professional leadership, you will support our clinical and family support teams to deliver high quality care. Working closely with the Director of Nursing and Care, you will help shape the future strategy and direction of CTHs clinical and wider services, identifying opportunities to expand provision and reach more children, young people and families across Sussex.
As a leader within Southern Hospice Group, you will:

• Lead the planning, performance and delivery of Childrens services, holding accountability for quality, patient outcomes, financial control, income and contract compliance.
• Build and sustain strong partnerships with commissioners and system partners, developing and negotiating proposals that expand service reach and impact.
• Lead service improvement and innovation and sharing learning across the organisation.
• Provide visible, values led people leadership, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement across all teams.

Please see the link for more job details.

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Significant experience in childrens palliative and end of life care, or in supporting children with complex care needs. A strong track record of effective performance management across quality, workforce, operations and finance. Significant experience of the development and implementation of strategy in a health or social care setting. Demonstrable experience of effectively engaging with diverse audiences, including internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications
Essential

• Masters Degree level qualification (or working towards) in relevant area of Nursing or related subject. A Registered Sick Childrens Nurse or Registered Nurse - Child Branch. Evidence of up-to-date clinical knowledge and expertise in palliative and end of life care.

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Southern Hospice Group
Address: Chestnut Tree House, Titnore Lane, Arundel, Worthing, West Sussex, BN18 9BX, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.stbarnabas-hospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Alison Robertson, hroperations@shg.org.uk, 01903706317

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.