Deputy Head of Nursing - Research & Development

Go back University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Deputy Head of Nursing - Research & Development The closing date is 01 October 2025

The post holder will have operational responsibility for ensuring the delivery of clinical quality standards, patient safety and the overall patient experience in the CMG, providing professional leadership, advice and support for the CMG to ensure that there is a consistency of practice, high standards of care with a strong patient safety focus. Working with a vision of delivering the Trust Values the Deputy Head of Nursing will support the Head of Nursing and the CMG Triumvirate to provide professional leadership and management to the Nursing service for the CMG. The Deputy Head of Nursing will support decision making where practice or service delivery issues cross Matron speciality or when cross speciality leadership is required.

Main duties of the job The Deputy Head of Nursing will establish and foster an effective working relationship with the CMG Triumvirate to lead improvements in nursing care, service delivery and the achievement of organisational priorities within the CMG. The Deputy Head of Nursing will deputise for the Head of Nursing on an as required basis. The Deputy Head of Nursing will support the delivery of safe, clinically and cost effective and compassionate nursing care within the CMG and provide assurance evidence to the Head of Nursing regarding compliance against all appropriate professional, organisational and national compliance standards.

About us Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years ().

We have four primary goals:

• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact, and
• research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

Job responsibilities

• Managerially accountable to the Head of Nursing and professionally accountable to the Deputy Chief Nurse (Operations). The post holder will have operational responsibility for ensuring the delivery of clinical quality standards, patient safety and the overall patient experience in the CMG, providing professional leadership, advice and support for the CMG to ensure that there is a consistency of practice, high standards of care with a strong patient safety focus. Working with a vision of delivering the Trust Values the Deputy Head of Nursing will support the Head of Nursing and the CMG Triumvirate to provide professional leadership and management to the Nursing service for the CMG. The Deputy Head of Nursing will support decision making where practice or service delivery issues cross Matron speciality or when cross speciality leadership is required. The Deputy Head of Nursing will establish and foster an effective working relationship with the CMG Triumvirate to lead improvements in nursing care, service delivery and the achievement of organisational priorities within the CMG. The Deputy Head of Nursing will deputise for the Head of Nursing on an as required basis. The Deputy Head of Nursing will support the delivery of safe, clinically and cost effective and compassionate nursing care within the CMG and provides assurance evidence to the Head of Nursing regarding compliance against all appropriate professional, organisational and national compliance standards. The post holder will also support the Head of Nursing to deliver a safe, sustainable, affordable Nursing workforce across the CMG. Working alongside the Head of Nursing the Deputy Head of Nursing will be responsible for the care and professional practice delivered within a significantly large CMG, equating to a nursing (registered and unregistered) workforce of more than 550 funded whole time equivalent staff and could cover more than one hospital site. The area of responsibility may be smaller in size and volume if required for large scale change or if complexities of the service are significant. Complexities may arise from the national profile of the specialty or the need to engage with stakeholders outside the organisation. The post holder will provide leadership for the following professional groups: Registered Nurses and Nursing Associates, Healthcare Support Workers, Housekeepers, Deputy Chief Nurses, Lead AHP & Associate Chief AHP, Chief Pharmacist / CMG pharmacy Teams, Administration and Clerical Teams, Site and Duty Management Teams, Discharge Teams, Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Director of Quality & Governance, Lead Nurse (Safe Staffing).

Person Specification Training & Qualifications

• Registered Nurse - with current NMC Registration and no restrictions on practice
• Master's degree in Nursing, leadership or management or relevant subject or evidence of practical application of expertise at this level
• Post-graduate qualification within a leadership programme/study or evidence of practical application of expertise at this level.
• Evidence of continuing personal and professional development relevant to post

Experience

• Experience of senior nursing management or professional leadership in a large and/or complex healthcare setting
• Experience of senior professional leadership and operational management across a range of clinical specialties and care settings
• Demonstrable experience managing clinical services and of leading improvements in clinical settings, patient care and experience across multiple specialties.
• Knowledge and experience of human resources management, communicating highly complex and contentious information to individuals and large groups
• Experience of managing budgets and financial resources, including the associated processes such as budget setting and financial planning. Experience of actively leading service improvements across multiple areas. Experience of workforce planning and recruitment and retention strategies - budget and resources
• Familiarity with IT applications including e- Rostering
• Demonstrable evidence of highly specialist knowledge of the professional leadership and management of nurses. In depth knowledge of the clinical governance agenda including clinical risk and safety. Up to date with current clinical nursing practice including own area of expertise, to enable deliver of direct patient care if/when required
• Ability to produce clear, accurate, written and verbal reports

Communication and relationship skills

• Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situations. Ability to establish credibility and develop maintain effective working relationships at Executive and senior management levels
• Has strong influencing and negotiating skills. Up to date with current clinical nursing practice including own area of expertise, enable delivery of direct patient care if/when required
• Shares leadership with and is respected by clinical and non-clinical staff. Influencing a wide range of stakeholders. Excellent communicator - providing authentic and clear communication and direction even in times of uncertainty/ambiguity. Can engage with and lead a team, and work as part of a team

Analytical and Judgement skills

• High level analytical skills and the ability to draw qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of sources and present in clear concise manner. Demonstrates sound judgement in the absence of clear guidelines or precedent, seeking advice as necessary. Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues.

Skills

• High level professional, people management skills and leadership qualities. Highly developed presentation skills. Ability to challenge traditional approaches. Resilience, coping with adversity and ambiguity. Ability to communicate complex information to diverse audiences

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs. All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others

Other requirements specific to the role

• Ability to travel across hospital sites
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and negotiating skills
• Engages effectively across boundaries, breaking down silos, while operating in partnership with stakeholders towards a shared vision.
• Has effective strategies for dealing and managing own limitations
• Has the drive and energy to make things happen, frequently goes 'above and beyond' the call of duty to achieve outcomes
• Reasonable flexibility in working hours to meet the service needs

Planning and Organisations skills

• Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, allocating work as necessary, working to tight and often changing deadlines
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