Divisional Director of Nursing

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The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust Divisional Director of Nursing

The closing date is 11 November 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

The Divisional Director of Nursing provides strategic and professional nursing leadership for the Family, Diagnostics and Community Division, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, compassionate and patient-centred care. The postholder leads the divisional quality, safety, patient experience and nursing workforce agenda, working collaboratively with medical, midwifery, AHP and operational colleagues to deliver the division's strategic, operational, workforce and financial objectives. They provide visible leadership to senior nursing teams, drive continuous improvement and transformation, and ensure robust clinical governance, risk management and learning across divisional services.

Main duties of the job

Main duties Professional nursing leadership Provide visible senior nursing leadership across the Family, Diagnostics and Community Division. Set and maintain expectations for high-quality, compassionate and patient-centred care. Provide professional leadership and support to Heads of Nursing, matrons and senior clinical leaders. Quality, patient safety and governance Lead the divisional nursing contribution to patient safety, clinical governance, risk and quality improvement. Ensure effective oversight of incidents, complaints, risks and learning, with appropriate escalation. Maintain focus on dignity, respect, patient experience and safe standards of care. Ensure compliance with statutory regulations, Trust polices and governance arrangements Workforce and culture Lead nursing workforce planning, recruitment, retention and development. Champion staff wellbeing, compassionate and inclusive leadership, and professional development. Build leadership capability and support succession planning across nursing teams. Performance and improvement Work with operational and medical colleagues to improve clinical performance, productivity, quality and patient flow. Support transformation and service redesign across family, diagnostic and community pathways. Use quality, workforce, performance and patient-experience information to identify areas requiring improvement. Strategic leadership

About us

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave; a national programme thats changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector. This means were working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives. Were a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Details

Date posted

28 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£94,356 to £108,814 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

001221

Job locations

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Divisional Director of Nursing provides strategic and professional nursing leadership for the Family, Diagnostics and Community Division, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, compassionate and patient-centred care. The postholder leads the divisional quality, safety, patient experience and nursing workforce agenda, working collaboratively with medical, midwifery, AHP and operational colleagues to deliver the division's strategic, operational, workforce and financial objectives. They provide visible leadership to senior nursing teams, drive continuous improvement and transformation, and ensure robust clinical governance, risk management and learning across divisional services.

Main duties

Professional nursing leadership

Provide visible senior nursing leadership across the Family, Diagnostics and Community Division. Set and maintain expectations for high-quality, compassionate and patient-centred care. Provide professional leadership and support to Heads of Nursing, matrons and senior clinical leaders. Quality, patient safety and governance

Lead the divisional nursing contribution to patient safety, clinical governance, risk and quality improvement. Ensure effective oversight of incidents, complaints, risks and learning, with appropriate escalation. Maintain focus on dignity, respect, patient experience and safe standards of care.

Ensure compliance with statutory regulations, Trust polices and governance arrangements

Workforce and culture

Lead nursing workforce planning, recruitment, retention and development. Champion staff wellbeing, compassionate and inclusive leadership, and professional development.

Build leadership capability and support succession planning across nursing teams. Performance and improvement

Work with operational and medical colleagues to improve clinical performance, productivity, quality and patient flow. Support transformation and service redesign across family, diagnostic and community pathways. Use quality, workforce, performance and patient-experience information to identify areas requiring improvement. Strategic leadership

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Divisional Director of Nursing provides strategic and professional nursing leadership for the Family, Diagnostics and Community Division, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, compassionate and patient-centred care. The postholder leads the divisional quality, safety, patient experience and nursing workforce agenda, working collaboratively with medical, midwifery, AHP and operational colleagues to deliver the division's strategic, operational, workforce and financial objectives. They provide visible leadership to senior nursing teams, drive continuous improvement and transformation, and ensure robust clinical governance, risk management and learning across divisional services.

Main duties

Professional nursing leadership

Provide visible senior nursing leadership across the Family, Diagnostics and Community Division. Set and maintain expectations for high-quality, compassionate and patient-centred care. Provide professional leadership and support to Heads of Nursing, matrons and senior clinical leaders. Quality, patient safety and governance

Lead the divisional nursing contribution to patient safety, clinical governance, risk and quality improvement. Ensure effective oversight of incidents, complaints, risks and learning, with appropriate escalation. Maintain focus on dignity, respect, patient experience and safe standards of care.

Ensure compliance with statutory regulations, Trust polices and governance arrangements

Workforce and culture

Lead nursing workforce planning, recruitment, retention and development. Champion staff wellbeing, compassionate and inclusive leadership, and professional development.

Build leadership capability and support succession planning across nursing teams. Performance and improvement

Work with operational and medical colleagues to improve clinical performance, productivity, quality and patient flow. Support transformation and service redesign across family, diagnostic and community pathways. Use quality, workforce, performance and patient-experience information to identify areas requiring improvement. Strategic leadership

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NMC Registered Nurse/ Midwife
• Educated to Masters level or higher degree in nursing/ management/ leadership/ midwifery, or equivalent experience
• Extensive experience and evidence of a proven track record of quality improvements, innovation and safety improvements at senior management level
• Participation in Continuing Professional Development to improve and update specialist knowledge
• Active NMC registration Part 1 Teaching/ Assessing Qualification or equivalent

Desirable

• An accredited qualification in leadership or currently undertaking a programme

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience in a senior management role within the health and social care sector
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to manage multidisciplinary teams and complex projects effectively
• Expertise required to lead the specialist portfolio
• A strong understanding of current health legislation, policy frameworks, and best practice
• Evidence of garnering respect of nursing/ AHPs and medical colleagues
• Experience of managing complex services and teams
• Detailed understanding and experience of managing within an acute hospital
• Promote and sustain a culture of safe and high-quality care
• Proven ability to manage change, service activity and development within complex organisations
• Ability to interpret national and local policy drivers that are relevant to the acute Trust
• Successful identification and delivery of cost improvement programmes
• Experience of planning and implementing long-term strategy
• Experience of managing budgets
• Experience representing services to external bodies
• Detailed knowledge of Clinical Governance and Risk Management
• Involvement in investigations regarding complaints and staff performance issues

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NMC Registered Nurse/ Midwife
• Educated to Masters level or higher degree in nursing/ management/ leadership/ midwifery, or equivalent experience
• Extensive experience and evidence of a proven track record of quality improvements, innovation and safety improvements at senior management level
• Participation in Continuing Professional Development to improve and update specialist knowledge
• Active NMC registration Part 1 Teaching/ Assessing Qualification or equivalent

Desirable

• An accredited qualification in leadership or currently undertaking a programme

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience in a senior management role within the health and social care sector
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to manage multidisciplinary teams and complex projects effectively
• Expertise required to lead the specialist portfolio
• A strong understanding of current health legislation, policy frameworks, and best practice
• Evidence of garnering respect of nursing/ AHPs and medical colleagues
• Experience of managing complex services and teams
• Detailed understanding and experience of managing within an acute hospital
• Promote and sustain a culture of safe and high-quality care
• Proven ability to manage change, service activity and development within complex organisations
• Ability to interpret national and local policy drivers that are relevant to the acute Trust
• Successful identification and delivery of cost improvement programmes
• Experience of planning and implementing long-term strategy
• Experience of managing budgets
• Experience representing services to external bodies
• Detailed knowledge of Clinical Governance and Risk Management
• Involvement in investigations regarding complaints and staff performance issues

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.

Employer details

Employer name

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Address

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.pah.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Address

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.pah.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Divisional Director

Zowie Copeman

[email protected]

Details

Date posted

28 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£94,356 to £108,814 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

001221

Job locations

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX

United Kingdom

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