Deputy Chief Nursing Officer (Workforce, Safeguarding, IPC)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will possess excellent communication skills along with visible, dynamic and inspirational leadership, and be a highly visible, accessible, and credible professional clinical and nursing leader across all services and staff groups.
Personally engage in back to the floor" activities, undertaking clinical quality-focused work across Trust services and locations throughout.
Alongside the Chief Nursing Officer, lead professional engagement, listening, and the restoration of confidence following a regulatory challenge.
Provide senior leadership for clinical workforce planning, including nursing, midwifery, and AHP workforce modelling, supply, demand, and sustainability.
Deputise for the Chief Nurse across a range of functions and meetings (internal and external) and during periods of leave/absence
Work closely with HR and Finance to align workforce strategy with financial and operational planning, without taking on governance accountability.
Act as a senior professional lead for Fundamentals of Care, ensuring these are integrated as essential professional standards across all services.
Ensure robust safeguarding governance, assurance and statutory accountability for safeguarding are in place
Support relevant corporate and divisional nursing, midwifery leaders to strengthen professional practice environments

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration
• Educated to Master's level or equivalent experience
• Significant senior professional leadership expertise in the NHS
• Evidence of ongoing post-graduate education and continuous professional development

Desirable criteria

• Executive leadership or coaching qualification

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of how to effectively lead and motivate people, particularly in relation to change and improvement
• Knowledge of current DH, NHS Improvement and CCG reporting requirements relevant to quality and the nursing agenda.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of Foundation Trust process

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant senior management experience in a challenged or complex organisation
• Comprehensive and Demonstrable experience in understanding and leading Workforce strategy, education and professional practice, During organisational recovery, regulatory oversight or improvement,NMC/HCPC professional standards, policies and requirements, Leadership of IPC or safeguarding legislation from a professional perspective, Government health and reform agenda in relation to nursing and midwifery, and to translate to local policy, Drivers for nursing practice
• Proven experience in leading organisational improvement and culture change

Desirable criteria

• Experience at Deputy Chief Nurse / Chief Nurse level
• Clinical academic or research leadership experience
• Experience working within an ICS

Skills

Essential criteria

• Ability to interpret legislation and provide executive advice to executives
• Proven ability to prepare and present high-quality Board papers
• Strong leadership, influencing and communication skills
• Highly developed analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to handle complex, sensitive issues with authority and credibility
• Ability to translate data into insight and actionable improvement