Deputy Chief Nursing Officer

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an exceptional nursing leader to join Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust as our Deputy Chief Nursing Officer.

Working as a key member of the senior nursing leadership team, you will support the Chief Nursing Officer in providing strategic and professional leadership for nursing across the Trust. You will play a pivotal role in delivering our ambitions for outstanding patient care, clinical quality, patient safety, workforce development and continuous improvement.

This is a high-profile leadership role requiring an experienced, compassionate and visible leader who is committed to developing high-performing teams, fostering a positive organisational culture and ensuring patients consistently receive safe, effective and person-centred care.

You will provide professional leadership for nursing, working collaboratively with divisional teams, corporate colleagues and system partners to deliver our strategic objectives. As Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, you will deputise for the Chief Nursing Officer as required and represent the organisation internally, regionally and nationally.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious senior nurse to influence the future direction of nursing practice, professional standards and quality across Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust.

Interview will be on 10th August 2026.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

The Deputy Chief Nursing Officer will provide strategic leadership and expert professional advice across all aspects of nursing practice, quality and patient safety.

The post holder will:

  • Support the Chief Nursing Officer in delivering the Trust’s nursing, quality and patient safety strategy.
  • Provide visible professional leadership for nursing, ensuring high standards of clinical practice and patient-centred care.
  • Lead Trust-wide programmes to improve quality, patient safety, patient experience and clinical outcomes.
  • Promote excellence in nursing through professional leadership, education, research, innovation and evidence-based practice.
  • Lead and support the development of the nursing workforce, ensuring succession planning, recruitment, retention and career development are embedded across the organisation.
  • Foster a culture of compassionate leadership, continuous learning, inclusion and psychological safety.
  • Provide executive leadership for safeguarding, professional standards, clinical governance or other delegated portfolios as agreed with the Chief Nursing Officer.
  • Contribute to the development and delivery of the Trust’s strategic objectives and organisational priorities.
  • Deputise for the Chief Nursing Officer across the full portfolio of responsibilities, including attendance at Board and Board Committee meetings where appropriate.

Please see attached Job description and person specification for full details of roles and responsibilities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse or Midwife on the NMC register
  • Educated to Masters level and specialist training to an advanced level, or equivalent experience
  • Leadership qualification
  • Demonstrable evidence of ongoing continuous professional development

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Extensive knowledge of Nursing & Midwifery acquired through significant experience in a Senior clinical role
  • In depth knowledge of the current NHS agenda and challenges.
  • Extensive understanding of current NHS structures, policies and direction of travel
  • Proven ability to manage change within a complex organisation.
  • Experience of working with Executive teams and Boards.
  • Working knowledge of the Trust’s financial processes and ability to manage own budgets

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 (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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

Closing Date: 26 July 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.