Divisional Director of Nursing: Sponsorship Available

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

Divisional Director of Nursing

An Exceptional Leadership Opportunity in Nursing

We’re seeking a visionary and compassionate nursing leader to take on the role of Divisional Director of Nursing, leading an exceptional and diverse portfolio of services. This division is at the forefront of surgery and planned care across Swindon, delivering excellence in patient outcomes and safety.

This is a unique opportunity to shape high-quality patient-centered care across a range of specialties–working hand-in-hand with system partners to innovate, collaborate, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients

The Divisional Director of Nursing (DDoN) for Surgery and Planned Care is a key member of the divisional triumvirate, working in close partnership with the Divisional Director and Associate Medical Director to setstrategic direction and ensure delivery of safe, effective and high-quality surgical and planned care. The DDON provides visible clinical leadership, professional oversight of the nursing workforce, and drives service transformation, innovation, and continuous improvement across the Division.

Main duties of the job

In this pivotal role, you’ll work at the heart of strategic decision-making, forming part of a powerful triumvirate alongside the Associate Medical Director and Divisional Director. Together, you’ll set the strategic direction and empower teams to deliver outstanding operational performance.

Your Impact:

  • Elevate patient outcomes, safety, and experience
  • Drive innovation and effectiveness in care delivery
  • Lead change with confidence and compassion
  • Influence practice across the Division and delegated areas on behalf of the Chief Nurse

This is more than a leadership role — it’s a chance to shape the future of nursing, inspire excellence, and leave a legacy of compassionate, high-quality care.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Midwife or Registered Nurse with the Nursing & Midwifery Council
  • Professional knowledge acquired through degree/diploma supplemented by specialist training, experience and short courses to masters level or equivalent
  • Demonstrates evidence of on-going continuous professional development.

Desirable

  • Management qualification – NEBs, CMS, DMS etc. Some form of management qualification is highly desirable

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of senior nursing and/or midwifery leadership and management experience.
  • Evidence of clinical management experience.
  • Experience of managing a range of departments which includes managing workforce, operational delivery, finance management.
  • Experience in delivering quality improvement projects with defined outcomes
  • Demonstrable experience of achieving changed clinical practice and improving services to increase quality and efficiency.
  • Experience of working at and influencing at a senior level.
  • Experience of developing collaborative working within teams.
  • Thorough understanding of equality & diversity and its application to managing self, staff and patients across the Trust.
  • Understanding of NMC Code of practice and requirements of it for the practice & behaviour and its application to the management of staff and self.
  • Proven experience of budgetary/financial management.
  • Proven track record in co-design and production

Desirable

  • Experience of developing business cases / business planning
  • Track record of serving on a range of committees both internal and external to the organisation
  • Project management experience.
  • Evidence of community experience in leadership or clinical role

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: 11 October 2026

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