Head of Nursing Children’s and Neonatal Services: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

Closing Date: 10.11.26

Shortlisting to take place after closing date: commencing 11.11.26

Interview expected to take place commencing 20.11.26

Are you a passionate and experienced Paediatric nursing leader ready to make an impact on the future of children’s nursing care? We are seeking a Head of Nursing for Children and Neonatal Services to provide strategic and operational leadership across our Paediatric and Neonatal services.

As a key member of the CSU Leadership team, the post holder will be responsible for supporting the delivery of high standards of nursing care, professional practice, patient safety, patient experience and workforce performance across designated services.

The post holder will provide visible, compassionate and inclusive leadership, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, professional excellence and staff engagement.

Main duties of the job

This is a senior leadership position with responsibilities for nursing excellence across Inpatient Paediatric, Neonatal, Children’s Emergency and Community and Outpatient services. You will lead a team of matrons, CNS and ACPs ensuring safe, compassionate and developmentally appropriate care is provided for children young people and their families.

working in partnership with the Associate Director of Nursing for Children’s and Neonates, Clinical Director, General Manager and multidisciplinary colleagues, the post holder will contribute to the development and delivery of the CSU and Trust objectives, ensuring services are safe and responsive, effective and aligned with organisational priorities.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Significant senior Childrens nursing leadership experience at Matron/8a level or above within a complex healthcare environment
• Experience of working within an acute healthcare setting
• Experience of providing professional and operational leadership across multiple services and clinical areas
• Experience of leading staff through change, delivering service improvements with demonstrable positive impact on patient safety, patient experience and quality of care
• Experience of quality governance, quality assurance and regulatory compliance
• Experience of leading and developing senior nursing leaders, including Matrons, Lead Nurses or equivalent
• Experience of using quality, workforce, financial and performance data to drive improvement and provide assurance
• Experience of workforce planning, establishment management, safe staffing and workforce productivity improvement
• Experience of roster governance, workforce deployment and effective utilisation of staffing resources
• Experience of providing assurance against Care Quality Commission standards and regulatory requirements
• Experience of leading quality improvement, transformation and service development programmes
• Experience of budget management and delivery of financial objectives
• Experience of managing complex workforce issues and organisational change
• Experience of developing positive team cultures and leading staff through change
• Experience of working collaboratively across professional and organisational boundaries
• Experience of coaching, mentoring and succession planning for future leaders

Skills

Essential

• Ability to provide strategic and operational leadership across a range of clinical services
• Ability to analyse and interpret quality, workforce, financial and performance data to support decision making and service improvement
• Ability to provide assurance and challenge regarding quality, workforce, patient safety and operational performance
• Ability to lead and manage senior nursing leaders across multiple services
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills
• Ability to build effective multidisciplinary and cross-organisational relationships
• Ability to motivate, coach, develop and support senior leaders and teams to achieve high standards of performance
• Ability to lead effectively within highly complex and challenging environments
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills. Including report writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and make sound professional judgements whilst managing risk effectively
• Ability to utilise digital systems, workforce information and performance dashboards to support assurance, service improvement and operational decision-making.
• Ability to analyse workforce productivity, establishment and rostering metrics and implement improvement actions
• Ability to lead quality improvement, service improvement and transformation initiatives
• Well-developed leadership and influencing skills with the ability to engage, motivate and empower individuals and teams to deliver organisational objectives
• Demonstrates a patient centred approach to care and service delivery
• Ability to foster inclusive teams culture, psychological safety and staff engagement.
• Excellent interpersonal, including active listening and constructive feedback.
• High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement, and flexibility in approach and attitude
• Strong sense of commitment to openness, integrity, accountability and professional standards.
• Ability to undertake investigations relating to incidents, complaints and quality concerns and implement learning from outcomes

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of Information Governance and Confidentiality
• Have significant knowledge and understanding of the National Childrens and Neonates agenda and key National Maternity reports
• Detailed knowledge of current NHS priorities and healthcare policy
• Detailed knowledge of clinical governance, patient safety and risk management frameworks
• Knowledge of quality improvement methodologies and implementation within healthcare settings
• Knowledge of workforce planning, safe staffing methodologies and workforce assurance frameworks
• Knowledge of establishment management, workforce productivity measures and roster governance principles
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements including Care Quality Commission standards and the Single Assessment Framework
• Knowledge of professional nursing standards and the NMC Code
• Knowledge of quality, workforce and performance metrics and how they are used to support assurance and service improvement.
• Knowledge of safeguarding children and adults legislation, policy and best practice.
• Sound political judgement and astuteness in understanding and working with complex policy, and diverse interest groups, and common sense in knowing when to brief “up the line”
• Commitment to evidence-based practice, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Understanding of organisational change, transformation and workforce sustainability strategies

Qualifications

Essential

• First level Registered Childrens Nurse with active NMC registration
• Degree or equivalent level of knowledge and experience gained in a relevant environment
• Master’s Degree, Master’s level study or equivalent experience operating at this level
• Leadership qualification or equivalent senior leadership experience
• Post-registration qualification or robust CPD in a relevant specialty
• Evidence of commitment to continuous professional development

Desirable

• Quality Improvement Qualification
• Coaching, Mentoring or Executive Leadership qualification

Closing Date: 10 November 2026