Director of Nursing - Group Clinical Services

Job summaryWe are seeking an exceptional and inspiring Director of Nursing to join the leadership team of our Group Clinical Services Health Unit at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. Reporting to the Health Unit Chief Executive Officer, with professional accountability to the Group Chief Nurse, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across nursing and allied health professional services within a diverse portfolio including Pharmacy, Pathology, Imaging, Community Diagnostic Centres, Breast Screening Services, Mortuary and Bereavement Services, and Elective Access Services.As a key executive leader, you will be responsible for driving excellence in patient safety, patient and staff experience, quality improvement, safeguarding, infection prevention and control, and clinical governance. You will lead the development of a high-performing nursing and AHP workforce, fostering a culture of compassionate, inclusive leadership, continuous improvement, and innovation.Working closely with clinical, operational, and executive colleagues across the Trust and wider health system, you will play a pivotal role in delivering the Royal Free London clinical strategy, service transformation, embedding quality improvement methodology, and ensuring the highest standards of care, safety, and regulatory compliance. This is an outstanding opportunity for a visionary nursing leader to influence care delivery across one of the UK's largest and most ambitious NHS groups.Main duties of the jobThis role offers an exceptional opportunity to influence care quality and service transformation across a diverse portfolio of specialist and diagnostic services within one of the UK's largest NHS organisations.Provide visible and inspirational leadership for nursing and allied health professional (AHP) services across the Group Clinical Services Health Unit, promoting a culture of excellence, inclusion, innovation and continuous improvement.Lead on patient safety, patient experience, safeguarding, infection prevention and control, and clinical governance, ensuring the highest standards of quality, safety and regulatory compliance.Work closely with the Health Unit Chief Executive, Medical Director and senior leaders to develop and deliver strategic priorities, service transformation programmes and quality improvement initiatives.Oversee performance against quality, operational and workforce objectives, ensuring services are safe, effective, financially sustainable and deliver excellent patient outcomes and experiences.Lead the Health Unit's approach to Care Quality Commission (CQC) preparedness and inspections, ensuring robust assurance processes and continuous improvement.Act as a senior ambassador for the Trust, championing its values, strategic objectives and commitment to delivering world-class careAbout usThe Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17million tests.Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top.For more information please follow link https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/DetailsDate posted06 August 2026Pay schemeVery senior manager (VSM)Salary 125,000 to 140,000 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS ContractPermanentWorking pattern Full-time, Compressed hours Reference number391-RFL-8208989Job locationsChase Farm Hospital127 The RidgewayEnfieldEN2 8JLUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease see attached Job Description for more information about this role and working at royal free London NHS foundation Trust Job description Job responsibilitiesPlease see attached Job Description for more information about this role and working at royal free London NHS foundation TrustPerson Specification Royal Free world class values EssentialDemonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values Education & professional qualifications EssentialCurrent NMC RegistrationMasters degree or equivalent level experienceEvidence of continuous personal and professional developmentDesirableManagement qualification Experience EssentialSignificant senior nursing experience in an NHS Acute trustExperience of increasing staff engagementExperience of leading transformational service changeExperience of managing complex problemso Successful achievement of projects of a significant scale including close working with clinicians Skills and aptitudes EssentialDemonstrable track record of successful deliveryStrong understanding of, and responsiveness to the complexities and dynamics of the NHS including the importance of clinical governanceDemonstrate effective partnership working with internal and external stakeholdersAbility to influence, negotiate and persuade regarding complex or sensitive issuesMotivational skills to lead staffHighly developed communication and interpersonal skillsDetermination to achieve high standards and strive to delivery improvements in patient care within the framework of the Trust Personal Qualities & attributes EssentialPassion, enthusiasm and pride for the professionAbility to commend confidence of medical and other Trust colleaguesAbility to plan strategically, tactically and creativelyAbility to take an innovative approachProactive, versatile and problem solving approachRobust and persistent in the pursuit of objectives whilst responding to short term challenges and prioritiesAble to maintain personal credibilityAble to prioritise and work under pressure Others EssentialMeets the requirement for fit and proper persons Person Specification Royal Free world class values EssentialDemonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values Education & professional qualifications EssentialCurrent NMC RegistrationMasters degree or equivalent level experienceEvidence of continuous personal and professional developmentDesirableManagement qualification Experience EssentialSignificant senior nursing experience in an NHS Acute trustExperience of increasing staff engagementExperience of leading transformational service changeExperience of managing complex problemso Successful achievement of projects of a significant scale including close working with clinicians Skills and aptitudes EssentialDemonstrable track record of successful deliveryStrong understanding of, and responsiveness to the complexities and dynamics of the NHS including the importance of clinical governanceDemonstrate effective partnership working with internal and external stakeholdersAbility to influence, negotiate and persuade regarding complex or sensitive issuesMotivational skills to lead staffHighly developed communication and interpersonal skillsDetermination to achieve high standards and strive to delivery improvements in patient care within the framework of the Trust Personal Qualities & attributes EssentialPassion, enthusiasm and pride for the professionAbility to commend confidence of medical and other Trust colleaguesAbility to plan strategically, tactically and creativelyAbility to take an innovative approachProactive, versatile and problem solving approachRobust and persistent in the pursuit of objectives whilst responding to short term challenges and prioritiesAble to maintain personal credibilityAble to prioritise and work under pressure Others EssentialMeets the requirement for fit and proper personsDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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).Employer detailsEmployer nameRoyal Free London NHS Foundation TrustAddressChase Farm Hospital127 The RidgewayEnfieldEN2 8JLUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameRoyal Free London NHS Foundation TrustAddressChase Farm Hospital127 The RidgewayEnfieldEN2 8JLUnited KingdomEmployer's website