Head of Nursing for Patient Flow and Integrated Discharge
The closing date is 29 October 2025
Please note that if you currently work for another NHS Trust and are applying to accept this position as a secondment opportunity, before applying you must seek agreement and authorisation from your current Trust. Secondments cannot be agreed without this approval. If you are unable to gain approval you should refrain from applying unless you wish to take this role as a fixed‑term position.
We are seeking an experienced and inspirational leader to cover Head of Nursing/Service for Patient Flow and Integrated Discharge responsibilities during maternity leave. This is open to Registered Nurses and Registered AHPs who are motivated and seeing a developmental opportunity.
The successful applicant will report into the Hospital Director of Nursing and will work as part of the Hospital Leadership Team, taking responsibility for the day‑to‑day operational management of patient flow on the Richards' Hospital site, ensuring our patients receive safe, high quality and coordinated care. It is also expected that the Head of Nursing/Service will deputise for the Hospital Director of Nursing as appropriate.
Main duties of the job
Providing strategic and operational management day to day, the post holder will also work with Integrated Care System partners and will ensure safe and timely patient discharge, promote evidence based visible, compassionate leadership act as a role model for best practice.
The post holder will develop and implement collaborative ways of working in managing patient flow from admission to discharge in a safe, efficient, and coordinated manner across all areas.
About us
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Job responsibilities
Responsible for the day‑to‑day operational management of the site and patient flow at St Richard's Hospital and deputising for the Hospital Director of Nursing as appropriate.
Coordination of patient services to the hospital 24/7 and working with Integrated Care System partners to ensure safe and timely patient discharge.
To develop and implement collaborative ways of working in managing patient flow from admission to discharge in a safe, efficient, and coordinated manner across all areas.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Registered Nurse or Allied Healthcare Professional
* Masters level education or equivalent experience
* Evidence of continuous professional development
* Significant postgraduate experience within the speciality, supported by evidence of postgraduate learning and experience, and its application to clinical practice
* To demonstrate a vision for successfully working collaboratively with senior colleagues across a multi‑disciplinary team and across organisational boundaries
* Substantial relevant post‑registration experience at a senior level
* Recognised teaching/mentorship course
Experience
* Experience of working successfully collaboratively with senior colleagues across a multi‑disciplinary team and across organisational boundaries
* Previous experience of leadership and management in a relevant senior nurse/senior therapist role ideally within an Acute NHS Trust
* Excellent planning and organisational skills
* Excellent and developed leadership skills with the ability to successfully manage inter‑departmental, division and external partner relationships
* Ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information
* Proven experience of audit, benchmarking or research and the ability to use results to inform change and development
* Ability to understand, interpret, produce and explain data and reports
* Ability to work under pressure both professionally and managerially
* Ability to concentrate and provide a high degree of accuracy
* Evidence of experience in coordinating and chairing meetings and recording accurate notes
* Commitment to promote Equality & Diversity in the workplace and in the development and delivery of the service
* Ability to demonstrate possession of excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills, with the ability to use them to motivate, support and develop staff
* Patient and staff focused
* Evidence of strong performance management skills
People Management and Development
* Previous experience of leadership and management in a relevant senior nurse/senior therapist role ideally within an Acute NHS Trust
* Ability to competently apply operational and HR Trust policies and procedures
* Ability to apply a range of management styles, particularly coaching
* Demonstrable delivery in managing patient flow from admission to discharge, including complex discharge knowledge
* Understanding of service improvement and successful achievement against key deliverables in patient experience and safety agendas
* Ability to think and plan strategically, tactically and creatively and to prioritise effectively in the face of competing demands
* A proven ability of working with a diverse range of stakeholders, including external partners and a successful track record of influence, engagement and change process
* Flexibility to look beyond existing structures ways of working, boundaries and organisations to produce more effective and innovative service delivery and partnerships
* Able to work autonomously to manage safety and infection control investigations
* Aware of the feedback structure and liaison with senior management team. Guided by general health, organisational or broad occupational policies and would require to establish how these are interpreted
* Substantial relevant post‑registration experience at a senior level
* Understanding of the local health economy
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
* Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
* Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to 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.
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
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