Job overview
We are seeking a highly experienced senior nursing leader to undertake the role of Head of Nursing for Education, providing strategic, professional and operational leadership to the Trust’s Nursing Education Team. This pivotal role will help shape the Trust’s approach to nursing education and workforce development in line with organisational and national priorities.
The post holder will lead a team of education professionals to deliver high-quality clinical education, innovative workforce development initiatives, and strong pre- and post-registration programmes. Working closely with Clinical Groups, Higher Education Institutes, the Chief Nurse’s Office and corporate partners, they will promote an integrated and forward-looking approach to workforce planning.
As a visible leader and role model, the post holder will champion excellence in nursing practice, foster a culture of continuous learning, and ensure education supports career development, workforce transformation and service improvement.
The role includes leadership for governance, quality assurance and regulatory requirements, ensuring an inclusive, high-quality learning environment for all staff and learners.
This is an excellent opportunity for a forward-thinking senior nurse with strong leadership experience and a passion for developing others, helping to sustain a skilled and compassionate nursing workforce delivering outstanding care.
Main duties of the job
Please refer to the main duties and responsibilities below. For the full job description and person specification, please refer to the attached PDF document.
Working for our organisation
Guy’s and St Thomas’ is among the UK’s busiest and most successful NHS foundation trusts. We provide a full range of hospital and community services for people in south London and as well as specialist care for patients from further afield including cancer, renal, orthopaedic, respiratory and cardiovascular services.
Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on ensuring the best possible patient experience as well as safe, high quality care. We are proud to have one of the lowest mortality rates in the NHS. Following a comprehensive Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in 2019 we maintained our overall rating of ‘good’. Our adult community services achieved a rating of ‘outstanding’.
The commitment of our 23,500 staff is key to our success. We are one of the largest local employers and we aim to develop and support all our staff so they are able to deliver high quality, safe and efficient care. The 2019 NHS staff survey results show that we have one of the most engaged and motivated workforces in the NHS. We know this has a positive impact on the care provided to our patients.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership
·Provide high quality leadership of the nursing education team, ensuring there is a high performing culture which embodies our trust values, behaviours and standards
·Provide leadership to ensure effective clinical education practice and the highest professional standards from the nursing workforce.
·Provide visible, inspirational leadership across the wider Trust, including corporate nursing and clinical colleagues, acting as a role model for professional standards.
·Lead a culture of professional accountability and responsibility, ensuring staff learn from complaints, near misses, clinical incidents, and all forms of feedback.
·Develop, implement, and continually refine the Trust’s nursing education strategies and development workstreams and initiatives, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and priorities, national policy, and regulatory requirements.
·Provide strategic leadership for the delivery of quality pre-registration nursing learning experiences. Working in partnership with HEIs to support pre-registration learners within GSTT.
·Provide professional responsibility and senior leadership to the Chief Nurses Office for nursing education and workforce planning across the Trust in collaboration with the CNO Workforce team, aligning with and contributing to the Nursing and Midwifery strategy.
Education and Staff Development
·Lead on the development and implementation of education and development programmes for nurses, ensuring effective use of the education commissioning process.
·Foster a culture of lifelong learning and professional development, ensuring all staff have access to opportunities for growth and progression.
·Build and maintain strong relationships with Higher Education Institutions and other education providers, ensuring programmes are responsive to evolving needs.
·Provide line management to the Education team, ensuring the nursing education workforce is developed to its full potential, including recruitment and retention, appraisal, competencies, personal and professional development, leadership skills, regular supervision, and induction.
Support and lead where appropriate the development of the post graduate learning portfolio, working in close collaboration with the Head of Nightingale Academy and Clinical Group leads. Supporting the identification of career pathways for all members of the nursing team and fostering a ‘grow your own approach’.
·In collaboration with Apprenticeship Lead, maximise utilisation of the apprenticeship levy and the opportunities available to introduce and develop clinical apprenticeships.
·Engage with key stakeholders to develop and implement the strategy for nursing education at GSTT, from entry level health care assistant roles through to senior leadership roles.
·Work in partnership with nursing, midwifery, AHP, pharmacy, clinical science and learning and organisational leaders across the Trust, to develop and deliver a quality assured educational offer.
·Provide strategic leadership and oversight of internally delivered education programmes, such as Nursing induction, preceptorship, pre-registration and post registration courses Teaching Our Teachers.
·Promote an environment which is conducive to learning, education, training, research and development, fostering innovative practice and proactively implementing changes to address knowledge and skills gaps.
Policy Development and Governance
·Provide specialised and evidence-based advice for staff in relation to clinical practice and governance, supporting the development of policies, procedures, and guidelines.
·Ensure compliance and implementation of Trust policies, procedures, relevant legislation, and Nursing and Midwifery Strategy.
·Lead on quality improvement initiatives related to workforce and education, using data and feedback to drive positive change.
·Implements policies for own work area and proposes policy or service changes which impact beyond own area of activity.
·Attend key committees and forums to represent the department ensuring that nursing education is prioritised throughout Trust and professional group activity and planning
Develop and lead the governance and oversight of required education meetings, reporting structure into senior Trust meetings as required, eg Nursing and Midwifery Executive Committee.
·To ensure the recognition and value of the nursing / midwifery contribution and encourage a culture of professional academic publication within the nursing team.
·Leading on audit, quality improvement and research opportunities relating to education, identifying funding, research opportunities and support applications.
Financial Management
·Responsible for the nursing education pay and non-pay budget as authorised approver, acting as a signatory within agreed parameters.
·Ensure all resources are used efficiently within the department and external funding is maximised.
·To actively seek out any income generation opportunities and to produce funding applications based on sound reason and demonstrable benefit.
·Devise and develop bids for funding or participation in pilot programmes that support nursing education and workforce development.
·Identify areas where cost savings can be realised and commit to cost savings in line with Trust financial positioning.
Quality Assurance
·Ensure evidence-based practice is embedded in the practice of all staff and oversee the implementation of relevant national and local guidance and standards.
·Develop and implement systems for quality assurance, feedback, and continuous improvement in education and workforce development.
·Ensure nurses maintain high professional standards through professional supervision and competency development, appraisal process and clinical supervision to meet agreed objectives in line with CQC standards and requirements of professional registration bodies via the revalidation
·In partnership with key stakeholders develop a process to identify the learning needs within the organisation. Informed by strategic objectives, service need, safety metrics and service user and staff engagement.
·Lead, review and develop the internal quality assurance processes to ensure the delivery of high-quality education that is inclusive and reflective of the service.
·Lead and strengthen key partnership meetings with HEIs that include Key Performance Indicators, ongoing review and evaluation to continuously improve the education opportunities and experience for learners within the organisation.
·Ensure robust quality monitoring of GSTT learning environments are in place that meet the requirements of the NMC, inclusive of regular student feedback and development of a breadth of feedback pathways.
·Lead investigations for serious untoward incidents, complaints relating to, but not exclusively, pre-registration nurses.
Communications and Partnership
·Deliver effective communications to all staff, stakeholders, and colleagues, representing the priorities of the nursing education voice.
·Ability to lead and manage highly complex and potentially contentious situations within the Trust, with education and other care provider organisations that require a high level of decision making and be able to command the authority and respect of a range of professionals both internally and externally, most notably with the Deans of the local Higher Education Institutes (HEIs)
·Create and facilitate effective networks and partnerships, both within the Trust and externally, and develop support mechanisms for sharing best practice.
·Represent the organisation across the ICS and Pan London on the Nursing Education and Workforce Agenda.
·Lead in collaboration with the Head of Clinical Education for Children and Midwifery to develop the nursing education strategies.
·Work collaboratively with senior leaders in all professions to drive forward a shared vision for a skilled, resilient, and future-ready nursing workforce.
·Provide expertise on both pre and post registration education development across the organisation.
Strategy and Service Improvement
·Lead on the participation of service/quality improvement projects and programmes that contribute to the transformation of patient services, providing both professional and clinical advice as necessary.
·Lead on the management and expansion of pre-registration nursing within the trust. Working with HEI partners to support learners, the development of curriculum and create new learning opportunities within the organisation and across the system.
·Lead on the transformation of workforce models, including the introduction and integration of new roles, advanced practice, and innovative approaches to care delivery.
·Lead on the development, improvement and oversight of nurse education systems, including those used for the management of pre-registration students, higher and further education providers and in conjunction with relevant CoH applications.
Professional Standards and Patient Experience
·Lead on the promotion of a nurturing environment for patients, relatives, visitors, and staff through monitoring, measuring, actioning, and evaluating.
·Advocate for patients and staff at all times, to ensure a patient-focused approach to the delivery of care.
·To be clinically visible, including work regularly in clinical areas, providing direct patient care to maintain clinical competence and credibility.
·Frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances and impart unwelcome news to staff and/or patients.
Person specification
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Registered Nurse or Midwife (NMC) with evidence of recent clinical practice and ongoing professional development.
2. First degree and relevant Master’s/MBA or equivalent experience relation to nursing and education.
Desirable criteria
3. Leadership qualification
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
4. Extensive experience in senior nursing leadership roles, with a strong track record in workforce planning, education, and service transformation.
5. Demonstrable experience of managing large, complex teams and budgets in a healthcare setting.
6. Proven ability to lead change, manage complex projects, and deliver results in a dynamic environment.
7. Experience of working with academic partners and leading education strategy.
8. Experience in quality and risk management, data analysis, and implementing evidence-based practice.
Desirable criteria
9. Experience of working in a large operational organisation or healthcare setting
10. Experience of Programme management
11. Experience of presenting locally, nationally and internationally
Skills
Essential criteria
12. Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and influence at all levels.
13. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and develop actionable insights.
14. Ability to write clear, concise reports and business cases, and to present complex information to a range of audiences.
15. Commitment to innovation, quality improvement, and continuous professional development.
16. Ability to manage competing priorities, work under pressure, and adapt to changing circumstances.
17. Ability to collaborate constructively with internal and external partners to create the conditions for successful partnership working
18. Ability to articulate a clear vision for nursing and education
19. Fully understand the regulatory environment the Trust operates in
20. Able to understand the complexities of business planning
Additional Information
Essential criteria
21. Passionate about nursing and committed to improving patient outcomes.
22. Resilient, adaptable, and motivated, with a positive approach to challenges.
23. Collaborative and inclusive, able to work effectively as part of a team and independently.
24. Committed to upholding the Trust’s values and promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.
25. Self-aware, self-motivated, proactive with a learning mind-set to ensure solutions and programmes remain best practice
26. There is an occasional requirement to exert moderate physical effort for several short periods during a shift.
27. There is a frequent requirement for concentration where the work pattern is unpredictable,
Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.