Job overview
Divisional Nurse and AHP Director (Surgery)
Band 8D – Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
We are seeking an experienced and compassionate senior leader to provide professional nursing and AHP leadership across our Surgery Division. This pivotal role is responsible for the quality, safety, experience and effectiveness of care across a large and complex surgical portfolio. Working closely with the Divisional Director and Divisional Medical Director, you will help shape strategic priorities, drive improvement and ensure the delivery of high‑quality, patient‑centred care.
You will lead on patient safety, clinical governance, professional standards and workforce planning, fostering a positive, inclusive culture where colleagues feel supported and empowered. The role includes oversight of safe staffing, recruitment and retention, quality improvement activity and the non‑medical clinical budget, along with participation in the senior on‑call rota.
We are looking for a highly organised, compassionate leader who can inspire teams, work effectively across divisions and champion personalised, high‑quality care. You must be a registered Nurse or AHP (NMC/HCPC), educated to Master’s level or equivalent, with substantial senior leadership experience in complex acute settings.
For further information or an informal discussion, please contact Catherine Gregory.
Apply via NHS Jobs.
Main duties of the job
As Divisional Nurse and AHP Director, you will:
1. Provide strong, visible professional leadership to ensure the delivery of safe, effective, compassionate care across the division.
2. Lead the strategic direction, professional standards, and quality of all nursing, AHP and non‑medical clinical services, working in partnership with the Divisional Director and Divisional Medical Director.
3. Oversee clinical governance, including STAR quality assurance, risk management, patient experience, service improvement and compliance with statutory and regulatory standards.
4. Ensure safe staffing, taking the lead on workforce planning, recruitment, retention and skill‑mix optimisation across all clinical teams.
5. Manage and develop senior nursing/AHP leaders (Matrons, Professional Leads, Governance Team) to embed a culture of continuous improvement and high professional standards.
6. Provide leadership on infection prevention and control, safeguarding, privacy and dignity, and building a positive safety culture.
7. Oversee financial stewardship of non‑medical clinical budgets, ensuring resources are used effectively and contribute to service transformation and improvement.
8. Work collaboratively across organisational boundaries to support service redesign, pathway development, research, education and innovation.
9. Deputise for the Divisional Director and represent the division at senior forums as required.
Working for our organisation
Working for Our Organisation
Working at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals means joining a compassionate, values‑driven organisation committed to delivering excellent patient care and supporting its people to thrive. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and continuous improvement, where every colleague is valued for their contribution and encouraged to develop, lead and innovate. Our focus on high standards, learning, inclusion and professional integrity underpins everything we do, and we are proud to create an environment where staff feel supported, empowered and motivated to make a meaningful difference every day.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As Divisional Nurse and AHP Director, you will provide strong, visible professional leadership across the division, ensuring the delivery of safe, high‑quality and compassionate care. You will lead on clinical governance, patient experience, quality improvement and regulatory compliance, working closely with the Divisional Director and Divisional Medical Director to shape strategic priorities and service transformation. The role oversees nursing, AHP and non‑medical workforce leadership, including safe staffing, recruitment and retention, professional development, and embedding a positive, inclusive culture. You will ensure effective resource and budget management, lead on safeguarding, infection prevention and control, and champion evidence‑based practice, innovation and continuous improvement. The post also carries responsibility for risk management, performance oversight, and deputising at senior divisional level when required.
Person specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential criteria
10. Registered Professional NMC/HCPC register
11. Educated to Masters level or equivalent experience
12. Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge acquired through degree level study and enhanced through further specialist training relating to the role specialism.
Desirable criteria
13. Recognised training in improvement methodology
14. Participation in a recognised leadership programme.
15. Completion of Good Clinical Practice in Research training (NIHR)
16. Level 4 safeguarding training
Knowledge, Training & Experience
Essential criteria
17. •Substantial clinical leadership experience as a practising senior nurse/AHP
18. •Recent senior management experience
19. •Experience at a senior level of managing complex services in a changing environment
20. •Experience in implementing Nurse/AHP led services
21. •Project/programme management experience
22. •Understanding the role of research and development activities and clinical effectiveness as a whole within the organisation
23. •Broad ranging experience in different acute clinical services in a number of clinical specialisms.
24. •Significant experience of managing complex services in a changing environment
25. •Experience in implementing nurse led services
26. •Project management experience including ability to coordinate a quality impact assessment and lead discussions with the MDT on topics.
27. •Proven experience of quality improvement and clinical governance. Knowledge of HR Policies and Procedures in the NHS.
28. •Understanding and experience of NHS Regulatory frameworks.
29. •Clear understanding of transformation programmes and service development and improvement.
Desirable criteria
30. •Experience of utilising improvement methodology to drive change.
31. •Knowledge of business planning processes in the NHS.
32. •Experience of service re-design and demand management.
33. •Understanding of project management techniques.