Job posted 11 November 2025. Full‑time permanent. Salary £76,965-£88,682. Reference 216-PL-M7584502. Location Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.
Head of Nursing – Urgent and Emergency Care (Band 8c)
Lead. Inspire. Transform Emergency & Urgent Care.
This role provides strategic and operational nursing leadership across UEC, ensuring high‑quality, safe, patient‑centred care while promoting empowerment, professionalism and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide inspirational leadership to Matrons and senior nursing teams across all UEC services.
* Champion the highest standards of clinical care, safety and patient experience.
* Lead the operational delivery of the nursing strategy, ensuring excellence in infection prevention, workforce planning and clinical governance.
* Drive innovation, service improvement and workforce transformation in response to priorities.
* Represent UEC at Trust, system and regional forums, advocating for outstanding, responsive and compassionate care.
Main Duties
* Visible, compassionate nursing leadership across the Directorate, supporting high quality patient care.
* Hold Matrons and senior staff to professional standards, governance and compliance with CQC and Trust requirements.
* Improve patient safety, clinical quality, infection prevention and control and patient experience.
* Deliver the nursing and midwifery strategy within the Directorate, aligning with Trust values and the 6Cs.
* Develop workforce planning, establishment reviews and professional development, fostering learning and accountability.
* Support strategic service development, innovation and transformation in care delivery.
* Act as a role model and advocate for patients, staff and nursing profession, fostering compassion, inclusion and excellence.
* Represent the Directorate internally and externally on nursing and quality matters.
About Us
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. We are a people business – every staff member matter and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. We offer career development, a progressive working environment and a vibrant modern city.
We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.
Person Specification
Essential
* Demonstrable experience of clinical working in acute hospital settings.
* Substantial experience working in health care.
* Proven knowledge and experience of providing clinical supervision and being a clinical role model.
* Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and experience in clinical decision‑making.
* Registered Nurse with current NMC registration.
* Master’s degree or equivalent experience, with commitment to postgraduate development.
* Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.
* Leadership ability, resilience and flexibility to work with diverse teams.
* Demonstrated enthusiasm for nursing service development.
* Ability to work autonomously.
* Flexible, innovative, adaptable to change.
Desirable
* Recognised teaching, mentorship or leadership qualification.
* Ability to employ stress management strategies.
Additional Information
Contract: Permanent. Working pattern: Full‑time. We provide learning and development and flexible working options. This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Rehabilitation of Offenders checks.
For full job details and person specification, refer to the attached person specification document.
#J-18808-Ljbffr