Chief Nurse & Director of Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC)
We have an extremely exciting opportunity to join our Trust as Chief Nurse & Director of Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC). We are seeking an exceptional nurse who has the energy and passion to make a sustainable and lasting difference to the large and diverse communities we serve.
The Chief Nurse & DIPC post is a key member of our Trust Board, providing clinical and strategic leadership in the development of nursing, clinical psychologists and allied health professional standards. Our Chief Nurse & DIPC will provide strong, visible and professional leadership and ensure that patient safety, clinical governance and the delivery of high-quality care remain central to our strategic direction and decision-making.
We are looking to speak with candidates who have significant and recent experience at a senior level in a large complex organisation or system. A highly visible and politically astute leader, you will have a demonstrable track record of improving quality and safety, leading and developing clinical strategy as well as the ability to build and maintain strategic relationships. Importantly too, you will share our values and vision for excellent care at the heart of the community.
Main duties of the job
As a voting member of the Trust Board, the Chief Nurse provides expert professional leadership and strategic direction for all nursing, allied health professionals (AHPs), and clinical psychology services. This includes accountability for clinical leadership, professional practice standards, safer staffing, clinical education, infection prevention and control (IPC), and quality governance.
In partnership with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Chief Nurse plays a pivotal role in driving transformation to shape and sustain safe, high-quality clinical services across the Trust. Working collaboratively with executive colleagues, they will contribute to the Trust's strategic vision and operational delivery, promoting innovation, quality improvement, and patient-centered care
About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.
Why work for us?o Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeingo Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussexo Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retiremento Excellent training, development, and research opportunitieso Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staffo Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brightono Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networkso Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do.
We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Job responsibilities
Executive Leadership and Strategy Provide visible, compassionate, and inclusive leadership aligned with the Trusts vision and values Serve as the professional lead for all nurses, AHP, and clinical psychologists Contribute to and deliver the Trusts corporate strategy, acting as a key advisor to the Board on all nursing and clinical care matters Champion a culture of openness, safety, and learning, fostering excellence in governance, quality, and service delivery.
Clinical Governance, Quality and Patient Safety Act as the executive lead for clinical governance, quality and patient safety Ensure robust systems are in place for quality assurance, patient safety, clinical risk management, and compliance with regulatory standards Lead the Trust-wide clinical governance assurance framework and with the Deputy CEO the health and safety agenda, ensuring the Board receives timely assurance Lead on implementation and monitoring of national guidance, alerts, and the Duty of Candour Oversee safeguarding for children and adults, ensuring a coordinated and learning-led approachWorkforce Leadership and Education Lead the development of workforce strategies across nursing and AHPprofessions Ensure effective structures are in place for clinical supervision, revalidation, and continuing professional development Maintain high-quality clinical learning environments in collaboration with Higher Education Institutions Promote career pathways and with the CPO, develop talent pipelines, including for nursing associates, apprentices, and advanced clinical practitioners
Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC Responsibilities) As DIPC, report directly to the Chief Executive and Trust Board Lead the IPC team and ensure the development and implementation of Trust-wide IPC policy and strategy Challenge unsafe practices and advise on improvements, including in clinical hygiene and antimicrobial stewardship Produce the Trusts annual IPC report and ensure effective IPC engagement at all levels Collaborate system-wide to meet shared IPC targets across the Integrated Care System
Financial and Operational Management Provide strategic oversight and management of budgets related to nursing and AHP services Ensure effective use of resources to deliver high-quality patient care while maintaining financial sustainability Support the Trusts efficiency and transformation agenda by leading service improvement initiatives
Patient Experience and Engagement Lead on the delivery of a Trust-wide patient experience strategy Drive continuous improvement by embedding patient feedback into service design Strengthen relationships with advocacy organisations to promote transparency and trustStakeholder Engagement and Partnership Working Develop strong partnerships with system colleagues, NHS England / Department of Health and Social Care, regulators, commissioners, and other key stakeholders Work closely with local authorities, higher education institutions, andprofessional bodies to support workforce development and training initiatives Represent the Trust at regional and national forums, influencing policy and best practicesProfessional Standards and Compliance Ensure professional practice standards are maintained in line with national regulatory bodies and codes of conduct Oversee the development of clinical policies, ensuring alignment with best practice and patient safety standards Champion a culture of continuous improvement, learning, and excellence in professional practice
Person Specification
Qualifications & Registration
* Registered Nurse with current NMC registration
* Master's degree in a relevant field or equivalent senior experience
* Evidence of continued professional and leadership development
* Postgraduate qualification in infection prevention and control or public health
Experience
* Significant experience at executive or senior leadership level in a complex healthcare setting
* Proven track record of improving quality, safety, and patient experience
* Leadership of large clinical teams and multi-professional workforce
* Previous director of nursing experience or substantial experience as a Deputy Director of Nursing/Deputy Chief Nurse
* Experience of preparing and presenting assurance papers at Trust Board and sub-Board level meetings
* Experience of leading nursing clinical practice and innovation
* Experience as a Director of Infection Prevention and Control
Skills & Knowledge
* Comprehensive knowledge of healthcare regulation, safeguarding, IPC, and clinical governance
* Drive and energy to lead transformation
* Strong strategic thinking and planning skills, including workforce transformation
* Excellent communication, influencing, and partnership-building skills
* Ability to lead through change and manage complexity in a politically sensitive environment
* Commitment to inclusive leadership, compassionate care, and the NHS values
Other Requirements
* Willingness to travel across sites and participate in executive on-call rota
* Commitment to promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion
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.
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