Sue Ryder

Head of Clinical Services

The closing date is 27 April 2026

Job summary

In person interviews to take place the w/c 11th of May

Be the clinical leader who shapes exceptional end-of-life care

At Sue Ryder, we believe no one should face death or grief alone. At Wheatfields Hospice,youlllead and develop a dedicated team, shaping and strengthening services to deliver consistently outstanding palliative and end-of-life carewhen it matters most.

About us

Wheatfields Hospice is a specialist palliative care service at the heart of the Leeds community. We provide expert care, emotionalsupportand dignity to people at the end of life, as well as support for their families. As part of Sue Ryder,youlljoin a nationally recognised charity committed to innovation,qualityand person-centred care.

Main duties of the job

About the role

This is a senior clinical leadership role with real impact.

You will -

Lead and inspire multidisciplinary clinical teams to deliver safe, high-quality, CQC-compliant care

Drive a culture of continuous improvement,innovationand service development

Take ownership of clinical governance, risk,auditand quality standards

Manage budgets,resourcesand service performance

Lead transformationdeveloping services that meet changing patient and community needs

Build strong partnerships with stakeholders including commissioners and regulators

Deputise for the Regional Director of Healthcare Operations and contribute at senior leadership level

This role requires the successful candidate to become the registered manager with the Care Quality Commission andparticipateregularly in the on-call rota.

This is your opportunity to shape the future of hospice care locally and beyond

About us

Benefits

Enhanced pay for unsociable hours

Company pension scheme

Continuation of NHS pension - terms and conditions apply

27 days holiday rising to 33 with length of service plus bank holidays

NHS annual leave honoured - terms and conditions apply

Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Enhanced sick pay

Electric Vehicle Scheme

Healthcare Cash plan, to claim back costs of routine healthcare

Death in Service benefit

Staff discount on new goods online at shop.sueryder.org

Structured induction programme and learning and development opportunities.

At Sue Ryder, we recognise that a diverse workforce helps us provide the best care. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and eliminating discrimination.

We welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTQ individuals, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and people living with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we support the Offer an Interview scheme, guaranteeing interviews for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria.

If you need support with your application or interview, please email recruitment@sueryder.org.

Youll have access to staff networks supporting LGBTQ colleagues, ethnic diversity, disability, and women and non-binary individuals, plus an Inclusion Passport for workplace adjustments.

Join us in creating a culture where everyone feels valued and able to thrive.

Details

Date posted

24 March 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience Plus excellent benefits

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

B0475-SD503548MAR26

Job locations

Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice

Wood Lane

Headingley

Leeds

LS62AE


Job description

Job responsibilities

About you

Yourea credible, visible clinical leader who combines compassion with strategic thinking.

You will bring -

Strong leadership experience in a healthcare setting

A passion for improving patient outcomes and experience

Confidence leading change, managingcomplexityand influencing across systems

Deep understanding of clinical governance and quality assurance

The ability to balance operational delivery with long-term vision

Job description

Job responsibilities

About you

Yourea credible, visible clinical leader who combines compassion with strategic thinking.

You will bring -

Strong leadership experience in a healthcare setting

A passion for improving patient outcomes and experience

Confidence leading change, managingcomplexityand influencing across systems

Deep understanding of clinical governance and quality assurance

The ability to balance operational delivery with long-term vision

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Minimum Essential Criteria:
  • - Applicants who meet these criteria and identify as disabled will be guaranteed an interview under our Disability Confident scheme
  • Registered General Nurse with active UK NMC registration
  • Significant post-registration clinical experience in a healthcare setting Demonstrable experience of leading, managing or supervising clinical teams
  • Experience of clinical governance, audit, risk management or quality improvement
  • Evidence of working across multidisciplinary teams and organisational boundaries
  • Experience contributing to or leading service improvement or change initiatives
  • Strong communication and organisational skills, with ability to manage competing priorities
  • Understanding of healthcare regulations, standards and patient safety requirements
  • Competent IT skills and ability to use digital systems

Desirable

  • Desirable Criteria
  • Masters degree or equivalent experience
  • Leadership/management qualification
  • Experience in palliative or end-of-life care
  • Experience managing budgets and resources
  • Experience engaging with external stakeholders e.g. CQC, ICBs
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Minimum Essential Criteria:
  • - Applicants who meet these criteria and identify as disabled will be guaranteed an interview under our Disability Confident scheme
  • Registered General Nurse with active UK NMC registration
  • Significant post-registration clinical experience in a healthcare setting Demonstrable experience of leading, managing or supervising clinical teams
  • Experience of clinical governance, audit, risk management or quality improvement
  • Evidence of working across multidisciplinary teams and organisational boundaries
  • Experience contributing to or leading service improvement or change initiatives
  • Strong communication and organisational skills, with ability to manage competing priorities
  • Understanding of healthcare regulations, standards and patient safety requirements
  • Competent IT skills and ability to use digital systems

Desirable

  • Desirable Criteria
  • Masters degree or equivalent experience
  • Leadership/management qualification
  • Experience in palliative or end-of-life care
  • Experience managing budgets and resources
  • Experience engaging with external stakeholders e.g. CQC, ICBs

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Sue Ryder

Address

Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice

Wood Lane

Headingley

Leeds

LS62AE


Employer's website

https://www.sueryder.org (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Sue Ryder

Address

Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice

Wood Lane

Headingley

Leeds

LS62AE


Employer's website

https://www.sueryder.org (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Business Partner

Sian Dodunski

recruitment@sueryder.org

Details

Date posted

24 March 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience Plus excellent benefits

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

B0475-SD503548MAR26

Job locations

Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice

Wood Lane

Headingley

Leeds

LS62AE


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Sue Ryder's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)