Job summary
The Nursing Lead for Workforce, Standards and Professional Practice provides strategic leadership and expert direction on all professional nursing matters across the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust (WAST). As a key member of the senior nursing leadership team, the post holder has Trust-wide responsibility for the design, delivery and governance of systems that uphold professional standards, enhance workforce capability, and ensure that nursing practice meets the highest regulatory, ethical and clinical expectations.
This includes leading the implementation and integration of national and professional frameworks such as the Strategic Nursing Workforce Plan for Wales, the Chief Nursing Officer for Wales's Priorities, and delivery of Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) and Restorative Clinical Supervision (RCS) models, ensuring they are tailored to meet the unique challenges of a mobile, dispersed, and autonomous workforce.
The post holder holds delegated authority as the Trust's senior professional lead for fitness to practise, nursing assurance, and supervision, and will work with senior leaders or independently to develop and implement Trust-wide professional strategies. They will lead the development of internal policies, quality assurance frameworks and performance measures that support professional nursing excellence and regulation compliance.
Main duties of the job
Provide strategic leadership for professional nursing standards, fitness to practice, revalidation and staff development.
Lead implementation and governance of the PNA role and Restorative Clinical Supervision (RCS) across all nursing services.
Ensure alignment with the Chief Nursing Officer for Wales's national priorities and delivery against the Strategic Nursing Workforce Plan for Wales.
Oversee professional governance structures, including policies, revalidation systems, supervision, and assurance processes.
Lead the Trust's response to regulatory guidance and quality improvement priorities linked to the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act.
Act as an ambassador for the nursing profession within WAST and represent the Trust at regional and national forums.
Provide assurance through to the Board and Executive Team through robust governance reporting on nursing quality, professional supervision, and workforce readiness indicators.
Develop strong professional networks across HEIW, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Health Boards and regulatory bodies to influence and embed best practice.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and /or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
About us
#RemarkablePeople
Our workforce is made up of over 4,000 remarkable people who contribute to the delivery of world-class patient care across Wales, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether you work in a patient-facing role or within our range of support services, the work that you do enables us to provide high quality care, wherever and whenever we're needed.
The Trust recognises the need for its workforce to represent the diversity of the population it serves across the whole of Wales and seeks to create an environment where diversity is celebrated and inclusivity matters. We are also keen to break down any barriers into the Trust, and would encourage applications from under-represented groups, including those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ communities and disability groups.
Careers within the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust are diverse and varied, with opportunities arising right across the service. Whatever your skills and background, you're sure to find a career with us which is fulfilling, challenging, and rewarding.
In line with the Trust's Starting Salary Procedure, all applicants will start at the bottom of the band for the position applied for, but can apply for a higher salary if they have previous experience relevant to the position.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Registered nurse with current registration on Part 1 of the NMC Register.
- Educated to Master's level or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience in leading workforce, education, or quality agendas at a senior level
- A recognised qualification or significant experience in clinical supervision, coaching, or education is required. A thorough understanding of the Chief Nursing Officer for Wales's priorities, the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act, and the Strategic Nursing Workforce Plan for Wales is essential
- The post holder must also demonstrate up-to-date knowledge of professional regulation, revalidation, and fitness to practise frameworks.
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification in nursing leadership, healthcare improvement, digital health, or management.
- Familiarity with quality improvement methodology (e.g. IQT Silver) and knowledge of workforce and assurance models specific to prehospital or community-based care would also be beneficial
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of managing complex professional governance structures, leading education or supervision strategies, and successfully working across multi-agency boundaries to drive improvement.
- Experience leading professional governance during significant system transformation or organisational change
Desirable
- Substantial leadership experience in a senior nursing, workforce, or professional development role, with a proven track record of implementing National Nursing Frameworks and leading assurance or fitness to practise processes.
- Experience of working within an ambulance service, integrated urgent care setting, or a highly mobile clinical environment is desirable.
- Experience of leading the rollout of the PNA framework or Restorative Clinical Supervision would be particularly valuable. Direct collaboration with bodies such as HEIW, universities, or Welsh Government on workforce initiatives is also advantageous.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Demonstrate highly effective leadership, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage confidently with senior leaders, operational teams, and external stakeholders.
- Skilled in interpreting data, developing reports, and leading strategic improvement plans.
- A clear commitment to compassionate leadership, inclusive practice, and supporting others to develop is essential.
- Spend a significant proportion of their time using digital systems to support nursing governance, professional supervision, and workforce assurance. This includes regular use of digital platforms for communication, documentation, clinical oversight, and virtual engagement with a geographically dispersed workforce.
- Advanced keyboard and IT skills are essential, with the ability to produce high-quality written work, navigate digital systems confidently, and engage with e-learning, e-supervision, and digital documentation tools
- The post holder will model digital professionalism and contribute to the development of a digitally enabled nursing culture across the Trust They will also promote digital literacy among the nursing workforce, supporting the adoption of tools and technologies that enhance supervision, reflective practice, and professional connectivity.
- The candidate must demonstrate alignment with NHS Wales and WAST values, including a strong commitment to dignity, fairness, compassion, and equity. They should be able to model professional integrity, support cultural change, and foster learning environments that prioritise staff wellbeing, development, and patient safety.
- The post holder must be able to travel across Wales to meet the needs of nursing teams based in varied and sometimes remote locations. They should be flexible and responsive to emerging priorities and willing to represent the Trust at a national level where required.
Desirable
- Formal training in coaching, restorative supervision, or change management would enhance the candidate's ability to deliver the role.
- Experience of presenting complex material to national forums, regulatory bodies, or Board-level committees is desirable.
- Experience of leading digital transformation projects in the workforce or clinical education domain is desirable. This could include implementing e-supervision tools, digital CPD hubs, or virtual learning platforms. Candidates with experience as digital champions or who have supported digital literacy among clinical staff would be particularly well placed.
- Previous involvement in regional or national professional groups or working parties would also enhance their contribution to system-wide influence and leadership.
- A nuanced understanding of the strategic and political landscape within NHS Wales would be beneficial, particularly in relation to professional nursing policy and workforce planning at national level.
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Registered nurse with current registration on Part 1 of the NMC Register.
- Educated to Master's level or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience in leading workforce, education, or quality agendas at a senior level
- A recognised qualification or significant experience in clinical supervision, coaching, or education is required. A thorough understanding of the Chief Nursing Officer for Wales's priorities, the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act, and the Strategic Nursing Workforce Plan for Wales is essential
- The post holder must also demonstrate up-to-date knowledge of professional regulation, revalidation, and fitness to practise frameworks.
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification in nursing leadership, healthcare improvement, digital health, or management.
- Familiarity with quality improvement methodology (e.g. IQT Silver) and knowledge of workforce and assurance models specific to prehospital or community-based care would also be beneficial
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of managing complex professional governance structures, leading education or supervision strategies, and successfully working across multi-agency boundaries to drive improvement.
- Experience leading professional governance during significant system transformation or organisational change
Desirable
- Substantial leadership experience in a senior nursing, workforce, or professional development role, with a proven track record of implementing National Nursing Frameworks and leading assurance or fitness to practise processes.
- Experience of working within an ambulance service, integrated urgent care setting, or a highly mobile clinical environment is desirable.
- Experience of leading the rollout of the PNA framework or Restorative Clinical Supervision would be particularly valuable. Direct collaboration with bodies such as HEIW, universities, or Welsh Government on workforce initiatives is also advantageous.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Demonstrate highly effective leadership, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage confidently with senior leaders, operational teams, and external stakeholders.
- Skilled in interpreting data, developing reports, and leading strategic improvement plans.
- A clear commitment to compassionate leadership, inclusive practice, and supporting others to develop is essential.
- Spend a significant proportion of their time using digital systems to support nursing governance, professional supervision, and workforce assurance. This includes regular use of digital platforms for communication, documentation, clinical oversight, and virtual engagement with a geographically dispersed workforce.
- Advanced keyboard and IT skills are essential, with the ability to produce high-quality written work, navigate digital systems confidently, and engage with e-learning, e-supervision, and digital documentation tools
- The post holder will model digital professionalism and contribute to the development of a digitally enabled nursing culture across the Trust They will also promote digital literacy among the nursing workforce, supporting the adoption of tools and technologies that enhance supervision, reflective practice, and professional connectivity.
- The candidate must demonstrate alignment with NHS Wales and WAST values, including a strong commitment to dignity, fairness, compassion, and equity. They should be able to model professional integrity, support cultural change, and foster learning environments that prioritise staff wellbeing, development, and patient safety.
- The post holder must be able to travel across Wales to meet the needs of nursing teams based in varied and sometimes remote locations. They should be flexible and responsive to emerging priorities and willing to represent the Trust at a national level where required.
Desirable
- Formal training in coaching, restorative supervision, or change management would enhance the candidate's ability to deliver the role.
- Experience of presenting complex material to national forums, regulatory bodies, or Board-level committees is desirable.
- Experience of leading digital transformation projects in the workforce or clinical education domain is desirable. This could include implementing e-supervision tools, digital CPD hubs, or virtual learning platforms. Candidates with experience as digital champions or who have supported digital literacy among clinical staff would be particularly well placed.
- Previous involvement in regional or national professional groups or working parties would also enhance their contribution to system-wide influence and leadership.
- A nuanced understanding of the strategic and political landscape within NHS Wales would be beneficial, particularly in relation to professional nursing policy and workforce planning at national level.
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
