Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a dynamic and rapidly growing team as the Head of Nursing and Quality in the Nursing and Quality Division which is within the Nursing, Quality and Integrated Governance (NQIG) Directorate.
The NQIG Directorate brings together three key divisions: Nursing and Quality, Integrated Governance, and the National Safeguarding Service. Our shared mission is to enhance quality and capability across public health services in Wales. We do this by engaging with, enabling, and empowering those we work with and serve, helping to build a healthier future for all.
The Nursing and Quality Division plays a pivotal role in advancing the organisation's priorities in Quality, Patient Safety, Service User Experience and Engagement, and the management of concerns through the Putting Things Right process. It also oversees key corporate functions, including Quality and Clinical Audit, Safeguarding, and Infection Prevention and Control.
Main duties of the job
Work with Directorate management teams and service leads to provide professional and clinical leadership with responsibility for various components of the Clinical Governance agenda.
Develop and manage the Trust's Quality Programme, working to embed quality standards across the organisation, supporting managers and clinical leaders in using peer reviews and self-assessment as tools to drive continuous improvement in service quality.
Provide senior nursing leadership in the development and implementation of nursing and midwifery workforce strategies and plans, working in collaboration with the People and Organisation Development team.
Provide a visible leadership profile, undertaking quality walks and engaging with service areas to ensure we provide excellent public health services which is reflected in experience of those who use them.
About us
We are Public Health Wales - the national public health agency in Wales. Our purpose is 'Working together for a healthier Wales'. We exist to help everyone in Wales live longer, healthier, happier lives. Together with our partners, we work to increase healthy life expectancy, improve health and well-being, and reduce inequalities for everyone in Wales, now and for future generations.
Our teams work to prevent disease, protect health, and provide leadership, specialist services and public health expertise. We are the leading source of public health information, research and innovation in Wales. In a world facing complex health challenges, our work has never been so important.
We are guided by our Values, 'Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference'. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace that values equality and diversity. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and are supportive of flexible working arrangements, including part time roles and job sharing.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is a hybrid role working in a flexible manner with a combination of working from home, office based and site visits with meeting attendance at Public Health Wales sites on a regular basis.
Please note that all interviews will be held in person and will take place in our Cardiff office on the 24th October 2025.
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.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is a hybrid role working in a flexible manner with a combination of working from home, office based and site visits with meeting attendance at Public Health Wales sites on a regular basis.
Please note that all interviews will be held in person and will take place in our Cardiff office on the 24th October 2025.
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.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- NMC Registered Nurse or Midwife with an active registration.
- Master's degree level qualification in relevant subject.
- Management or leadership qualification or demonstratable experience of working within leadership roles.
Desirable
- Project management qualification or training.
- Professional Nurse Advocate or equivalent.
Experience
Essential
- Extensive senior clinical management/professional leadership experience in a large complex NHS organisation.
- Evidence of delivering high quality clinical and nursing services.
- Ability to manage complex clinical and operational situations that involve staff from all levels within an organisation.
- Ability to lead/develop policies and procedures.
- Experience of managing organisation-wide programmes of quality /service improvement.
- Budget management experience.
- Ability to interpret national policy and design and implement complex strategies.
- Experience of leading development and implementation of governance assurance processes.
- Demonstrable record of successfully delivering value improvement programmes.
Desirable
- Project Management experience.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Ability to manage complex situations and provide a solution.
- Proven ability to consistently achieve results and challenging targets.
- Excellent report writing and data analysis skills.
- Proven ability to lead improvement and audit activity through staff and service user/carer participation.
- Ability to hold others to account and manage demanding programmes of work.
- Values driven and self-aware.
- Proven leadership, influencing and negotiating skills with an open participative style.
- Ability to motivate others and work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
- Able to deal both with multi-tasking in a complex environment as well as able to focus intense concentration on single issues for periods.
- Able to manage highly distressing or emotionally difficult information and situations and manage own emotions and be resilient.
- Professional and personal credibility.
- Strong team player willing to work flexibly.
- High effective interpersonal skills (able to communicate at any level of the organisation).
- Ability to present complex information to different audiences.
- Understanding of National Strategies and their application for Nursing and Midwifery.
- Expert knowledge of compliance, clinical governance, risk management, improving patient safety, experience and clinical effectiveness.
- Well-developed leadership and management skills.
- Proficient in the use of standard Microsoft software, such as Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Excellent presentation skills.
- Ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries.
- Ability to demonstrate understanding and application of our workplace values, together with the underpinning behaviours identified for success in this role.
- Ability to concentrate for long periods of time when in meetings or analysing infection control issues/trends . Ability to deal with frequent interruptions due to emerging service issues.
Desirable
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable at level 1.
Other
Essential
- Standard/ DBS clearance
- Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner to meet the needs of the service.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- NMC Registered Nurse or Midwife with an active registration.
- Master's degree level qualification in relevant subject.
- Management or leadership qualification or demonstratable experience of working within leadership roles.
Desirable
- Project management qualification or training.
- Professional Nurse Advocate or equivalent.
Experience
Essential
- Extensive senior clinical management/professional leadership experience in a large complex NHS organisation.
- Evidence of delivering high quality clinical and nursing services.
- Ability to manage complex clinical and operational situations that involve staff from all levels within an organisation.
- Ability to lead/develop policies and procedures.
- Experience of managing organisation-wide programmes of quality /service improvement.
- Budget management experience.
- Ability to interpret national policy and design and implement complex strategies.
- Experience of leading development and implementation of governance assurance processes.
- Demonstrable record of successfully delivering value improvement programmes.
Desirable
- Project Management experience.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Ability to manage complex situations and provide a solution.
- Proven ability to consistently achieve results and challenging targets.
- Excellent report writing and data analysis skills.
- Proven ability to lead improvement and audit activity through staff and service user/carer participation.
- Ability to hold others to account and manage demanding programmes of work.
- Values driven and self-aware.
- Proven leadership, influencing and negotiating skills with an open participative style.
- Ability to motivate others and work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
- Able to deal both with multi-tasking in a complex environment as well as able to focus intense concentration on single issues for periods.
- Able to manage highly distressing or emotionally difficult information and situations and manage own emotions and be resilient.
- Professional and personal credibility.
- Strong team player willing to work flexibly.
- High effective interpersonal skills (able to communicate at any level of the organisation).
- Ability to present complex information to different audiences.
- Understanding of National Strategies and their application for Nursing and Midwifery.
- Expert knowledge of compliance, clinical governance, risk management, improving patient safety, experience and clinical effectiveness.
- Well-developed leadership and management skills.
- Proficient in the use of standard Microsoft software, such as Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Excellent presentation skills.
- Ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries.
- Ability to demonstrate understanding and application of our workplace values, together with the underpinning behaviours identified for success in this role.
- Ability to concentrate for long periods of time when in meetings or analysing infection control issues/trends . Ability to deal with frequent interruptions due to emerging service issues.
Desirable
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable at level 1.
Other
Essential
- Standard/ DBS clearance
- Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner to meet the needs of the service.
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).
