Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

Divisional Head of Nursing

The closing date is 10 March 2026

Job summary

Royal Cornwall Hospitals is the only Acute provider in Cornwall operating from three sites, Royal Cornwall Hospital, St Michael's Hospital and West Cornwall Hospital. The Trust provides services from satellite units such as the St Austell Surgical Hub. Our workforce provide high quality emergency, elective and specialist care across a range of clinical areas.

Leaders in our Trust are expected to lead with integrity, compassion and professionalism embracing the principles of facilitating colleagues to act with autonomy to deliver an outstanding experience for staff and patients with a focus on customer service.

Leadership qualities which embody high standards, leading by example and enabling colleagues to be creative in the pursuit of being a high performing organisation aspiring to operate in the top quartile nationally.

Leaders are expected to set the benchmark for staff in having a flexible approach to their availability given that our services operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Being a visible, accessible and approachable leader is essential and requires an on site presence.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for the strategic and operational development and delivery of both clinical and professional standards of care to both staff and patients and ensuring that clinical practice meet national, professional and regulatory standards of care.

As part of the Division Management Team, the post holder will work with the Clinical Director and have responsibility for ensuring that clinical governance, across the Divisions and, is delivered in accordance with the Trust Clinical Governance frameworks.

As a Divisional Head of Nursing or Divisional Head Of Integrated Professions the postholder will take the lead in developing nursing, and allied health professionals practice, leadership and development, working in conjunction with the Dual Chief Nursing Officer, Director of Nursing Midwifery and Allied Health Care Professionals, Associate Directors, and other professional leads.

The Divisional Head of Nursing or Head Of Integrated Professions will have responsibility for actively leading the delivery of the RCHT Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Vision within the Division and wider organisation and the achievement of Division and service objectives within the available resources. To enable them to execute this responsibility, the post holder is expected to provide proactive and visible leadership. Leadership will span four key areas: service leadership, people and personal leadership, quality leadership and collaborative leadership.

About us

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is the main provider of acute and specialist care services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We serve a population of around 500,000 people - a figure that can increase significantly with

visitors during the busiest times of the year. We employ approximately 6,700 staff and have a budget of approximately £580 million.

We are a teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School, University of Plymouth School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Peninsula Dental School.

The Knowledge Spa on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site is the base for medical and nursing as well as ongoing education for health professions in clinical and non-clinical roles.

Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, we are continually developing our clinical services as well as our facilities and are committed to maximising the range of specialist care that can be offered locally. Allied to this is a growing reputation for research and innovation.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is a research active organisation.

It's established South West Clinical School in Cornwall exists to promote clinical academic career opportunities for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals interested in research and evidence-based activities. Read their research paper to find out more.

Website: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/clinical-schools/royal-cornwall-hospitals-nhs-trust-clinical-school

https://doi.org/10.1177/17449871231209037

Details

Date posted

24 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£76,965 to £88,682 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

156-7827608-A

Job locations

Royal Cornwall Hospital

Truro

TR1 3LJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

PLEASE NOTE: To view the full Job Description and Person Specification, please click the supporting document on the right-hand side.

To be an employee of the NHS you need to successfully complete the following:

Identity Checks

Professional registration and qualification checks

Employment history and reference checks

Occupational Health clearance

Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check

Right to work in the UK

For further information please visit:

https://www.nhsemployers.org/topics-networks/employment-standards-and-regulation

We reserve the right to close this advert early.

We may be able to offer flexible working. Please discuss at interview.

We may be able to offer sponsorship but this is not guaranteed.

Job description

Job responsibilities

PLEASE NOTE: To view the full Job Description and Person Specification, please click the supporting document on the right-hand side.

To be an employee of the NHS you need to successfully complete the following:

Identity Checks

Professional registration and qualification checks

Employment history and reference checks

Occupational Health clearance

Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check

Right to work in the UK

For further information please visit:

https://www.nhsemployers.org/topics-networks/employment-standards-and-regulation

We reserve the right to close this advert early.

We may be able to offer flexible working. Please discuss at interview.

We may be able to offer sponsorship but this is not guaranteed.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Healthcare Professional either NMC or HCPC registration
  • Masters Degree or currently studying towards
  • Mentor qualification
  • Post registration courses / equivalent level of experience

Desirable

  • Leadership programme
  • Management qualification
  • Education / teaching certificate

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of experience within operational management in an acute hospital setting in a senior Nurse/Midwife/AHP role
  • Matron or equivalent level experience
  • Experience of working within the specialty environment
  • Clinically credible role model in the specialty environment through demonstrable leadership skill and experience
  • Knowledge and experience of leading change, demonstrating sustained improvements
  • Track record of effectively handling competing priorities, meeting challenging deadlines and delivering under pressure.
  • Experience of developing non-medical clinical business and workforce plans in line with future service requirements
  • Thorough knowledge and understanding of the key issues facing the NHS e.g. relevant NSF, NICE Guidance
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Healthcare Professional either NMC or HCPC registration
  • Masters Degree or currently studying towards
  • Mentor qualification
  • Post registration courses / equivalent level of experience

Desirable

  • Leadership programme
  • Management qualification
  • Education / teaching certificate

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of experience within operational management in an acute hospital setting in a senior Nurse/Midwife/AHP role
  • Matron or equivalent level experience
  • Experience of working within the specialty environment
  • Clinically credible role model in the specialty environment through demonstrable leadership skill and experience
  • Knowledge and experience of leading change, demonstrating sustained improvements
  • Track record of effectively handling competing priorities, meeting challenging deadlines and delivering under pressure.
  • Experience of developing non-medical clinical business and workforce plans in line with future service requirements
  • Thorough knowledge and understanding of the key issues facing the NHS e.g. relevant NSF, NICE Guidance

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

Address

Royal Cornwall Hospital

Truro

TR1 3LJ


Employer's website

https://www.royalcornwall.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

Address

Royal Cornwall Hospital

Truro

TR1 3LJ


Employer's website

https://www.royalcornwall.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Director of Nursing

Bernadette George

bernadettegeorge@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

24 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£76,965 to £88,682 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

156-7827608-A

Job locations

Royal Cornwall Hospital

Truro

TR1 3LJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)