Job summary
We are seeking an exceptional senior nursing leader to join our Medicine Division as Deputy Head of Nursing. This is an exciting and influential opportunity to play a key role in shaping high-quality, patient-centred care across a fast-paced and diverse division.
As Deputy Head of Nursing, you will work closely with the Divisional Head of Nursing, senior clinicians, and operational leaders to ensure our medical services run safely, efficiently, and in line with best practice. You will provide visible and authoritative leadership across the division, supporting clinical teams, driving quality improvement, and championing an outstanding patient experience.
This role combines strategic leadership with operational oversight. You will contribute to service development, lead on quality, safety and governance, and support inpatient flow across Medicine. At times, you will also undertake clinical shifts and coordinate care during periods of operational pressure, ensuring the highest standards of nursing professionalism are upheld.
The successful candidate will be an experienced senior nurse with a proven record of leading teams, improving services, managing risk, and delivering high-quality care in an acute hospital environment. You will bring excellent communication, strong decision-making ability, and a collaborative approach to leadership. Most importantly, you will exemplify our Trust values--Respect, Compassion, Honesty and Teamwork--and inspire others to do the same.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will anticipate and effectively respond to communication barriers, ensuring patients, families, and carers are fully informed and that consent for treatment and care plans is appropriately maintained.
They will act as a key resource for staff, offering guidance on local, Trust, and national policies, procedures, and clinical guidelines to ensure patient safety and robust clinical governance are upheld at all times.
The post holder will understand and apply the legal safeguarding frameworks that support the identification and protection of vulnerable adults. They must be familiar with statutory safeguarding procedures and Trust guidance and ensure that all appropriate referrals are completed promptly when required.
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. It serves a population of around 470,000 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 £740 million.
RCHTis responsible forthe provision of services at three main sites with approximately 780 inpatient beds:
Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro
St Michael's Hospital in Hayle
West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance
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.
Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, we are continually developing our clinical services as well as ourfacilities,andare committed to maximising the range of specialist care that can be offered locally. Allied to this is a growing reputation for research and innovation.
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. This plays a vital part in attracting andretaininghighly skilled teams of doctors, nurses and other health professionals who support the care of well over half a million people each year.
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
shortlisting
Essential
- Post registration courses/equivalent level of experience
- Evidence of continued professional development
- NMC/AHP Registration
Desirable
- Understanding of business planning - able to articulate clear objective setting / requirements for service delivery
- Evidence of developing non-medical clinical business and workforce plans within speciality
- Ability to analyse complex and diverse local data in order to identify trends to demonstrate appropriate changes that will be required to be undertaken
interview
Essential
- Post registration courses/equivalent level of experience
- NMC/AHP Registration
Desirable
- Ability to analyse complex and diverse local data in order to identify trends to demonstrate appropriate changes that will be required to be undertaken
- Experience of leading change whilst demonstrating improvements
Person Specification
shortlisting
Essential
- Post registration courses/equivalent level of experience
- Evidence of continued professional development
- NMC/AHP Registration
Desirable
- Understanding of business planning - able to articulate clear objective setting / requirements for service delivery
- Evidence of developing non-medical clinical business and workforce plans within speciality
- Ability to analyse complex and diverse local data in order to identify trends to demonstrate appropriate changes that will be required to be undertaken
interview
Essential
- Post registration courses/equivalent level of experience
- NMC/AHP Registration
Desirable
- Ability to analyse complex and diverse local data in order to identify trends to demonstrate appropriate changes that will be required to be undertaken
- Experience of leading change whilst demonstrating improvements
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).
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