Job summary
**To apply for this vacancy, please refer to the attached recruitment pack with details of how to submit your application, as online applications are not being accepted for this vacancy**
Closing date for application: Monday 29th September 2025 at 12pm
Interviews: The afternoon of 1st October 2025
It is an exciting time to join Gateshead Health as we launch our new 5 year strategy and work collaboratively with partners in the Alliance and at place and neighbourhood levels to support the delivery of the NHS 10 Year Plan.
We are seeking to appoint an Interim Chief Nurse to join our Board of Directors. The appointment will be for 12 months in the first instance. We welcome candidates looking for secondment opportunities. Please note that the successful candidate's current employer will have to agree to the secondment at short notice.
This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute towards the delivery of excellent healthcare and improving population health in our area and region. It is a demanding and exciting role, which provides an opportunity to be at the forefront of change in a progressive NHS provider.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will demonstrate a clear understanding of, and ability to live our Trust's vision and values, including our strong focus on being a clinically-led and management supported organisation, and will embrace the challenges of the NHS and local health and care system in the current environment.
About us
Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.
Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.
We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.
Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronymICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.
We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.
The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Group Chief Nurse is a clinical professional member of the Trust Board, with shared responsibility for corporate leadership, strategic development and planning and governance of the Trust with the wider Executive Team
The post holder will work with both the Medical Director and Chief Operating Officer as part of a triumvirate in ensuring services are delivering high quality, safe care and a providing a good patient experience.
The post holder is primarily responsible for advising the Trust Board on issues relating to Quality and Patient Safety, alongside professional standards for nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals. This includes discharging full statutory responsibilities to ensure that the Trust is compliant with appropriate policy and practice in the management of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals (AHP) within the Trust. The provision of professional and clinical leadership to ensure excellence in service delivery through the highest standards of professional practice and clinical performance is key. Setting the vision for nursing, midwifery and AHP practice in the safe delivery of patient care.
The post holder will occupy a key role within the organisation, leading the Trusts strategic approach to quality and safety to deliver safe services and a culture of continuous improvement and learning through the agreed methodology. They will ensure Quality and Patient Safety remain at the heart of the Board agenda and patient care lies at the centre of all decision making, as the Board balances financial stewardship and performance standards. The achievement in all three in tandem will be the foundation for consistently outstanding care, achieving good patient outcomes through the reduction of unwarranted variation.
The postholder will be directly accountable for managing specific departments detailed within the job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Group Chief Nurse is a clinical professional member of the Trust Board, with shared responsibility for corporate leadership, strategic development and planning and governance of the Trust with the wider Executive Team
The post holder will work with both the Medical Director and Chief Operating Officer as part of a triumvirate in ensuring services are delivering high quality, safe care and a providing a good patient experience.
The post holder is primarily responsible for advising the Trust Board on issues relating to Quality and Patient Safety, alongside professional standards for nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals. This includes discharging full statutory responsibilities to ensure that the Trust is compliant with appropriate policy and practice in the management of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals (AHP) within the Trust. The provision of professional and clinical leadership to ensure excellence in service delivery through the highest standards of professional practice and clinical performance is key. Setting the vision for nursing, midwifery and AHP practice in the safe delivery of patient care.
The post holder will occupy a key role within the organisation, leading the Trusts strategic approach to quality and safety to deliver safe services and a culture of continuous improvement and learning through the agreed methodology. They will ensure Quality and Patient Safety remain at the heart of the Board agenda and patient care lies at the centre of all decision making, as the Board balances financial stewardship and performance standards. The achievement in all three in tandem will be the foundation for consistently outstanding care, achieving good patient outcomes through the reduction of unwarranted variation.
The postholder will be directly accountable for managing specific departments detailed within the job description.
Person Specification
Knowldge and Qualifications
Essential
- A registered Nurse
- Masters degree level
Desirable
- Recognised qualification in quality improvement techniques
Experience
Essential
- At least 12 months experience working at Executive level (albeit this may not be specifically as an Executive Director) in a similarly complex organisation or system
- Experience of senior leadership in: Patient Safety Infection Prevention and Control Safeguarding Patient Experience Quality
Desirable
- Recent experience of board or just below board level in an acute trust
Person Specification
Knowldge and Qualifications
Essential
- A registered Nurse
- Masters degree level
Desirable
- Recognised qualification in quality improvement techniques
Experience
Essential
- At least 12 months experience working at Executive level (albeit this may not be specifically as an Executive Director) in a similarly complex organisation or system
- Experience of senior leadership in: Patient Safety Infection Prevention and Control Safeguarding Patient Experience Quality
Desirable
- Recent experience of board or just below board level in an acute trust
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).
