Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Chief Nurse Information Officer (CNIO)

The closing date is 02 February 2026

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior nurse leader who has a passion for the digital agenda and the transformation of services. The CNIO will take a strategic digital leadership role supporting the Trust's strategic objectives and Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions vision to facilitate the delivery of excellent, safe patient care through the digitalisation of services and service delivery. The post holder will work collaboratively with key stakeholders to provide direction and nursing leadership, to lead digital transformation across the Trust. A key aspect of this role will be to encourage and support clinical colleagues to embrace transformational change associated with the digital agenda and to act as a liaison between the Trust's clinical teams and digital. The CNIO will pioneer new ways of working and promote the "art of the possible". They will lead on the promotion, innovation and transformation of clinical services and pathways using information and technologies across nursing, midwifery, and allied health professionals' (AHPs) workforces to support and improve:

  • Patient outcomes and efficiency
  • Clinical safety
  • Integrated care across partners and commissioners
  • Digital empowerment of patients and citizens
  • Benefits realisation of digital initiatives

Main duties of the job

The Trust is continuing an ambitious digital transformation programme and for its successful implementation it is important that all decision-making is clinically lead and that patient experience and clinical safety underpins the programme.

The CNIO will take a strategic digital leadership role supporting the Trust's strategic objectives and Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions vision to facilitate the delivery of excellent, safe patient care through the digitalisation of services and service delivery.

To role model compassionate and inclusive leadership in order to shape the creation of a collective leadership culture within the trust. This means demonstrating a consistent leadership style which (a) engages, enables and empowers others (b) uses coaching to promote ownership of learning and quality improvement and (c) facilitates team working and collaboration within teams / departments and across organisational boundaries.

The CNIO is a transformational role, pioneering new ways of working and the "art of the possible." They will lead on the promotion, innovation, and transformation of clinical services using information and technologies across nursing, midwifery, allied health professionals' workforces to support and improve:

- Patient outcomes and efficiency.

- Integrated care across partners and commissioners.

- Digital empowerment of patients and citizens.

About us

We manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, covering one of the largest geographical areas of any NHS trust in the country. Leading in innovation and quality - opening a state of the art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. Do you want to work in one of the best performing NHS organisations in England? Work in an organisation that supports its staff and focuses on staff experience as much as it does the experience of its patients? You can live and breathe in an area that has the cleanest air, cost effective living, great nightlife, some of the best schools with a wealth of history available on your doorstep. Sound too good to be true? Well it isn't, this is what you get when you work for Northumbria Healthcare, this is the Northumbria Way! Please read 'applicant guidance notes' before submitting your application.

Details

Date posted

20 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

319-7717106JN

Job locations

Northumbria Manufacturing & Innovation Hub

Avenue Road

Seaton Delaval

NE25 0QJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Provide strategic clinical leadership for information technology and information systems across the organisation, to meet the current and future needs of the Trusts commissioned services

To bridge business unit silos by identifying, highlighting and managing across programme dependencies. To act on own initiative to deal with contentious and sensitive issues

Responsible for the development, introduction and subsequent maintenance of suitable controls to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the clinical systems in conjunction with Digital Services and suppliers

To be an active member of Trusts Digital and Data Authority Board (DDAB) and Digital and Data Delivery Board (DDDB). To support the delivery of all activities necessary to enable the organisation to meet its responsibilities to deliver a successful digital transformation programme

To work with the Joint Directors of NMAHPs and the Senior Clinical Team to safeguard patient needs alongside the goals and corporate objectives set out in the Trusts digital strategy, ensuring clinical improvements and benefits are achieved and delivered

To be the NMAHP figurehead for Digital, leading the way in the art of the possible in terms of innovation and transformation supported by senior leadership and DDDB

To co-ordinate and contribute to updating policies and procedures in conjunction with the implementation of all the projects covered within the digital programme, working with senior leadership and DDAB

To play a key role in directing NMAHP staff, clinical staff, and digital champions

Ensure engagement and that accurate and up to date advice and information is available for all digital projects

To ensure that the overall aim of improving patient experience and clinical safety underpins the delivery of the digital strategy

Job description

Job responsibilities

Provide strategic clinical leadership for information technology and information systems across the organisation, to meet the current and future needs of the Trusts commissioned services

To bridge business unit silos by identifying, highlighting and managing across programme dependencies. To act on own initiative to deal with contentious and sensitive issues

Responsible for the development, introduction and subsequent maintenance of suitable controls to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the clinical systems in conjunction with Digital Services and suppliers

To be an active member of Trusts Digital and Data Authority Board (DDAB) and Digital and Data Delivery Board (DDDB). To support the delivery of all activities necessary to enable the organisation to meet its responsibilities to deliver a successful digital transformation programme

To work with the Joint Directors of NMAHPs and the Senior Clinical Team to safeguard patient needs alongside the goals and corporate objectives set out in the Trusts digital strategy, ensuring clinical improvements and benefits are achieved and delivered

To be the NMAHP figurehead for Digital, leading the way in the art of the possible in terms of innovation and transformation supported by senior leadership and DDDB

To co-ordinate and contribute to updating policies and procedures in conjunction with the implementation of all the projects covered within the digital programme, working with senior leadership and DDAB

To play a key role in directing NMAHP staff, clinical staff, and digital champions

Ensure engagement and that accurate and up to date advice and information is available for all digital projects

To ensure that the overall aim of improving patient experience and clinical safety underpins the delivery of the digital strategy

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 1st Level live NMC Registered Nurse
  • PP126/127 or equivalent teaching/assessing D32/33 qualification
  • Educated to master's level or equivalent level of knowledge through in-depth experience
  • Degree in Nursing or related subject or equivalent level of knowledge through in-depth experience
  • Leadership Course
  • Management course

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of project and programme management techniques and tools such as Prince 2, Agile, or Managing Successful Projects
  • Evidence of change management experience related to the planning and delivery of work in a clinical setting with demonstrated success in overcoming resistance to a change in ward/dept
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • 1st Level live NMC Registered Nurse
  • PP126/127 or equivalent teaching/assessing D32/33 qualification
  • Educated to master's level or equivalent level of knowledge through in-depth experience
  • Degree in Nursing or related subject or equivalent level of knowledge through in-depth experience
  • Leadership Course
  • Management course

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of project and programme management techniques and tools such as Prince 2, Agile, or Managing Successful Projects
  • Evidence of change management experience related to the planning and delivery of work in a clinical setting with demonstrated success in overcoming resistance to a change in ward/dept

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

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Northumbria Manufacturing & Innovation Hub

Avenue Road

Seaton Delaval

NE25 0QJ


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Northumbria Manufacturing & Innovation Hub

Avenue Road

Seaton Delaval

NE25 0QJ


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Digital, Data & Technology Governance

Tracey Best

tracey.best@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk

07900971218

Details

Date posted

20 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

319-7717106JN

Job locations

Northumbria Manufacturing & Innovation Hub

Avenue Road

Seaton Delaval

NE25 0QJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)