Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Director of Clinical Services Wells Health

The closing date is 17 February 2026

Job summary

Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is seeking a highly experienced senior clinical leader to join our leadership team as Director of Clinical Services for Wells Health.

This is a key operational leadership role at a time of significant service development across private patient services. The post holder will report directly to the Chief of Service Wells Health and will strategically develop, in conjunction with the Chief of Service, the clinical direction and leadership of private patients' services to deliver exceptional patient care in line with the Wells Health vision and strategy - "to provide safe, outstanding quality care."

The post holder will work with the department leads to maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of the hospitals operation and identify new business opportunities and service lines that also support delivery of the strategic and tactical business objectives.

The Director of clinical services will play a central role in the leadership and future success of the organisation, advising the Trust Executive on all aspects of private patient services and in collaboration with the Trust Executive ensure all aspects of the Patient Safety strategy are realised through the development and continuous improvement of clinical services, patient care, the patient experience and clinical practice.

The role includes participation in the senior on-call rota and requires confident, timely decision-making in complex and sometimes high-pressure situations.

Main duties of the job

Main responsibilities include:

  • Operational leadership of clinical services across private patient services
  • Operational leadership of clinical services across private patient services

To ensure that all regulated activity within the hospital meets the requirements of the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

  • Oversight of quality, safety, governance, incidents and safeguarding
  • Workforce leadership, including supervision, appraisal and development

Supporting service mobilisation, expansion and transformation

You must be:

Registered Nurse or Allied Health Professional Post-Graduate degree

  • Experienced senior clinical leader with strong operational skills

Commercially astute.

Extensive experience and understanding of contract negotiations in an NHS/private healthcare.

Have evidenced that they have been instrumental in organisational change.

About us

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.

We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.

Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.

Looking for flexible working?We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it's adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.

Click here to hear what our staff say.

Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:

  • At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
  • Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
  • Blue Light card eligibility
  • And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below

Details

Date posted

03 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£91,342 to £105,337 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

359-7770520-T1

Job locations

Fordcombe Hospital

Fordcombe, Tunbridge Wells

TN3 0RD


Job description

Job responsibilities

Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.

Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children). If a role involves regulated activity and requires a DBS check with a barred list check, you cannot apply if you are on the barred list.

All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.Following your corporate induction you will be expected to attend the Trusts 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please email mtw-tr.professionalstandards@nhs.net if this is problematic) and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.

Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children). If a role involves regulated activity and requires a DBS check with a barred list check, you cannot apply if you are on the barred list.

All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.Following your corporate induction you will be expected to attend the Trusts 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please email mtw-tr.professionalstandards@nhs.net if this is problematic) and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse or Allied Health Professional Post-Graduate degree
  • Relevant doctorate or extensive knowledge, skills and experience to equivalent level
  • Evidence of continuing professional and managerial development

Desirable

  • Complex Surgical nursing experience and knowledge
  • MBA or recognised management qualification
  • Post graduate training/qualification in an area of specialist responsibility
  • Practical experience of change management

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

  • Extensive post-registration clinical experience
  • Significant experience as a senior clinical leader in a large hospital
  • Experience of budget planning and management
  • Commercially astute
  • Have evidenced that they have been instrumental in organisational change.
  • Extensive experience and understanding of contract negotiations in an NHS/private healthcare.
  • Evidence of successful management of service change and integration of services.

Desirable

  • Wider experience within the NHS, particularly in the acute hospital sector

Skills

Essential

  • Demonstrate the competencies in the NHS Management and Leadership standards and the dimensions of the Leadership Qualities Framework (LQF)
  • A leadership role model who actively portrays and promotes organisational values and desired leadership behaviours
  • Communicates with authority both internally and externally
  • Constructively challenges activities which may not contribute to the delivery of the corporate strategy whilst balancing the importance of being a corporate player
  • Possesses excellent chair and facilitation skills
  • Analytical skills, ability to grasp a complex problem quickly and provide non- traditional solutions to problems
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse or Allied Health Professional Post-Graduate degree
  • Relevant doctorate or extensive knowledge, skills and experience to equivalent level
  • Evidence of continuing professional and managerial development

Desirable

  • Complex Surgical nursing experience and knowledge
  • MBA or recognised management qualification
  • Post graduate training/qualification in an area of specialist responsibility
  • Practical experience of change management

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

  • Extensive post-registration clinical experience
  • Significant experience as a senior clinical leader in a large hospital
  • Experience of budget planning and management
  • Commercially astute
  • Have evidenced that they have been instrumental in organisational change.
  • Extensive experience and understanding of contract negotiations in an NHS/private healthcare.
  • Evidence of successful management of service change and integration of services.

Desirable

  • Wider experience within the NHS, particularly in the acute hospital sector

Skills

Essential

  • Demonstrate the competencies in the NHS Management and Leadership standards and the dimensions of the Leadership Qualities Framework (LQF)
  • A leadership role model who actively portrays and promotes organisational values and desired leadership behaviours
  • Communicates with authority both internally and externally
  • Constructively challenges activities which may not contribute to the delivery of the corporate strategy whilst balancing the importance of being a corporate player
  • Possesses excellent chair and facilitation skills
  • Analytical skills, ability to grasp a complex problem quickly and provide non- traditional solutions to problems

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

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Address

Fordcombe Hospital

Fordcombe, Tunbridge Wells

TN3 0RD


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Address

Fordcombe Hospital

Fordcombe, Tunbridge Wells

TN3 0RD


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Chief Operating Officer

Sarah Davis

sarah.davis46@nhs.net

01622226421

Details

Date posted

03 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£91,342 to £105,337 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

359-7770520-T1

Job locations

Fordcombe Hospital

Fordcombe, Tunbridge Wells

TN3 0RD


Supporting documents

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