Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Head of nursing for HSEP and Medical Specialities in M&UEC

The closing date is 29 January 2026

Job summary

We are seeking exceptional, inspiring, and experienced nursing leader to join Royal Free London Group as a Heads of Nursing. This pivotal role sits within our Medicine and Urgent and Emergency Care Division at the Barnet site, shaping high-quality services and create environments where staff can truly thrive.

This is an exciting time to join the Trust as we implement a new clinical operational model that strengthens accountability, flow, and professional leadership across pathways of care.

At Royal Free London Trust we have set out an ambitious plan to enable our staff to deliver world-leading healthcare for all our patients, meet growing demand and create a healthier future for local people and those further afield who come to our hospitals for specialist treatment.

Our clinical vision is transforming how we deliver world-class care, and the way people access our services. Our hospitals have different opportunities and challenges based on the patients they care for. We have developed local clinical priorities that reflect the needs and expectations of those different communities.

Main duties of the job

About YouYou will be a credible, visible and values-driven nursing leader,Able to Envision and implement future models of nursing care aligned to system priorities.Lead through influence, collaboration, and clinical credibility.Foster high-performing, compassionate teams and inclusive, positive working cultures.Balance strategic leadership with operational grip and delivery.Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion for patients & staff.The role offers the opportunity to lead services, influence strategy, & champion outstanding patient & staff experience.

Key ResponsibilitiesLead nursing teams across HSEP and medical specialties.Drive improvement, patient flow, & workforce sustainability across medical pathways.Ensure delivery of safe, evidence-based, compassionate, and person-centred care.Strengthen patient pathways, improve outcomes, & enhance experience for service users.Lead quality improvement, workforce development, & professional standards.Contribute to divisional and Trust-wide strategy as a senior nursing leader.Work collaboratively with partners including local authorities, primary care, Integrated Care Systems, NHS England and professional networks.

About us

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17million tests.

Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top

For more information please follow linkhttps://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/

Details

Date posted

16 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£82,906 to £94,632 a year Per Annum Including HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

391-RFL-7719279

Job locations

Barnet Hospital

Wellhouse Lane

Barnet

EN5 3DJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

A full list of duties and responsibilities will be found within the job description and requirements for the role can be found within the person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

A full list of duties and responsibilities will be found within the job description and requirements for the role can be found within the person specification.

Person Specification

Education & Professional Qualities

Essential

  • Registered trained nurse MSc and/ or equivalent clinical experience that recognises highly developed and complex levels of knowledge
  • Management/leadership qualifications or equivalent experience
  • Specialist knowledge at doctorate level or equivalent experience in a related field
  • Evidence of continuing personal development

Experience

Essential

  • Significant acute operational nursing experience in a complex healthcare organisation
  • Evidence of nursing leadership role in an acute setting
  • Ability to analyse complex problems and to develop practical and workable solutions to address them
  • Ability to manage and deliver to deadlines and within resources
  • Experience in the supervision and management of staff and students
  • Experience in complex employment related issues
  • Experience of using acuity tools and triangulation of data to review and ensure safe skill mix
  • Manager on-call
  • Evidence of leading and managing change within a complex environment
  • Experience of representing a service within a Trust setting
  • Experience of managing a budget
  • Experience of managing other staff groups
  • Managing a cross site, complex function
  • Experience of SLAs and contractual working

Skills & Aptitudes

Essential

  • Ability to self-evaluate and self-reflect
  • Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills suitable for a range of audiences, including chairing of meetings
  • Ability to initiate and implement change and improvements
  • Good analytical and organisational ability
  • Ability to demonstrate and model strong leadership skills
  • Awareness of developments in the NHS and service delivery
  • Ability to influence and facilitate MDT working
  • Able to communicate with patients and families in an empathetic manner regarding their treatment and procedures and communicate complex sensitive information
  • Effective problem-solving skills
  • Good computer skills
  • Experience of implementing Evidence Based Practice
  • Applies working knowledge of relevant health legislation

Personal Qualities & Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to lead by example, promoting the highest standards of personal and professional conduct, integrity and probity
  • High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement and flexibility in approach and attitude
  • Committed to the continuous development of staff and self
  • To be flexible, decisive, using sound judgement in decision making in a timely and confident manner
Person Specification

Education & Professional Qualities

Essential

  • Registered trained nurse MSc and/ or equivalent clinical experience that recognises highly developed and complex levels of knowledge
  • Management/leadership qualifications or equivalent experience
  • Specialist knowledge at doctorate level or equivalent experience in a related field
  • Evidence of continuing personal development

Experience

Essential

  • Significant acute operational nursing experience in a complex healthcare organisation
  • Evidence of nursing leadership role in an acute setting
  • Ability to analyse complex problems and to develop practical and workable solutions to address them
  • Ability to manage and deliver to deadlines and within resources
  • Experience in the supervision and management of staff and students
  • Experience in complex employment related issues
  • Experience of using acuity tools and triangulation of data to review and ensure safe skill mix
  • Manager on-call
  • Evidence of leading and managing change within a complex environment
  • Experience of representing a service within a Trust setting
  • Experience of managing a budget
  • Experience of managing other staff groups
  • Managing a cross site, complex function
  • Experience of SLAs and contractual working

Skills & Aptitudes

Essential

  • Ability to self-evaluate and self-reflect
  • Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills suitable for a range of audiences, including chairing of meetings
  • Ability to initiate and implement change and improvements
  • Good analytical and organisational ability
  • Ability to demonstrate and model strong leadership skills
  • Awareness of developments in the NHS and service delivery
  • Ability to influence and facilitate MDT working
  • Able to communicate with patients and families in an empathetic manner regarding their treatment and procedures and communicate complex sensitive information
  • Effective problem-solving skills
  • Good computer skills
  • Experience of implementing Evidence Based Practice
  • Applies working knowledge of relevant health legislation

Personal Qualities & Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to lead by example, promoting the highest standards of personal and professional conduct, integrity and probity
  • High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement and flexibility in approach and attitude
  • Committed to the continuous development of staff and self
  • To be flexible, decisive, using sound judgement in decision making in a timely and confident manner

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 Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Barnet Hospital

Wellhouse Lane

Barnet

EN5 3DJ


Employer's website

https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Barnet Hospital

Wellhouse Lane

Barnet

EN5 3DJ


Employer's website

https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Interim Divisional Director of Nursing

Karen Kirwilliam

karen.kirwilliam@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

16 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£82,906 to £94,632 a year Per Annum Including HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

391-RFL-7719279

Job locations

Barnet Hospital

Wellhouse Lane

Barnet

EN5 3DJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)