Job Description

Are you a transformational leader with the passion and vision to drive outstanding care?

We're seeking an exceptional Care Group Director of Nursing to join our senior leadership team a visible, strategic and compassionate leader who will shape the future of nursing across our Care Group.



As a key member of the triumvirate, you'll provide strong professional leadership and be accountable for the highest standards of clinical quality, patient safety and experience. Working with the Chief Nurse, Care Group Director and executive colleagues, you'll deliver excellence across workforce, quality, finance and transformation, embedding a culture of inclusion, innovation and continuous improvement.



You'll represent the Trust regionally and nationally, influencing strategy and driving digital transformation. A credible leader, you'll inspire teams, strengthen collaboration and enhance patient outcomes and experience.



This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact leading change, nurturing talent and shaping the future of nursing for our patients, our people and our community.



If you're a dynamic, values-led leader ready for a strategic challenge with real influence, we'd love to hear from you.

Care Group Specialties:

Planned Care:

Cancer, Clinical Support Services, and Surgery

Medicine & Urgent and Emergency Care:

Trust-wide operations, Emergency Care, and Medicine for Older People

Families & Communities:

Place-based Care, Therapies, Public Health, and Paediatrics



Through strong leadership and effective change management, the post holder will develop the role within the triumvirate to design, implement and evaluate innovative care models that meet the needs of our patients, staff and community.



The Care Group Director of Nursing will provide expert professional advice to the Care Group Director and be accountable for delivering clinical quality, patient safety and excellent patient experience across the Care Group. They will ensure consistent, high standards of practice and care, fostering a culture of safety, openness and continuous improvement.



Working collaboratively with the executive team, the post holder will lead, manage and set professional standards for the nursing and allied health professional workforce, ensuring compassionate, safe and effective care across all services.



As a key member of the Care Group leadership team, they will play a pivotal role in achieving performance, quality, workforce and financial objectives.



The post holder will also work closely with the Chief Nurse and their deputies and Care Group Directors to deliver and embed the Trust's nursing and AHP strategy, ensuring alignment with wider organisational priorities and system-level goals.



Why Work With Us



Recruitment have the full comms plan that can be shared regarding why TSDFT is a great place to work please refer to this.



This role represents a highly senior leadership position responsible for shaping, influencing, and delivering high-quality patient care across a Care Group and the wider Trust. It requires exceptional communication, analytical, and leadership skills to build collaborative relationships at all levels internally across multidisciplinary teams and externally with regional and national partners. The post holder provides a visible and credible professional nursing voice, promoting a culture of openness, compassion, and continuous improvement. They lead on patient safety, quality, and governance initiatives while ensuring that staff are empowered to raise concerns and contribute to service excellence. The role also involves leading responses to critical incidents, managing sensitive or contentious issues, and navigating complex organisational dynamics with diplomacy and emotional intelligence.



Strategically, the position demands advanced analytical and decision-making capabilities, balancing competing priorities across clinical quality, workforce wellbeing, financial efficiency, and regulatory compliance. The post holder develops governance frameworks, ensures adherence to national standards, and contributes to long-term strategic planning, policy development, and service redesign. They oversee nursing workforce planning, budgetary control, and digital transformation, ensuring data integrity and alignment with safety and quality frameworks. With a strong focus on leadership, they nurture professional development, succession planning, and staff engagement, ensuring nursing practice is evidence-based, inclusive, and fit for the future. Acting with significant autonomy, this leader drives innovation, research, and system-wide collaboration ultimately safeguarding patient care standards and advancing the Trust's strategic and clinical objectives.