Job summaryWe are seeking an exceptional nursing leader to join Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust as our Associate Director of Corporate Nursing and Professional Standards. This influential Trust-wide role will provide strategic leadership for nursing professional standards, professional governance, safeguarding, workforce development and quality assurance, ensuring the highest standards of safe, effective and compassionate care.
Working closely with the Chief Nurse, Medical Director and care delivery leaders, the post holder will shape and deliver the nursing professional agenda, leading the development of professional frameworks, policies and assurance processes, whilst promoting a positive culture of learning, improvement and staff engagement. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced senior nurse who is passionate about professional excellence, patient safety and supporting nursing teams to deliver outstanding care across our communities.
Main duties of the jobThe Associate Director of Corporate Nursing and Professional Standards will provide strategic leadership for nursing professional standards, professional governance, safeguarding, workforce development and quality assurance across the Trust. Working closely with the Chief Nurse, Medical Director and care delivery leaders, the post holder will lead the development and assurance of professional standards, policies and governance frameworks, ensuring compliance with national and regulatory requirements.
The role is responsible for fostering a positive culture of learning, professional development and staff engagement, supporting high-quality, safe and effective nursing care, overseeing professional registration and standards matters, leading organisational improvement initiatives, and providing expert professional advice and assurance to senior leaders, the Board and external partners.
About usOur purpose is to provide community health services to a patient population of over one million people in Derbyshire and Derby, as part of Joined Up Care Derbyshire.
We employ around 4,200 substantive staff, caring for patients in 11 community hospitals and more than 30 health centres, as well as in clinics, GP practices, schools, care homes and, increasingly, in people's own homes and via virtual consultations.
DetailsDate posted23 September 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 8cSalary
Scroll down the page to see all associated job requirements, and any responsibilities successful candidates can expect.
79,504 to 91,609 a year
pa
ContractPermanentWorking pattern
Full-time
Reference number842-QUA-7837-26Job locationsAsh Green Learning Disability CentreAshgate RoadChesterfieldS42 7JEUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesWe are seeking an experienced and influential nursing leader to join Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust as Associate Director of Corporate Nursing and Professional Standards. Reporting to the Chief Nurse, you will provide strategic leadership for professional nursing standards, governance, safeguarding, workforce development and quality assurance across the Trust. You will lead the development of professional frameworks, policies and assurance processes, ensuring compliance with regulatory and professional requirements while promoting a culture of learning, improvement and staff engagement. The successful candidate will bring substantial senior leadership experience, expertise in nursing governance and quality improvement, and the ability to provide credible professional advice and assurance to senior leaders, the Board and external partners, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate care. Please see job description and person specification for full details.
Job description
Job responsibilitiesWe are seeking an experienced and influential nursing leader to join Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust as Associate Director of Corporate Nursing and Professional Standards. Reporting to the Chief Nurse, you will provide strategic leadership for professional nursing standards, governance, safeguarding, workforce development and quality assurance across the Trust. You will lead the development of professional frameworks, policies and assurance processes, ensuring compliance with regulatory and professional requirements while promoting a culture of learning, improvement and staff engagement. The successful candidate will bring substantial senior leadership experience, expertise in nursing governance and quality improvement, and the ability to provide credible professional advice and assurance to senior leaders, the Board and external partners, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate care. Please see job description and person specification for full details.
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
EssentialNMC registrationEvidence of significant post qualification professional development, including advanced leadership experience and advanced or specialist practiceMaster's level professional qualification post-graduate qualifications including wider knowledge and skills covering topics such as leadership or management
Experience
EssentialSignificant experience operating at senior leadership level within a nursing context, providing professional leadership across complex services, portfolios or pathwaysEvidence of nursing expertise and professional governance experience, including leading quality and safety improvement and responding to incidents, complaints, assurance findings and learning reviewsStrong experience of leading nursing professional governance arrangements, including assurance processes, policy development, standards oversight and compliance monitoring
Knowledge & Skills
EssentialIn-depth knowledge of national and local health policy, quality, safety and clinical governance frameworks within the NHS and integrated care environments, and their application to nursing practice. Proven leadership skills with a track record of setting, upholding and role modelling nursing professional standards, ensuring safe, effective and ethical practice across complex organisational environmentsExcellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to provide clear professional advice and assurance to senior leaders and system partners, while constructively challenging to strengthen quality, safety and professional standards
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
EssentialNMC registrationEvidence of significant post qualification professional development, including advanced leadership experience and advanced or specialist practiceMaster's level professional qualification post-graduate qualifications including wider knowledge and skills covering topics such as leadership or management
Experience
EssentialSignificant experience operating at senior leadership level within a nursing context, providing professional leadership across complex services, portfolios or pathwaysEvidence of nursing expertise and professional governance experience, including leading quality and safety improvement and responding to incidents, complaints, assurance findings and learning reviewsStrong experience of leading nursing professional governance arrangements, including assurance processes, policy development, standards oversight and compliance monitoring
Knowledge & Skills
EssentialIn-depth knowledge of national and local health policy, quality, safety and clinical governance frameworks within the NHS and integrated care environments, and their application to nursing practice.
Proven leadership skills with a track record of setting, upholding and role modelling nursing professional standards, ensuring safe, effective and ethical practice across complex organisational environmentsExcellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to provide clear professional advice and assurance to senior leaders and system partners, while constructively challenging to strengthen quality, safety and professional standardsDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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 CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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. xohmjla For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameDerbyshire Community Health Services NHSFTAddressAsh Green Learning Disability CentreAshgate RoadChesterfieldS42 7JEUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameDerbyshire Community Health Services NHSFTAddressAsh Green Learning Disability CentreAshgate RoadChesterfieldS42 7JEUnited KingdomEmployer's website
Associate Director - Corporate Nursing and Professional Standards employer: National Health Service
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