Head of Nursing Children's and Neonatal Services

Job summaryClosing Date: 10.11.26Shortlisting to take place after closing date: commencing 11.11.26Interview expected to take place commencing 20.11.26Are you a passionate and experienced Paediatric nursing leader ready to make an impact on the future of children's nursing care? We are seeking a Head of Nursing for Children and Neonatal Services to provide strategic and operational leadership across our Paediatric and Neonatal services.As a key member of the CSU Leadership team, the post holder will be responsible for supporting the delivery of high standards of nursing care, professional practice, patient safety, patient experience and workforce performance across designated services.The post holder will provide visible, compassionate and inclusive leadership, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, professional excellence and staff engagement.Main duties of the jobThis is a senior leadership position with responsibilities for nursing excellence across Inpatient Paediatric, Neonatal, Children's Emergency and Community and Outpatient services. You will lead a team of matrons, CNS and ACPs ensuring safe, compassionate and developmentally appropriate care is provided for children young people and their families.working in partnership with the Associate Director of Nursing for Children's and Neonates, Clinical Director, General Manager and multidisciplinary colleagues, the post holder will contribute to the development and delivery of the CSU and Trust objectives, ensuring services are safe and responsive, effective and aligned with organisational priorities.About usOur People Charter outlines the behaviours we can expect from one another and what you can expect from Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust:We value peopleWe are one teamWe careWe're keen to meet people who share these values and are passionate about delivering the highest quality of care to our patients.DetailsDate posted23 October 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 8bSalary 66,582 to 77,368 a year per annum ContractPermanentWorking pattern Full-time Reference number389-26-8379922Job locationsBradford Teaching HospitalsDuckworth LaneBradford West YorkshireBD9 6RJUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesThe Head of Nursing for Children's and Neonatal Services will be accountable for the delivery of delegated portfolios and programmes of work on behalf of the Associate Director of Nursing, contributing to the quality, safety, workforce and service improvement agenda across the CSU. The initial focus of work will be in relation to improvements in Paediatric Emergency Care and Children's Clinical Decision Unit to support winter pressures and flow.The post holder will provide expert Children's nursing advice and professional leadership across all the CSU, ensuring nursing practice is delivered in accordance with statutory, regulatory and professional standards and that high-quality patient care remains at the center of service delivery to children and their families.Please see attached job description for primary duties and areas of responsibility. Job description Job responsibilitiesThe Head of Nursing for Children's and Neonatal Services will be accountable for the delivery of delegated portfolios and programmes of work on behalf of the Associate Director of Nursing, contributing to the quality, safety, workforce and service improvement agenda across the CSU. The initial focus of work will be in relation to improvements in Paediatric Emergency Care and Children's Clinical Decision Unit to support winter pressures and flow.The post holder will provide expert Children's nursing advice and professional leadership across all the CSU, ensuring nursing practice is delivered in accordance with statutory, regulatory and professional standards and that high-quality patient care remains at the center of service delivery to children and their families.Please see attached job description for primary duties and areas of responsibility.Person Specification Experience EssentialSignificant senior Childrens nursing leadership experience at Matron/8a level or above within a complex healthcare environmentExperience of working within an acute healthcare settingExperience of providing professional and operational leadership across multiple services and clinical areasExperience of leading staff through change, delivering service improvements with demonstrable positive impact on patient safety, patient experience and quality of careExperience of quality governance, quality assurance and regulatory complianceExperience of leading and developing senior nursing leaders, including Matrons, Lead Nurses or equivalentExperience of using quality, workforce, financial and performance data to drive improvement and provide assuranceExperience of workforce planning, establishment management, safe staffing and workforce productivity improvementExperience of roster governance, workforce deployment and effective utilisation of staffing resourcesExperience of providing assurance against Care Quality Commission standards and regulatory requirementsExperience of leading quality improvement, transformation and service development programmesExperience of budget management and delivery of financial objectivesExperience of managing complex workforce issues and organisational changeExperience of developing positive team cultures and leading staff through changeExperience of working collaboratively across professional and organisational boundariesExperience of coaching, mentoring and succession planning for future leaders Skills EssentialAbility to provide strategic and operational leadership across a range of clinical servicesAbility to analyse and interpret quality, workforce, financial and performance data to support decision making and service improvementAbility to provide assurance and challenge regarding quality, workforce, patient safety and operational performanceAbility to lead and manage senior nursing leaders across multiple servicesExcellent communication, negotiation and influencing skillsAbility to build effective multidisciplinary and cross-organisational relationshipsAbility to motivate, coach, develop and support senior leaders and teams to achieve high standards of performanceAbility to lead effectively within highly complex and challenging environmentsAdvanced written and verbal communication skills. Including report writing and presentation skills.Ability to work effectively under pressure and make sound professional judgements whilst managing risk effectivelyAbility to utilise digital systems, workforce information and performance dashboards to support assurance, service improvement and operational decision-making.Ability to analyse workforce productivity, establishment and rostering metrics and implement improvement actionsAbility to lead quality improvement, service improvement and transformation initiativesWell-developed leadership and influencing skills with the ability to engage, motivate and empower individuals and teams to deliver organisational objectivesDemonstrates a patient centred approach to care and service deliveryAbility to foster inclusive teams culture, psychological safety and staff engagement.Excellent interpersonal, including active listening and constructive feedback.High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement, and flexibility in approach and attitudeStrong sense of commitment to openness, integrity, accountability and professional standards.Ability to undertake investigations relating to incidents, complaints and quality concerns and implement learning from outcomes Knowledge EssentialUnderstanding of Information Governance and ConfidentialityHave significant knowledge and understanding of the National Childrens and Neonates agenda and key National Maternity reportsDetailed knowledge of current NHS priorities and healthcare policyDetailed knowledge of clinical governance, patient safety and risk management frameworksKnowledge of quality improvement methodologies and implementation within healthcare settingsKnowledge of workforce planning, safe staffing methodologies and workforce assurance frameworksKnowledge of establishment management, workforce productivity measures and roster governance principlesKnowledge of regulatory requirements including Care Quality Commission standards and the Single Assessment FrameworkKnowledge of professional nursing standards and the NMC CodeKnowledge of quality, workforce and performance metrics and how they are used to support assurance and service improvement.Knowledge of safeguarding children and adults legislation, policy and best practice.Sound political judgement and astuteness in understanding and working with complex policy, and diverse interest groups, and common sense in knowing when to brief "up the line"Commitment to evidence-based practice, innovation and continuous improvement.Understanding of organisational change, transformation and workforce sustainability strategies Qualifications EssentialFirst level Registered Childrens Nurse with active NMC registrationDegree or equivalent level of knowledge and experience gained in a relevant environmentMaster's Degree, Master's level study or equivalent experience operating at this levelLeadership qualification or equivalent senior leadership experiencePost-registration qualification or robust CPD in a relevant specialtyEvidence of commitment to continuous professional developmentDesirableQuality Improvement QualificationCoaching, Mentoring or Executive Leadership qualification Person Specification Experience EssentialSignificant senior Childrens nursing leadership experience at Matron/8a level or above within a complex healthcare environmentExperience of working within an acute healthcare settingExperience of providing professional and operational leadership across multiple services and clinical areasExperience of leading staff through change, delivering service improvements with demonstrable positive impact on patient safety, patient experience and quality of careExperience of quality governance, quality assurance and regulatory complianceExperience of leading and developing senior nursing leaders, including Matrons, Lead Nurses or equivalentExperience of using quality, workforce, financial and performance data to drive improvement and provide assuranceExperience of workforce planning, establishment management, safe staffing and workforce productivity improvementExperience of roster governance, workforce deployment and effective utilisation of staffing resourcesExperience of providing assurance against Care Quality Commission standards and regulatory requirementsExperience of leading quality improvement, transformation and service development programmesExperience of budget management and delivery of financial objectivesExperience of managing complex workforce issues and organisational changeExperience of developing positive team cultures and leading staff through changeExperience of working collaboratively across professional and organisational boundariesExperience of coaching, mentoring and succession planning for future leaders Skills EssentialAbility to provide strategic and operational leadership across a range of clinical servicesAbility to analyse and interpret quality, workforce, financial and performance data to support decision making and service improvementAbility to provide assurance and challenge regarding quality, workforce, patient safety and operational performanceAbility to lead and manage senior nursing leaders across multiple servicesExcellent communication, negotiation and influencing skillsAbility to build effective multidisciplinary and cross-organisational relationshipsAbility to motivate, coach, develop and support senior leaders and teams to achieve high standards of performanceAbility to lead effectively within highly complex and challenging environmentsAdvanced written and verbal communication skills. Including report writing and presentation skills.Ability to work effectively under pressure and make sound professional judgements whilst managing risk effectivelyAbility to utilise digital systems, workforce information and performance dashboards to support assurance, service improvement and operational decision-making.Ability to analyse workforce productivity, establishment and rostering metrics and implement improvement actionsAbility to lead quality improvement, service improvement and transformation initiativesWell-developed leadership and influencing skills with the ability to engage, motivate and empower individuals and teams to deliver organisational objectivesDemonstrates a patient centred approach to care and service deliveryAbility to foster inclusive teams culture, psychological safety and staff engagement.Excellent interpersonal, including active listening and constructive feedback.High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement, and flexibility in approach and attitudeStrong sense of commitment to openness, integrity, accountability and professional standards.Ability to undertake investigations relating to incidents, complaints and quality concerns and implement learning from outcomes Knowledge EssentialUnderstanding of Information Governance and ConfidentialityHave significant knowledge and understanding of the National Childrens and Neonates agenda and key National Maternity reportsDetailed knowledge of current NHS priorities and healthcare policyDetailed knowledge of clinical governance, patient safety and risk management frameworksKnowledge of quality improvement methodologies and implementation within healthcare settingsKnowledge of workforce planning, safe staffing methodologies and workforce assurance frameworksKnowledge of establishment management, workforce productivity measures and roster governance principlesKnowledge of regulatory requirements including Care Quality Commission standards and the Single Assessment FrameworkKnowledge of professional nursing standards and the NMC CodeKnowledge of quality, workforce and performance metrics and how they are used to support assurance and service improvement.Knowledge of safeguarding children and adults legislation, policy and best practice.Sound political judgement and astuteness in understanding and working with complex policy, and diverse interest groups, and common sense in knowing when to brief "up the line"Commitment to evidence-based practice, innovation and continuous improvement.Understanding of organisational change, transformation and workforce sustainability strategies Qualifications EssentialFirst level Registered Childrens Nurse with active NMC registrationDegree or equivalent level of knowledge and experience gained in a relevant environmentMaster's Degree, Master's level study or equivalent experience operating at this levelLeadership qualification or equivalent senior leadership experiencePost-registration qualification or robust CPD in a relevant specialtyEvidence of commitment to continuous professional developmentDesirableQuality Improvement QualificationCoaching, Mentoring or Executive Leadership qualificationDisclosure 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. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameBradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustAddressBradford Teaching HospitalsDuckworth LaneBradford West YorkshireBD9 6RJUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameBradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustAddressBradford Teaching HospitalsDuckworth LaneBradford West YorkshireBD9 6RJUnited KingdomEmployer's website