Nurse Director-Tissue Viability/ Lymphoedema in Eastbourne

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and passionate Nurse Director/Tissue Viability Nurse Consultant to join our team. The Nurse Director is a pivotal leadership role that provides clinical, professional and operational leadership for wound care and lymphoedema services across the organisation. Working within the Nurse Directorate team, the postholder will contribute to the delivery of high‑quality, evidence‑based, patient‑centred care. The role will include delegated responsibility for defined service areas, programmes of work, service development, quality improvement and performance management. The postholder will also support system‑wide working, service integration and will develop leadership capabilities.

In return, we will reward you with generous holiday entitlement, a competitive salary and pension, access to well‑being initiatives, and eligibility to join our income protection scheme from day one. NOTE: This role offers flexibility of remote work with occasional on‑site requirements.

Main duties of the job

You will be part of a highly driven and talented team, and will have the following skill set:

• Ability to evidence ongoing registration/revalidation as a Registered General Nurse
• Provide clinical, professional, and operational leadership for wound care and lymphoedema services
• Ensure high‑quality, patient‑centred care
• Support organisational goals by managing service‑specific programmes of work
• Communicate specialist and complex information at all levels
• Drive for excellence

About us

Pioneer Wound Healing and Lymphoedema Centres is headquartered in Eastbourne & Crawley and operates across the UK and internationally, providing specialised tissue viability and lymphoedema care to NHS and self‑funding patients. We are committed to providing the highest possible standards of care, putting our patients first, and actively supporting staff development. We pride ourselves on supporting each other to achieve excellence.

Job responsibilities

Job purpose

The Nurse Director will provide clinical, professional and operational leadership for wound care and lymphoedema services. The postholder will ensure delivery of high‑quality, evidence‑based, patient‑centred care, drive improvements in clinical outcomes, reduce unwarranted variation and support organisational strategic objectives.

Key responsibilities

Strategic Clinical Leadership

• Lead transformation programmes for wound care and lymphoedema services aligned with organisational priorities
• Provide leadership across delegated or defined service workstreams and advise the Board on planning and delivery, escalating risks, issues or exceptions
• Contribute to service and operational planning

Clinical Leadership

• Act as lead clinician supervising staff who assess, plan, implement, oversee and evaluate care programmes
• Lead management of patients with complex wounds and lymphoedema needs
• Promote a patient‑focused multidisciplinary approach in collaboration with families, carers, healthcare professionals and agencies
• Work in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and professional guidelines

Clinical Workforce Leadership

• Provide visible leadership for nursing and allied health staff across all sites
• Support workforce planning, recruitment, retention and professional development initiatives
• Ensure standards of clinical practice, record keeping and reporting meet required levels and address issues promptly
• Ensure compliance with revalidation and continuing professional development requirements

Quality

• Manage incidents, complaints and patient safety events in line with the Patient Safety Incident Review Framework (PSIRF)
• Embed learning and improvement across clinical areas
• Promote a culture of openness and continuous learning, upholding the Duty of Candour and Freedom to Speak Up principles

Governance

• Support the Quality and Clinical Governance systems, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory frameworks (CQC, NHS England, NICE, NMC)
• Maintain risk registers and clinical audits, escalating issues as needed
• Attend and contribute to governance meetings, manage action plans, audit findings and patient experience metrics
• Contribute to high‑quality reports for the Executive Team and Board on quality, safety and governance matters

Patient Experience and Engagement

• Support initiatives to improve patient and family experience, establishing effective feedback systems
• Analyse trends from complaints, compliments and patient surveys and act accordingly
• Co‑produce and engage with patients in service design and evaluation, e.g. advisory or support groups

Key relationships

• Patients, families and service users
• Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Executive Officer
• Deputy Chief Nurse
• Director of Operations
• Nursing Directors
• Clinical/Service Leads and nursing teams
• External regulators and partner organisations

Additional information

The role requires occasional travel across multiple sites within the organisation. The postholder will participate in the on‑call rota for Senior Nursing as required. All staff must be familiar with, and adhere to, Pioneer child and adult protection procedures and guidelines in conjunction with the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) and Adults Safeguarding Board (ASB). All clinical staff must complete safeguarding training appropriate to their role. Records and reports should be documented in accordance with legislation and relevant policies and procedures.

Other

These guidelines are provided to assist in the performance of the contract but are not a condition of the contract. The job description is not intended to be exhaustive, and duties may be altered following consultation with the postholder. In accordance with the Pioneer responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, the postholder may be directed to undertake work or alternative duties at variable locations.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse (NMC registration)
• Tissue Viability and/or Lymphoedema degree training at level 6
• Masters degree or working towards
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Independent non‑medical prescribing

Experience

• Experience managing patients with complex wound needs
• Experience working in a senior clinical role (8A and above) or equivalent
• Experience leading healthcare teams with evidence of service improvement
• Experience working across community and acute care settings
• Experienced line manager
• Experience in private care

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check to verify any previous criminal convictions.

Full‑time, Flexible working, Home or remote working. Pioneer is a smoke‑free organisation and does not permit staff or patients to smoke in any Pioneer building or associated location. Pioneer is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all parts of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, maternity/pregnancy, marriage/civil partnership or gender reassignment.