Associate Director of Nursing for Children

Job overview We are seeking an exceptional, inspiring and experienced nursing leader to join us as Associate Director of Nursing for Babies, Children and Young People at The Royal London Children’s Hospital. As a key member of the Divisional Leadership Team, working alongside the Divisional Director and Divisional Director of Operations, you will play a central role in shaping our journey from Good to Outstanding – not only as a place to receive care, but as a place where colleagues thrive and feel proud to work. In this high-profile role, you will : Lead nursing teams across all BCYP services, including acute and specialty wards, Neonatal and Paediatric Critical Care. Ensure delivery of safe, evidence-based, compassionate, and family-centred care. Strengthen patient pathways, drive service improvement, and elevate the experience of patients, families, and colleagues. Shape strategic initiatives and professional standards, acting as a trusted advisor and advocate for children and young people across the Trust. This is an opportunity to lead, influence, and shape children’s services across multiple sites with in Barts Health. About You We are looking for a dynamic leader who can : Envision and implement future models of nursing care Drive improvement through engagement, collaboration and clinical credibility Foster high-performing teams and positive working cultures Main duties of the job The Associate Director of Nursing (ADoN) for Children is the most senior professional nursing leader for Babies, Children and Young People’s (BCYP) services across the Royal London Hospital, Mile End Hospital, and associated community services. As a key member of the BCYP Divisional Triumvirate, the ADoN is accountable for delivering high-quality, safe, effective, efficient, and compassionate care aligned with Barts Health’s vision, values, and Safe & Compassionate programme. This role provides strategic direction, professional leadership, and operational oversight for children’s nursing services across acute, ambulatory, and community pathways. The postholder is part of the Trust’s senior nursing leadership team for BCYP, championing the Young Barts Health vision and ensuring children’s rights, voices, and experiences shape service design and delivery. The ADoN will work collaboratively with colleagues across Barts Health (Royal London, Mile End, Whipps Cross, Newham, St Bartholomew’s, and community services), Local Authorities, Primary Care Networks, Higher Education Institutions, the North Thames Paediatric Network, Integrated Care Systems, NHS England, and professional networks such as the Association of Chief Children’s Nurses (ACCN). The postholder will drive integrated models of care, strengthen healthcare transition pathways, reduce inequalities, and build a sustainable, skilled, and empowered workforce for the future. Working for our organisation Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers. The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world‑class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients. Our vision is to be a high‑performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm‑free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together. We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment. Detailed job description and main responsibilities The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment / s below. Person specification Experience Essential criteria Registered Children’s nurse Relevant teaching experience Master’s degree or relevant experience Senior NHS management experience as a Children’s Nurse Experience of quality and risk management Experience of managing multi professional groups Significant experience of budgetary management (with evidence of control). Experience of developing new services Patient and Public Involvement in Service Design Strategic working Commitment to personal staff and organisational development, to create a culture in which staff feel involved and empowered. Self-confident and emotionally resilient. Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to provide and receive complex information Desirable criteria Management Qualification Experience of Neonatal care Knowledge Essential criteria Involvement in Information Governance processes and dealing with Confidentiality issues Up to date knowledge and understanding of key issues and drivers within the National Children’s / Neonatal agenda Proven evidence of audit and research based skills Involvement in clinical governance and risk management processes, safeguarding and infection control. Qualifications Essential criteria First level Registered Children’s Nurse First Degree or equivalent level of knowledge and experience gained in a relevant environment Teaching Qualification (997 / SLIPS or equivalent) Recognised Leadership Qualification or equivalent experience Evidence of commitment to continuous learning and application in practice A Masters level qualification in relevant subject or evidence of equivalent knowledge and experience Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of Children practice, policy and service delivery, acquired through specialist training or equivalent experiential learning Visa Sponsorship Information Visa Sponsorship Information Recent changes toUK immigration policy on the Health and Care Visa and Skilled Worker Visa could mean that this role is not eligible for sponsorship or that you may not meet the eligibility criteria. Sponsorship can only be offered if this post and any individual offered employment meet all the Home Office’s requirements under the UK Skilled Worker visa scheme. If you are applying from outside the UK or will require sponsorship,please mention this clearly in your application. To be eligible for sponsorship, the following conditions must be met : Eligible role : The position must be on the UK Skilled Worker visa list. You can check your eligibility here : - . Salary threshold : The role must meet the minimum salary set by the Home Office. Please note that for roles employed under Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions, the High-Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) is not included when calculating the basic salary for the purposes of sponsorship. Skill level : The role must meet the minimum skill requirement of RQF Level 6 or above (graduate level). English language : Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency at CEFR level B1 or higher. Other criteria : Applicants must meet all other criteria as set out by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) #J-18808-Ljbffr