Group Deputy Chief Nurse

Working as a partnership, both Isle of Wight NHS Trust (IWT) and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU)  have a shared vision for excellence in care for our patients and communities; with a set of strategic aims underpinning how we will achieve this. 

The vision for our single corporate services is to:

• Be an employer of choice for corporate talent, attracting and retaining people who share our values for excellence in care and welcome the opportunity to benefit from the broad range of flexible career and development opportunities we can offer.   
• Improve efficiency through simplified and standardised policies, processes, and systems, drawing on the best from both Trusts.  
• Do things once and reduce any duplication on transactional tasks giving corporate staff the ability to focus on higher value and more diverse activities.  
• Co-invest in the latest digital solutions and standardise our approach, meaning we do things once for both organisations. 
• Improve learning and development opportunities and sharing best practice, upskilling both Trusts.  
• Co-locate teams in purpose-built facilities on the Island and in Portsmouth to enable closer working and sharing.  
• Build resilience for individuals and our teams. 

The single corporate service is delivered across both organisation.  You may be based at either IWT or PHU and individuals may be required to undertake business travel between sites. For leaders managing staff across multi-site locations, you will need to be visible and provide in person leadership. The arrangements and frequency will be agreed locally.

Are you an inspiring senior nurse leader ready to make a difference across two dynamic NHS organisations?

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity to join Isle of Wight NHS Trust (IWT) and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) as Group Deputy Chief Nurse. This pivotal role supports the Chief Nurse and Executive Team in leading the delivery of high-quality, safe, and compassionate care across both Trusts.

IWT and PHU have a strong and growing strategic partnership, with a shared vision of "Working together to deliver excellence in care for our patients and communities." Together, we serve a diverse population of over 800,000 people across Portsmouth, South East Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight. Our partnership enables us to deliver sustainable services, drive innovation, and create attractive places to work.

As Group Deputy Chief Nurse, you will:

• Lead the development and implementation of our corporate Quality Strategy.
• Champion patient safety, safeguarding, equality, and diversity.
• Provide visible, professional leadership to nurses, midwives, AHPs, and clinical teams across both Trusts.
• Support the Chief Nurse in strategic planning, governance, and transformation programmes.
• Represent the Trusts regionally and nationally, shaping policy and service design.

We are seeking a credible, compassionate, and motivated senior nurse with a proven track record in clinical leadership, quality improvement, and strategic delivery. You will bring expertise in patient safety, safeguarding, and governance, and be passionate about developing professional identity and leadership across our workforce.

This is a unique opportunity to work across two organisations rated 'Good' by the CQC, each with distinct strengths and challenges. You will be part of a supportive leadership team committed to continuous improvement and professional development.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

For further details, please see enclosed Candidate Brief. 

To arrange an informal call regarding the role, please contact Leah Cordery, Executive Assistant to Hayley Peters, Chief Nurse IWT & PHU via email - [email protected]

The closing date for applications is Sunday 7th December.

• Professional knowledge acquired through degree, supplemented by specialist training to doctorate or equivalent level
• NMC Registration
• Post graduate qualification e.g. MSC or the equivalent applied post-graduation management learning relating to a number of disciplines
• Membership of a clinical and/or management professional body
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Experience

• Previous successful management experience, at a senior level
• Proven successful track record in:
  • Leading and sustaining transformational change within a complex organisation
  • Developing and translating business strategy into operational delivery
  • Managing operating budgets and delivering financial surplus
  • Leading and performance-managing teams and individuals
• Extensive senior management experience within the NHS

Skills and Knowledge 

• Strong customer service skills
• Judgments involving complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options
• Exercise expert reasoning and professional judgment to resolve complex problems including areas such as procurement and management support, service delivery and supporting arrangements
• Highly developed leadership skills
• Ability to quickly establish effective working relationships and develop strong team working
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of clinical and corporate governance and risk management systems and processes
• Highly developed interpersonal and facilitation skills, with ability to gain and maintain credibility with senior clinicians
• Highly effective presentation skills and the ability to present well-reasoned and structured argument orally and in writing
• Highly developed analytical skills
• Proficiency in the use of ICT applications to support efficient work activity, including the analysis, interpretation and presentation of complex data
• Ability to manage priorities in order to meet specific deadlines
• Ability to hold direct and non-direct reports to account
• Detailed knowledge of Clinical Quality and Safety methodologies
• Detailed knowledge of Clinical and Corporate Governance frameworks, legislation and best practice

Personal Qualities 

• Tenacity: demonstrates high levels of self-belief, drive, enthusiasm and stamina to achieve goals and see things through
• Ability to motivate, inspire and provide innovative solutions
• Excellent judgement
• Ability to achieve consistently good results in an inclusive and collaborative manner
• Ability to work effectively in a complex and changing environment
• Ability to work under pressure to demanding timetables
• Understands the need to deliver short-term priorities and achieve long-term goals (sense of balance)
• High degree of political awareness
• Displays innovative and lateral thinking
• Prepared to work totally flexibly
• High degree of self-awareness
• Ability to maintain confidence, at all times
• High levels of personal integrity and loyalty
• Intellectual flexibility that enables the reasoned assessment of a situation and the ability to draw pragmatic
• conclusions
• Ability to 'broad scan' to keep abreast of developments in the Health Care Sector
• Ability to deal with confidential issues in a professional and sensitive manner

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran's status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.