Deputy Chief Nurse

Job summary

We have a rare opportunity to join our nursing senior leadership team to shape how we deliver exceptional care at our multi-site Trust.

University of Derby and Burton Hospitals invites applications for a 6-month fixed term/secondment Deputy Chief Nurse post. The successful candidate will usually be based at Queen's Hospital Burton, with responsibilities spanning additional sites including community hospitals. You will work closely with the Deputy Chief Operating Officer and site Medical Director to provide senior clinical leadership at the acute site and our Staffordshire community sites.

The role requires frequent travel across the Trust's five sites, ensuring a cohesive approach to nursing leadership throughout the organisation.

Applicants must demonstrate substantial experience in senior leadership and team management within healthcare settings relevant to the post. The Deputy Chief Nurse is expected to chair various internal meetings, represent the Trust at Board Committees and Trust Board sessions, participate in external stakeholder engagements, deputise for the Executive Chief Nurse as circumstances require, and contribute to the Executive on-call rota. A proven track record of effective collaboration and strategic decision-making at an executive level is essential.

Closing date of applications - 18 June 2026

Interview date - 02 July 2026

Main duties of the job

The appointed individual will work in close partnership with directors across Patient Experience, Estates and Facilities, Quality, Clinical Governance, Risk and Compliance, Divisional Nurse Directors, and Directors of Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs). Key responsibilities include delivering operational and transformational leadership for Nursing, Midwifery, and AHPs; assuming delegated authority from the Executive Chief Nurse when necessary; promoting safe staffing levels, supporting quality improvement initiatives, encouraging research and innovation, fostering professional development, and upholding exemplary standards to deliver care characterised by "Compassion and Dignity," as well as exemplifying professional standards.

Further duties encompass providing expert advice on both operational and strategic professional nursing matters, maintaining oversight of practice standards, and ensuring that appropriate accountability and remedial action are taken when standards are not met. The Deputy Chief Nurse will be expected to drive continuous improvement in patient outcomes, champion a positive organisational culture, and contribute to the advancement of clinical excellence and none-medical research across all sites. Additionally, the post holder will serve as a role model for professional integrity, ethical conduct, and collaborative working, supporting the Trust's mission to provide high-quality and compassionate care to its community.

About us

As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together

Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.

In return we will offer:

• Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
• On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
• Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes

Key Facts:

• We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.
• We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2077 per week.
• An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country.
• Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
• Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
• We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
• We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
• UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.