Job summary
- Main area
- Nurse
- Grade
- Band 8d
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 342-CS027-0626
- Employer
- Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Bybrook Lodge
- Town
- Bristol
- Salary
- £94,356 - £108,814 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/06/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Band 8D Divisional Director of Nursing - Bristol
Band 8d
Job overview
As the most senior nurse in the Division, the Divisional Director of Nursing will carry responsibility to act as a strong role model for all colleagues by demonstrating credibility, visibility and strong commitment to identifying development opportunities, celebrating success, encouraging creativity, innovation and excellence in practice.
The Divisional Director of Nursing will lead on the Quality, Governance and Compliance standards across the Division, in line with the standards agreed across AWP, with responsibility for Division wide quality governance, compliance, clinical audit, research, and development and quality agendas.
The Divisional Director of Nursing, will, working in partnership with the Clinical Director, hold oversight of quality and safety within the Division
Main duties of the job
The postholder will lead on identified projects, as agreed with the Divisional Clinical Director and with the Chief Nursing Officer.
The post holder will ensure that all aspects of nursing and multi-disciplinary care in the SSC Division are delivered to agreed high standards which provide the best possible experience and outcome for service users. They will provide professional leadership, supporting nursing staff and other staff to bring about service transformation and improved patient care, and will lead the development of expert nursing practice and clinical leadership in the SSC Division.
The postholder will work with the Divisional Clinical Director and with the Chief Nursing Officer to strengthening the quality and safety governance processes within the Division.
Working for our organisation
We are the lead provider of healthcare for people with serious mental illness, learning disabilities and autism across Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), Swindon and Wiltshire, and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
We aim to provide High Quality, Compassionate Care everywhere, every day. This means our services will be safe, clinically effective and provide a positive all round experience for our patients, families and carers. And we believe passionately in treating everyone with kindness, respect and empathy.
Key to this is providing a supportive and safe environment for our 4,000 staff where we all feel welcome and able to do the best we can for those we support. Our staff and teams work incredibly hard delivering services across more than 90 locations, covering 2,200miles, to more than 1.8million people.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Lead on all aspects of nursing practice for a specified Division within AWP and lead on aspects of the Chief Nursing Officer portfolio, as required.
Work with the Divisional Clinical Director and with the Chief Nursing Officer to strengthening the quality and safety governance processes within the Division, ensuring that all nurses in the Division are aware of and work within the quality and safety requirements.
Lead identified nursing projects, as agreed with the Divisional Clinical Director and with the Chief Nursing Officer.
Provide strategic nursing input across the Division, ensuring appropriate advice is provided to ensure effective, recovery focused mental health services are delivered consistently.
Support Divisional teams to align existing governance meetings to the AWP frameworks, ensuring consistency and standardisation. Prepare papers to support the reporting of governance issues through to AWP meetings/committees (such as the AWP Quality and Safety Committee) and to external regulators such as the CQC, as required.
Support processes which address complex concerns that have arisen in the Division, including working with the Divisional Clinical Director and Chief Nursing Officer to have oversight of all inquests and hearings in the Division and to ensure effective and caring support and communication with families and carers.
Please see Job Description for full details
Person specification
Experience & Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Extensive experience of working in a senior operational nursing role
- Extensive experience within a Mental Health service.
- Able to demonstrate/provide extensive evidence of senior leadership ability and experience.
- Extensive experience developing and leading strategic and operational plans across large and complex services.
- Extensive understanding and experience of national and international best practice in specialist areas and nursing.
- Evidence of commitment to evidence based practice; innovation and creation of change
- Experience of CQC inspections
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrable evidence of knowledge related to service change and QI methodology
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Ability to articulate a clear vision for nursing
- Ability to understand the challenges that face the nursing profession and identify possible solutions
- Fully understands the regulatory environment within which the Division / AWP operates
- Ability to manage highly complex priorities
- Ability to understand the complexities of business planning
- Clinically and operationally credible leadership skills
- Ability to work comfortably on the front line with staff, within your scope of practice
- Ability to present at national conferences and represent the AWP Director of Nursing at local and national events
- Ability to write and present concise Board / Committee reports
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable passion for the profession of nursing and improving outcomes for patient care
- Ability to work within a team and independently
- Resilient in adversity
- Ability to adapt to changing needs of service
Education & Qualifications
Essential criteria
- NMC Registered
- First Degree
- Management qualification or equivalent.
- Masters or extensive equivalent experience including specialist training in health, leadership or management
- Relevant management qualification or equivalent senior management experience
Desirable criteria
- Postgraduate masters / doctorate in mental health core professional subject
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Michelle Cox
- Job title
- Clinical Director
- Email address
- [email protected]
List jobs with Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust in Nursing and Midwifery or all sectors