Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals (AHP) -SurgeryNHS

Job summary

Exciting opportunity to join Somerset NHS Foundation Trust as the Director of Nursing and AHP's! This role holds explicit professional accountability to the Chief Nurse. This includes responsibility for ensuring that nursing and AHP standards, governance, quality, and professional practice are maintained in line with organisational, regulatory, and national requirements. The Director acts under the professional direction and delegated authority of the Chief Nurse, and Deputy Chief Nurses, providing assurance that safe, high-quality, patient-centred care is delivered across all services within their remit. They are accountable for advising the Chief Nurse and Deputies on professional matters, escalating risks appropriately, and supporting the delivery of the Chief Nurse's strategic priorities.

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly credible senior leader who is passionate about patient care, professional practice and service improvement.

You will:

• Provide visible, compassionate and inclusive leadership to nursing and AHP teams.
• Champion patient safety, quality improvement and clinical excellence.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, retention and succession planning.
• Drive innovation, transformation and new models of care.
• Support the development of a positive, high-performing culture where colleagues can thrive.
• Use data, intelligence and evidence to improve outcomes and reduce variation in care.
• Work across organisational and system boundaries to shape the future of healthcare services.

Job description

The Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals is a senior leadership role within the Service Group, working as part of the triumvirate leadership team alongside the Service Group Director and Associate Medical Director. The post holder will provide professional leadership, strategic direction and assurance for nursing and allied health professional practice, ensuring that services deliver safe, effective, inclusive and high-quality care for patients, families and communities.

The post holder will be responsible for setting and maintaining professional standards across the Service Group, supporting clinical teams to deliver excellent patient outcomes and ensuring that nursing and AHP services are aligned with organisational, regulatory and national priorities. They will hold delegated professional accountability to the Chief Nurse and Midwife, providing assurance on quality, safety, governance, workforce and professional practice.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.