Interim Deputy Chief Nursing Officer

Main area Nursing and Midwifery Grade Band 9 Contract 6 months (fixed term contract / secondment (6-9 months)) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 321-CORP-8179193-B9

Site Oxford University Hospitals Town Oxford Salary £112,782 - £129,783 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 11/08/2026 23:59

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call thisDelivering Compassionate Excellenceand its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

Many of our recruitment programmes useValue Based Interviewingto identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visitwww.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values

Job overview

Are you ready to take a pivotal leadership role in shaping the future of nursing services across our Trust? We are seeking an exceptional candidate to work closely with the Executive Chief Nurse, deputising across the full spectrum of her duties and driving the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Trust-wide nursing policy and practice.

• Support the Executive Chief Nurse in the strategic advancement of nursing services.
• Maintain effective communication and ensure the Executive Chief Nurse is kept informed of all matters impacting nursing.
• Deliver expert professional and operational support across Nursing and the wider Trust.
• Lead on achieving the Executive Chief Nurse’s objectives and manage your own portfolio in line with the Nursing & Midwifery Strategy and Trust aims.
• Participate in the Senior Manager Executive on-call rota.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced professional eager to make a lasting impact on nursing excellence. If you are committed to high standards and strategic leadership, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• Deputise for the Executive Chief Nurse: Take responsibility for the full range of the Executive Chief Nurse’s duties as required, ensuring continuity of leadership and decision-making across nursing services.
• Develop and Implement Nursing Policy: Support the creation, enactment, and ongoing improvement of Trust-wide nursing policies and practices, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Contribute to Strategic Development: Work closely with the Executive Chief Nurse to drive the strategic advancement of nursing services, supporting the long term vision and objectives of the Trust.
• Maintain Communication: Establish and maintain effective communication channels to ensure the Executive Chief Nurse is kept informed of all matters affecting nursing, fostering transparency and collaborative working.
• Provide Professional and Operational Support: Offer expert guidance and operational support to nursing teams and the wider Trust, ensuring high standards of care and effective service delivery.
• Lead on Objective Achievement: Take a leading role in achieving the objectives of the Executive Chief Nurse, as well as managing and progressing your own portfolio in accordance with the Nursing & Midwifery Strategy and Trust objectives.
• Participate in Senior Management On-Call Rota: Join the Executive on-call rota, providing senior management support and leadership as part of the Trust’s out-of-hours arrangements.

Working for our organisation

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel .

In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles

Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Represent nursing, professionally and operationally at Executive Director’s Groups that advise the Chief Executive on the Organisation’s operational agenda.
• Develop and present papers, as necessary and making decisions as required.
• Represent professional and operational Nursing on all strategic issues relating to the on-going quality, safety and transformation programmes
• Lead and chair sub groups to the Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness Committee i.e. Falls Group, Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Improvement Group, Tracheostomy Management Group, Revalidation and Safe staffing Groups; ensuring onward reporting on progress.
• Provide active membership and appropriate challenge at the Clinical Governance Committee.
• Provide active membership on the Professional Nursing & Midwifery Forum presenting professional issues for discussion, debate and decisions.
• M anage the educational and tissue viability elements of the corporate nursing budget, and nursing’s component of the cost improvement programme.

Person specification

Shortlisting

• Current RN Level 1 that is revalidated and up to date
• Evidence of leading Trust wide projects
• Fully conversant with the national nursing agenda and the impact of national initiatives on the profession

Experience

• Substantial senior nurse management experience, including previous experience at Director level (acting or substantive) or significant experience at assistant/associate of at large divisional level in an acute setting

Experience

• Fully conversant with the national nursing agenda and the impact of national initiatives on the profession
• Evidence of strategic working that is Trustwide, Regional and National

Sexual Safety Charter : In 2023NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles

Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

Vacancy Closures: Please note, this vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications are received.

Visa and Immigration: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is able to offer Certificates of Sponsorship for all eligible roles for a Skilled Worker Visa without exception, provided the role meets the minimum salary and skill level criteria set by the Home Office (UKVI). All eligible candidates will be considered with equal consideration at all stages of the application and recruitment process. Skilled worker: Health and Care Visa | NHS Employers /Work in the UK - GOV.UK

COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at Oxfordshire County Council Website where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination.

Probation Period: This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with the Oxford University Hospitals, this will not apply. This statement does not apply to Medical staff or Executive Appointments.

Referencing: When providing employment reference details please provide correct work related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your first referee will need to be your line manager, supervisor or clinical lead from your current or most recent post or place of study. Please note that if you have previously worked for the Trust we will require a reference from your last Manager, this information is essential if your offer of employment is to be confirmed.

No unsolicited recruitment agency telephone calls or emails.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Band 5 NurseandBand 2 Healthcare Support Workerrecruitment iscentralised, meaning when you apply you will be considered fora number of rolesacross the Trust. If you have any questions please email:nursing.careers@ouh.nhs.uk .

Vacancies with our PFI partners

Domestic / catering / porteringservices at theJohn Radcliffe Hospitalare provided byMitie.

Domestic / catering / portering / maintenance engineerservices at theChurchill HospitalandNuffield Orthopaedic Centreare provided byG4S.

Maintenance engineer services at the John Radcliffe Hospital are provided by Equans.

All meetings and interviews will be scheduled on Microsoft Teams from a verified OUH email account.

If you have any doubts about any correspondence around recruitment, please contact us

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