Head of Nursing - Urgent and Emergency Care | Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

We are looking for an experienced and dynamic senior nursing leader to join our Urgent and Emergency Care Directorate as a key member of the Directorate leadership team.

The postholder will provide visible, compassionate professional leadership, working closely with the General Manager, Clinical Director, Heads of Service, Matrons and multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, high-quality care and an excellent experience for patients and staff.

The role has a strong focus on quality, safety, performance and service transformation. The successful candidate will use data, professional judgement and feedback to identify opportunities for improvement, challenge existing ways of working and support innovative solutions that improve patient flow, quality and productivity.

People leadership will be central to the role, supporting staff engagement, recruitment and retention, professional development and succession planning while promoting a positive and inclusive culture.

Working with the Directorate leadership team, the postholder will contribute to workforce and business planning, financial management and delivery of Trust priorities. They will be confident working in a complex, fast-paced environment, influencing across professional boundaries and supporting teams to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients.

• The postholder will provide senior professional and operational leadership for Urgent and Emergency Care, working with the General Manager, Clinical Director, Heads of Service, Matrons and multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, effective and high-quality patient care.
• They will lead service development and support delivery of operational, quality, workforce and financial priorities in line with Trust objectives. Using data and performance information, they will identify opportunities for improvement, develop action plans and ensure improvements are implemented and sustained.
• The postholder will provide visible professional leadership, supporting high standards of clinical governance, patient experience, risk management and infection prevention and control. They will ensure learning from complaints, incidents and feedback informs continuous improvement.
• The role includes leading workforce development, recruitment and retention, staff development and succession planning, while promoting a culture of engagement and innovation. The postholder will support service redesign, business planning and effective financial management, working collaboratively across professional and organisational boundaries.
• As a key member of the Directorate leadership team, they will work closely with the General Manager and Clinical Director and deputise for the General Manager when required.

At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.

Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You’ll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career. Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.

Environmental sustainability

Climate change and poor air quality is a health emergency that harms people’s health and wellbeing and widens health inequalities. The Trust is also committed to reducing its impact on the environment by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2045. All our employees have a role to play, and we have an active green network that supports staff to act in ways that ensures that our services are efficient, sustainable and reduce our impact on the environmentwww.imperial.nhs.uk/about-us/our-strategy/green-plan.

The postholder will provide senior professional nursing leadership across Urgent and Emergency Care services, working in partnership with the General Manager, Clinical Director, Heads of Service, Matrons and multidisciplinary teams to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality patient care.

Key responsibilities will include

• Provide visible, credible and compassionate nursing leadership across Urgent and Emergency Care services, promoting high professional standards and a positive culture for patients and staff.
• Lead and support the delivery of quality, safety and clinical governance priorities, including patient experience, complaints, risk management, infection prevention and control and compliance with Trust and regulatory standards.
• Work with the General Manager and Clinical Director to deliver key operational and performance objectives, developing and monitoring improvement and corrective action plans where required.
• Use performance, quality and workforce data to identify areas for improvement, inform decision-making and ensure actions deliver measurable and sustainable outcomes.
• Lead and support service improvement, transformation and redesign, working collaboratively with clinical and operational teams to identify opportunities to improve patient care, flow, efficiency and experience.
• Support the development of business cases, capital schemes and other service developments within the Directorate.
• Ensure national guidance and Trust policies relevant to patient care and service delivery are effectively implemented and embedded across services.
• Lead and support the nursing workforce agenda, including recruitment and retention, workforce planning, induction, appraisal, education, training, professional development and succession planning.
• Coach, motivate and develop teams, promoting engagement, accountability and continuous improvement while creating opportunities for staff to develop and progress.
• Work collaboratively across professional and organisational boundaries, developing strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and representing Urgent and Emergency Care at relevant meetings and forums.
• Contribute to the effective management of Directorate resources and budgets, working with operational colleagues to understand financial performance, identify efficiencies and ensure resources are used effectively.
• Support annual business planning and the delivery of financial, workforce, quality and performance objectives.
• Ensure patient and staff feedback, including complaints, compliments and other patient experience information, informs service planning and improvement.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively, ensuring appropriate escalation and keeping senior leaders informed of significant professional, operational and patient care matters.
• Provide professional advice and leadership during periods of operational pressure and support effective management of risk and service pressures.
• Deputise for the General Manager as required and contribute fully to the collective leadership of the Directorate.

This advert closes on Thursday 5 Nov 2026