Deputy Director of Nursing & Quality

Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 15 March 2026

We are looking for a dynamic, experienced, and compassionate Deputy Director of Nursing who will support the Executive Director of Nursing, Quality and Professions in fulfilling their responsibilities for professional nursing leadership and aspects of quality governance.

The role also supports the clinical divisional nursing portfolio within Medicine and Integrated Care and will be required to deputize for the Divisional Director of Nursing. The post holder’s experience will be crucial to ensure a strong fit within the clinical directorates and teams, requiring credibility and integrity, strong operational oversight, and the ability to respond effectively to emerging issues. Being creative, adaptable, and forward‑thinking, with the ability to work collaboratively to deliver effective change while maintaining safety and operational delivery, is crucial to the role.

Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills across a broad service portfolio are essential.

You will champion a patient‑centered approach, ensuring services are well positioned to place patient choice, safety, and staff wellbeing at the forefront of developments.

The post holder will be a senior member of the SHPU leadership team and, as such, will work closely with deputy colleagues within the Operations, Medical, and People Directorates, as well as other key senior leaders.

The post holder will work in close partnership with Professional Leads, Directorate Leadership, and Corporate colleagues to facilitate the robust planning, development, and delivery of high‑quality, effective clinical care across services.

The Deputy Director of Nursing & Quality is accountable for ensuring high standards of care are delivered in line with regulatory requirements, evidence‑based practice, and national best practice, working in close collaboration with Directorate Heads of Nursing. The post holder is accountable for delivery of the Nursing Plan and holds a specific leadership portfolio aligned to delivery, working closely with senior nurses across SHPU.

The role includes operational responsibility for a range of Quality Directorate functions, including Safeguarding, Clinical Governance, Complaints, Incident Management, Reducing Restrictive Practice, and Clinical Risk. The post holder will lead on a number of quality improvement initiatives related to safety, quality, and nursing practice.

We are passionate about providing the very best care to the people we support, and we’re looking for amazing people who share this passion to join us.

What is it that makes our Trust such a special place to work? Well, it’s all about the people. Our staff, service users, carers and families all come from such diverse backgrounds and all have expertise and stories to share.

It’s important that you feel supported in your role, that the people you work with are as passionate as you are and that your health and wellbeing is taken care of.

If you’re interested in developing your career, you’ll have access to a range of training and education opportunities, including apprenticeships, work experience and placements, as well as the chance to get involved in research.

We are all very proud of the difference we make to people’s lives each and every day and if that’s something you’d like to be part of, we’d love to have you with us.

• Lead on the implementation of SHPU Nursing Plan.
• Work in strong partnership and collaboration with the Directorate Heads of Nursing/Deputy Head of Nursing to provide professional nursing leadership.
• Provides strategic advice as required on practice standards, nurse education and safety issues, in accordance with local and national policy and statutory guidance.
• Provides professional leadership to nursing staff fostering a culture which values continued professional development and strives for excellence.
• Work collaboratively with other professional leads in developing a culture which embeds clinical quality, patient safety, clinical effectiveness and monitors its impact to…