Clinical Nurse Manager for Safer Staffing

NHS Scotland Equality & Diversity Statement

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran are one of 14 territorial NHS Boards within NHS Scotland. In support of our core purpose of Working together to achieve the healthiest life possible for everyone in Ayrshire and Arran, we are committed to a culture that is Caring, Safe, and Respectful. You will be required to work collaboratively in a safe, caring and respectful way.

We serve a population of approximately 370,000 people, employing over 9,000 staff, and are committed to delivering high-quality, safe, and person‑centred care across all services.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a new Clinical Nurse Manager for Safer Staffing role within NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Acute Services. This newly created post reflects our commitment to strengthening safer staffing leadership and embedding a sustainable, digitally enabled model of workforce planning across the organisation. As a key member of the senior nursing leadership team, you will work directly with the Chief Nurse for Acute Services, providing strategic and operational leadership to ensure compliance with national policy and the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019, while driving improvements in workforce planning and patient safety.

This post is offered on a fixed-term basis for 18 months
.

36 hours per week.

This pivotal new post will lead and embed safer staffing practices across Acute Services, with a strong focus on the Safe Care system and eRostering. You will ensure staffing decisions are evidence-based, transparent, and responsive to patient acuity and dependency.

• Providing strategic leadership for safer staffing and workforce planning across Acute Services
• Leading the rollout, optimisation, and embedding of Safe Care as a real‑time clinical safety system
• Ensuring compliance with national standards, legislation, and governance frameworks
• Delivering clinical oversight of eRostering to align staffing with patient need, skill mix, and staff wellbeing
• Supporting recruitment and retention strategies to maintain safe and sustainable staffing levels
• Providing expert advice and leadership to senior nurses, multidisciplinary teams, and the Board

Safe staffing is fundamental to patient safety, care quality, and staff wellbeing. As a new role, this post represents a significant investment in strengthening clinical leadership and system‑wide consistency.

• Enable real-time identification and mitigation of staffing risk
• Improve continuity of care and patient outcomes
• Strengthen professional accountability and decision‑making
• Support workforce wellbeing, retention, and resilience
• Deliver financial sustainability through reduced reliance on agency staffing

We are looking for a dynamic, credible, and visible nursing leader who can influence at all levels.

• Current NMC registration
• Significant senior leadership experience in nursing workforce planning and safer staffing
• Experience in Safe Care, eRostering, or digital workforce systems
• A strong understanding of national policy and workforce legislation
• Proven ability to lead change, improvement, and transformation
• Excellent analytical, communication, and influencing skills

• A newly established senior leadership role with Board‑wide impact
• The opportunity to shape and embed innovative safer staffing systems
• A supportive and collaborative leadership environment
• Commitment to professional development and continuous learning
• The chance to make a real difference to patient care and staff experience

To work in the United Kingdom, you must demonstrate the relevant permission to work in the country. NHS Ayrshire & Arran may be able to offer visa sponsorship for certain roles, provided the post meets the minimum salary threshold and any other required criteria. Sponsorship is not guaranteed and is assessed on a case‑by‑case basis following interview and at the commencement of pre‑employment checks.