Lead Nurse

Go back North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (BCH)

The closing date is 22 September 2026

* Please note this post is internal to North Cheshire and Mersey employees *

Are you an experienced, compassionate and independently minded senior nurse ready to shape the quality, safety and performance of community and dental services?

As Lead Nurse, you will be a visible member of the Care Group senior leadership team, providing strategic and operational nursing leadership across the Community and Dental Clinical Business Units. Reporting to the Associate Chief Nurse, you will work closely with Clinical Directors, Clinical Business Unit Managers and professional leads to translate clinical strategy into safe, effective and sustainable services.

You will champion patient safety, clinical governance and learning; use complex data and professional judgement to improve quality,productivity and performance; and lead service improvement and transformational change. Through a coaching and values-led approach, you will engage and empower staff, strengthen patient-centred pathways and build effective partnerships across organisational boundaries.

We are seeking a credible, resilient and motivated registered nurse with recent senior clinical management experience, including responsibility for quality, people, budgets and performance. You will bring excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills, sound knowledge ofNHS governance, and the confidence to resolve complex issues and lead through change while role modelling the Trusts values.

The Lead Nurse will provide visible professional leadership across community and dental services, translating clinical strategy into safe,effective and sustainable delivery.

The post holder will:

Lead quality, patient safety, clinical governance and risk management, ensuring learning from incidents, feedback andgood practice is embedded.

Monitor nursing standards, workforce, performance and resources, using data and professional judgement to identify risks, improve outcomes and provide assurance.

Lead service improvement and transformation, supporting patient-centred pathways,effective use of resources and delivery of agreed priorities.

Provide line management, coaching and professional leadership to three Professional Leads, developing capable, inclusive and high-performing teams.

Workwith clinical, operational and corporate colleagues, commissioners and partners to influence decisions and support integrated care.

Represent the Care Group and Trust at senior forums and participate in the on-call rota.

Flexible working will be considered for all roles.

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM) serves more than one million residents across the Halton and Warrington boroughs and the wider North West region.

Bringing together community and out-of-hospital services (formerly provided by Bridgewater Community Healthcare) with inpatient and elective care (formerly Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals) we provide services at two hospital sites and more than 70 community hubs and facilities.

Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM).

They underpin everything we do and everything we aspire to be as an organisation.

We will be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other

We will be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn

• Kind:
  We are caring, supportive and respectful to everyone
• Open:
  We are honest, transparent and open to new ways of working
• Fair:
  We listen, value our differences and are inclusive to all
• One team:
  We work well together and with our communities

Role summary

An experienced, motivated and independently minded leader who is able to act on their own initiative, achieving outstanding performance as a role model of the trusts values and behaviours. With a cando leadership style the Lead Nurse will thrive within a climate of constant change managing the strategic direction and performance with a strong focus on productivity and improved patient experience for the Clinical Business Units within a designated Division of the Trust.

Reporting to the Associate Chief Nurse, the postholder is expected to function at a senior level within the CBUs senior leadership team, proactively leading and providing solutions to resolve complex operational issues, in accordance with agreed Trust objectives, targets,quality…