Care Group Director of Nursing
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation TrustJob overview
Are you a transformational leader with the passion and vision to drive outstanding care?
We’re seeking an exceptional Care Group Director of Nursing to join our senior leadership team a visible, strategic and compassionate leader who will shape the future of nursing across our Care Group.
As a key member of the triumvirate, you’ll provide strong professional leadership and be accountable for the highest standards of clinical quality, patient safety and experience. Working with the Chief Nurse, Care Group Director and executive colleagues, you’ll deliver excellence across workforce, quality, finance and transformation, embedding a culture of inclusion, innovation and continuous improvement.
You’ll represent the Trust regionally and nationally, influencing strategy and driving digital transformation. A credible leader, you’ll inspire teams, strengthen collaboration and enhance patient outcomes and experience.
This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact leading change, nurturing talent and shaping the future of nursing for our patients, our people and our community.
If you’re a dynamic, values-led leader ready for a strategic challenge with real influence, we’d love to hear from you.
Care Group Specialties:
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Planned Care: Cancer, Clinical Support Services, and Surgery
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Medicine & Urgent and Emergency Care: Trust-wide operations, Emergency Care, and Medicine for Older People
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Families & Communities: Place-based Care, Therapies, Public Health, and Paediatrics
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- Through strong leadership and effective change management, the post holder will develop the role within the triumvirate to design, implement and evaluate innovative care models that meet the needs of our patients, staff and community.
- The Care Group Director of Nursing will provide expert professional advice to the Care Group Director and be accountable for delivering clinical quality, patient safety and excellent patient experience across the Care Group. They will ensure consistent, high standards of practice and care, fostering a culture of safety, openness and continuous improvement.
- Working collaboratively with the executive team, the post holder will lead, manage and set professional standards for the nursing and allied health professional workforce, ensuring compassionate, safe and effective care across all services.
- As a key member of the Care Group leadership team, they will play a pivotal role in achieving performance, quality, workforce and financial objectives.
- The post holder will also work closely with the Chief Nurse and their deputies and Care Group Directors to deliver and embed the Trust’s nursing and AHP strategy, ensuring alignment with wider organisational priorities and system-level goals.
Working for our organisation
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Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- This role represents a highly senior leadership position responsible for shaping, influencing, and delivering high-quality patient care across a Care Group and the wider Trust. It requires exceptional communication, analytical, and leadership skills to build collaborative relationships at all levels internally across multidisciplinary teams and externally with regional and national partners. The post holder provides a visible and credible professional nursing voice, promoting a culture of openness, compassion, and continuous improvement. They lead on patient safety, quality, and governance initiatives while ensuring that staff are empowered to raise concerns and contribute to service excellence. The role also involves leading responses to critical incidents, managing sensitive or contentious issues, and navigating complex organisational dynamics with diplomacy and emotional intelligence.
- Strategically, the position demands advanced analytical and decision-making capabilities, balancing competing priorities across clinical quality, workforce wellbeing, financial efficiency, and regulatory compliance. The post holder develops governance frameworks, ensures adherence to national standards, and contributes to long-term strategic planning, policy development, and service redesign. They oversee nursing workforce planning, budgetary control, and digital transformation, ensuring data integrity and alignment with safety and quality frameworks. With a strong focus on leadership, they nurture professional development, succession planning, and staff engagement, ensuring nursing practice is evidence-based, inclusive, and fit for the future. Acting with significant autonomy, this leader drives innovation, research, and system-wide collaboration ultimately safeguarding patient care standards and advancing the Trust’s strategic and clinical objectives.
You will be joining the organisation at an exciting time. As the first fully integrated care organisation in England, we are working to improve the way we deliver safe, high-quality health and social care. We have a positive and vibrant working atmosphere, we are proud of our investment in our staff both in terms of developing potential career skills and valuing people.
If you provide support to a family member or friend with health or care needs, we aim to be a Carer-friendly employer. We have a ‘Staff Carers’ policy which includes flexible working where possible and a Carer’s Passport scheme that links you into support and discounts.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- We reserve the right to close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we encourage you to apply promptly.
- Please read the job description carefully and tailor your application to reflect the requirements of the role.
- Applicants who identify in their application form they are a part of the Armed Forces community will be guaranteed an interview, provided they meet the minimum essential criteria outlined in the job description and person specification for the role. Step into Health guidance can be found on our NHS Employers website.
- Correspondence will be sent via Trac, text, and email. Please ensure you check your email and Trac account regularly.
- Applicants with no previous NHS experience will ordinarily be appointed to the minimum of the band.
- If you have not received an invitation to interview within 28 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
- It is your responsibility to ensure the timely receipt of appropriate references.
The Trust is committed to preventing discrimination, valuing diversity and achieving equality of opportunity. No person (staff, patient or public) will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of the nine protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. If you require support you can obtain this from our Equality Business Forum which has representatives from all protected groups.