Job summary
- Main area
- Chief Nurse and Patient Safety Officer
- Grade
- VSM
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 224-PA20260603693-A
- Employer
- The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaeduc Hospital
- Town
- Oswestry
- Salary
- Salary dependent upon
- Closing
- 12/07/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Chief Nurse and Patient Safety Officer
VSM
Here at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, we are very proud of our reputation for providing outstanding care to our patients.
In the National Staff Survey, 69% of our staff would recommend the Trust as a place to work and 91% would recommend the hospital to a friend or family for treatment. 79% of staff say patient care is our top priority.
Our continued success is accomplished through the skills and expertise of our staff, which is underpinned by our values: Professional, Excellence, Respect, Friendly, Inclusive and Caring.
Job overview
Exceptional patient care is built on exceptional leadership. Join us to shape the future of quality, safety and compassionate care at one of the UK's leading specialist hospitals.
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RJAH) is one of the UK's leading specialist hospitals and a nationally recognised centre of excellence for orthopaedic care.
Renowned for our clinical outcomes, innovation and patient-centred approach, we provide specialist services to patients from across the UK and beyond. Our reputation has been built by exceptional people who are committed to delivering the highest standards of care, safety and compassion.
We are now seeking an exceptional Chief Nurse and Patient Safety Officer to join our Board and Executive Team and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our organisation.
This is a unique opportunity for an inspirational nursing leader to influence strategy, drive quality improvement, strengthen our culture of safety and ensure every patient receives outstanding care and experience.
Main duties of the job
As Chief Nurse and Patient Safety Officer, you will be a key member of the Trust Board and Executive Team, providing strategic leadership for nursing, allied health professionals, patient safety, quality, patient experience and clinical governance.
You will ensure the highest standards of quality and safety are embedded across the organisation, while fostering a culture in which staff feel empowered, supported and able to continuously improve care.
Working closely with clinical leaders, Executive colleagues and system partners, you will help shape the future direction of one of the UK’s leading specialist hospitals.
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing strategic leadership for nursing, allied health professionals, quality and patient safety.
- Delivering Board-level assurance on quality, patient experience, safety, safeguarding and clinical governance.
- Leading a culture of continuous improvement, learning and innovation.
- Executive Lead for patient safety, ensuring robust systems for learning from incidents, complaints, audits and feedback.
- Championing the voice of patients, families and carers in service design and delivery.
- Serving as Director of Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC).
- Providing Executive leadership for Estates, Facilities and Health & Safety.
- Working collaboratively across the Integrated Care System and with regulators to improve outcomes.
- Supporting the development of future clinical leaders and strengthening professional practice.
Working for our organisation
RJAH is a specialist orthopaedic hospital based in Oswestry, serving patients locally, regionally and nationally.
We are recognised for delivering some of the most complex orthopaedic care and are proud of our reputation for innovation, research and clinical excellence. Our services include:
- Nine inpatient wards and thirteen operating theatres.
- Specialist spinal injuries services.
- Nationally recognised bone tumour services.
- Paediatric orthopaedics.
- Complex rehabilitation and specialist orthopaedic care.
Our vision is simple: Improving lives through excellent, innovative care.
Joining RJAH means becoming part of a collaborative, supportive and forward‑looking organisation that values continuous improvement and compassionate leadership.
We offer:
- A rare opportunity to join the Board of a leading UK specialist hospital
- The chance to influence quality, patient safety and clinical excellence
- An engaged Executive Team and Board committed to improvement
- A strong, supportive organisational culture
- Excellent leadership development opportunities
- Flexible working and a commitment to staff wellbeing
- Access to a range of NHS benefits
- The opportunity to work in a beautiful part of the country
This is an outstanding opportunity to shape the future of patient care within one of the UK's most respected specialist NHS organisations.
If you are an ambitious and compassionate leader who is committed to excellence, innovation and improving lives, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To apply, please submit
- A comprehensive curriculum vitae including employment references covering a full 6 years
A supporting statement demonstrating how your experience, leadership style and values align with the requirements of the role.
Please DO NOT apply through completion of the application form.
Applications should be sent to: Mary Bardsley, Assistant Trust Secretary
[email protected]
We are looking for an exceptional and authentic leader who is passionate about patient care, quality improvement and creating the conditions in which people can thrive.
You will bring:
Experience
- Significant senior nursing leadership experience at Board level, or operating at an equivalent strategic level within a complex healthcare organisation.
- A proven track record of delivering measurable improvements in quality, safety and patient outcomes.
- Experience of leading organisational change and service transformation.
- Demonstrable success in developing high-performing clinical teams and nurturing positive organisational cultures.
- Extensive experience of clinical governance, risk management and regulatory compliance.
Skills and Knowledge
- Exceptional strategic leadership and influencing skills.
- Deep understanding of contemporary patient safety frameworks and quality improvement methodologies.
- The ability to foster a culture of openness, learning and psychological safety.
- Strong understanding of NHS policy, quality governance and professional standards.
- The credibility and emotional intelligence to work effectively with patients, clinicians, regulators and partners.
- Strong organisational, workforce and financial leadership capability.
Qualifications
- Registered Nurse with current NMC registration.
- Master's degree or equivalent level of professional and leadership development.
- Evidence of continued executive and professional development.
Most importantly, you will be a visible and compassionate leader who inspires confidence, builds trust and shares our commitment to delivering exceptional care.
Person specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential criteria
- Registered Nurse (RN) with current NMC registration
- Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Nursing, Healthcare Leadership, Patient Safety, Quality Improvement) or equivalent senior level experience
- Evidence of ongoing professional development aligned to executive level nursing leadership
Desirable criteria
- Leadership or management qualification (e.g., ILM, NHS Leadership Academy programmes) is desirable
- Formal training in patient safety, quality improvement, human factors, or clinical governance (e.g., IHI, QI methodology) is highly desirable
Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive experience at senior nursing leadership level within a complex healthcare organisation, ideally within the NHS
- Proven track record of improving patient safety outcomes, reducing harm, and embedding safety culture
- Demonstrable experience leading large, multi disciplinary clinical teams and influencing across organisational boundaries
- Experience overseeing clinical governance, risk management, incident investigation, and regulatory compliance
- Evidence of leading quality improvement programmes at scale, with measurable impact
- Experience working with external regulators and partners (e.g., CQC, NHS England, ICS partners)
- Experience managing large budgets, workforce planning, and strategic resource allocation
- Experience of leading through major change, transformation, or organisational challenge
Skills and Competencies
Essential criteria
- Exceptional strategic leadership with the ability to set vision and direction for nursing, AHP and patient safety
- Highly developed communication and influencing skills, able to engage credibly with staff at all levels, patients, families, and external partners
- Ability to analyse complex data, identify trends, and translate insights into improvement actions
- Skilled in building safety culture, psychological safety, and open reporting
- Strong decision making skills, especially under pressure or in high risk situations
- Ability to lead and support investigations, ensuring learning and accountability
- Competence in financial management, workforce planning, and resource optimisation
- Ability to inspire, motivate, and develop the nursing and AHP workforce
- Politically astute, with the ability to navigate complex systems and competing priorities
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Deep understanding of NHS policy, national patient safety frameworks, and regulatory requirements
- Expert knowledge of clinical governance, risk systems, incident reporting, and learning from harm
- Strong understanding of human factors, safety science, and high reliability organisation principles
- Knowledge of workforce strategy, professional standards, and the NMC Code
- Understanding of health inequalities, safeguarding, and inclusive care delivery
- Awareness of digital transformation, data quality, and how analytics support patient safety
Personal Qualities & Trust Values
Essential criteria
- Demonstrates compassionate leadership, aligned to NHS values and the People Promise
- Visible, credible, and approachable; acts as a role model for professional nursing standards
- Committed to patient centred care, safety, dignity, and reducing inequalities
- Champions diversity, inclusion, and fairness in all aspects of care and workforce management
- Promotes a culture of learning, transparency, and continuous improvement
- Demonstrates resilience, integrity, and sound judgement
- Advocates for staff wellbeing and a positive working environment
Other
Essential criteria
- Ability to work flexibly, including out of hours leadership if required
- Willingness to act as Executive Lead for safeguarding, infection prevention and control, Estates and Facilities or other portfolios as required
- Commitment to ongoing professional development and reflective practice
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Mary Bardsley
- Job title
- Assistant Trust Secretary
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01691 404358
- Additional information
How to Apply
Please copy and paste the following address into your browser to gain access to the Chief Nurse and Patient Safety Officer Recruitment Pack:
https://www.rjah.nhs.uk/media/qojny3hz/chief-nurse-and-patient-safety-officer-recruitment-pack.pdf
To apply, please submit:
- A comprehensive curriculum vitae.
- A supporting statement demonstrating how your experience, leadership style and values align with the requirements of the role.
- Employment references covering a full 6 years
Applications should be sent to:
Mary Bardsley, Assistant Trust Secretary
[email protected]Informal Discussion
For a confidential conversation about this opportunity, please contact:
Stacey Keegan, Chief Executive Officer
[email protected]Our Commitment to Inclusion
RJAH is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to contribute.
We actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and communities, particularly those currently underrepresented in senior NHS leadership positions.
We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and employment journey.
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