Head of Specialist Nursing

Location: North England with national travel
Package: up to £100,000 plus benefits
RMN | Mental Health | Dementia | Complex Needs | PBS

We are looking for an exceptional senior nurse to take the lead on specialist nursing and clinical practice across a national care organisation.

The Head of Specialist Nursing will be a senior, group-wide appointment with the opportunity to shape how complex and specialist care is delivered across a large portfolio of services.

With a particular focus on mental health, dementia, complex needs and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), you will provide specialist clinical leadership while helping strengthen governance, clinical standards and outcomes across the wider organisation.

What you'll be doing

You will act as a senior clinical expert and trusted advisor across the organisation, working closely with Quality, Regulation and Operations.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading specialist nursing practice across mental health, dementia, complex needs and PBS.
• Providing senior clinical advice around complex residents, referrals and admissions.
• Supporting services managing behaviours of concern, mental health deterioration and complex clinical risk.
• Providing professional leadership and support to nurses and clinical teams.
• Leading and developing the specialist services/PBS function.
• Strengthening clinical governance, assurance and quality across multiple services.
• Supporting safe admission and transition planning for residents with complex presentations.
• Reviewing clinical incidents, safeguarding concerns, complaints and emerging risks.
• Developing evidence-based clinical policies, procedures and practice guidance.
• Supporting CQC readiness and wider regulatory compliance.
• Designing and supporting specialist training and development.
• Coaching Home Managers, Registered Managers, nurses and operational leaders.
• Building relationships with commissioners, ICBs, NHS mental health teams, local authorities and safeguarding partners.
• Using clinical and quality data to identify trends and drive measurable improvements in care.

What we're looking for

You must be an RMN with current NMC registration and bring significant experience working with people with mental health needs, dementia, complex needs and/or behaviours of concern.

We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• Significant post-registration nursing experience.
• Strong specialist knowledge across mental health, dementia, complex care and PBS.
• Senior clinical leadership experience.
• Experience working across multiple services, regions or a wider organisational portfolio.
• Strong clinical governance and quality assurance knowledge.
• Understanding of CQC regulation, safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act and least restrictive practice.
• Experience supporting complex referrals, admissions and clinical decision-making.
• The ability to develop clinical practice through coaching, training, policy and professional leadership.
• Confidence working with senior operational leaders and providing constructive clinical challenge.

Your current title could include Head of Nursing, Head of Clinical Services, Group Clinical Lead, National Clinical Lead, Head of Specialist Services, Clinical Director, Clinical Governance Lead or similar.

This role would suit an experienced mental health nurse who wants to combine their clinical expertise with strategic influence, shaping specialist nursing practice across an entire organisation rather than being responsible for just one service.

Location: North England with regular national travel.

Apply today or contact Mike Turton at Leaders in Care for a confidential conversation.