Chief Nursing Officer

Posting date:	21 April 2026
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	Negotiable
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	10 May 2026
Location:	Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 3RD
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	D9942-26-0002

Summary

About us Our goal as a clustered ICB is to lead and support delivery of the four Integrated Care System (ICS) aims across the geographies of Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent: Improving outcomes in population health and care Tackling inequalities in outcomes, experience, and access Enhancing productivity and value for money Helping the NHS to support broader social and economic development. In support of these four objectives, the Government has set out in Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England, three strategic shifts for the NHS: Treatment to prevention: through proactive community and public health initiatives, working closely with local authorities, communities and individuals. Hospital to community: moving care closer to home by building more joined-up. Person-centred care in local neighbour hoods, reducing reliance on acute care. Analogue to digital: harnessing technology and data to transform care delivery and improve quality of care. The Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England and the Model ICB Blueprint set out the crucial role that ICBs will play, making strategic commissioning our core purpose for everyone employed in an ICB. Our Values & Behaviours Together we embody and champion the values and behaviours each ICB upholds today - and those we aspire to create together in our evolving organisation. Together, we demonstrate compassionate leadership in relentlessly seeking to improve patient care and patient outcomes for the populations we serve and the colleagues we work with. Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion As we move into our cluster arrangements we reaffirm our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, anti-racism and our responsibilities under the Public Sector Equality Duty. As part of the cluster Executive team, the post holder will take shared responsibility for: Creating a leadership culture that prioritises the reduction of health inequalities for our patients/service users, and the creation of a culture of compassion and inclusion for our workforce. Setting and assuring the strategic direction for EDI and the ICB's Public Sector Equality Duty requirements, ensuring effective reporting and publishing. Reducing health inequalities among population and protected groups where disparities persist. Ensuring the ICB's workforce reflects the diversity of the population and staff are empowered to achieve their potential without bias. Incorporating the use of disaggregated equality monitoring information in relation to patient/service user engagement, access, experience and outcomes into planning & delivery of programmes and services. Increasing or maintaining the diversity of staff within their teams, as well as improving their teams sense of inclusion and belonging. Working as a Cluster The post holder will hold responsibility & accountability as a senior leader and Executive Team member across both SSOT & STW Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) from appointment until the point of formal merger (date to be confirmed and subject to Board approval). The post holder will hold office in both organisations and discharges duties through agreed and transparent governance structures. As part of the cluster Executive team, the post holder will: Take collective responsibility and accountability as part of one unified leadership team, rather than representing or prioritising any legacy organisation. Decisions, behaviours, and leadership actions will always reflect the shared interests of the clustered population and systems, rather than narrower legacy organisational loyalties. Work seamlessly across both ICBs, ensuring consistent leadership and decision-making. Uphold the integrity of governance processes and operate with transparency, fairness, and clarity. Take shared responsibility for the outcomes, performance, and reputation of the clustered systems as a whole. Foster a culture of unity, trust, and shared purpose across all parts of the clustered ICBs during the transition period Demonstrating Executive Leadership Together the cluster Executive Team shares responsibility for ensuring that the ICBs deliver effective strategic commissioning for outcomes and quality, providing system leadership for population health, setting evidence based and long-term population heath strategy and working to maximise the value that can be created from available resources. The postholder will enable successful clinical and managerial partnerships to enable and facilitate the delivery of high quality outcomes for everyone that we serve. Collectively with Executive Team colleagues, the post holder will create and nurture a cohesive team and take organisational responsibility for corporate and strategic goals that may be beyond the roles immediate functional responsibilities. As a member of a Unitary Board, and an Executive Team member, the post holder will drive organisational development, shaping a unified identity and a values-led leadership culture across the clustered ICBs. The post holder will lead successful matrix working by enabling the blending of functional expertise with project and programme working to enable flexibility and collaboration. Building strategic relationships with national and regional bodies, the post holder will represent organisational priorities and ensure alignment with NHS policy and ICS ambitions. Working across organisational boundaries with system partners including local authorities, provider collaboratives, public health, and the voluntary sector the post holder will drive transformation and integration. The post holder will lead improvement and innovation to deliver high-quality, safe, and sustainable care, ensuring staff are well-trained, supported, and empowered to achieve better health outcomes. Shaping and delivering strategic plans with a system-wide perspective, the post holder will use performance, quality, finance, and workforce intelligence to drive long-term transformation. The post holder champions inclusive practices and continuously reviews strategies to reduce health and workforce inequalities, ensuring equitable outcomes for all communities. The post holder ensures leadership accountability through strong governance, evidence-based decision making, and collaborative board-level engagement to safeguard patient safety and drive improvement. Fostering a respectful and inclusive culture the post holder ensures that staff and service users are heard, inappropriate behaviours are challenged, and psychological safety is prioritised. The post holder develops collaborative and co-productive relationships with partners, providers, and communities to strengthen integration and deliver person-centred care. Demonstrating NHS Leadership Competencies In delivering their role the post holder will be expected to demonstrate competency across the six leadership competency domains of the NHS Leadership Competency Framework: Driving high-quality and sustainable outcomes. Setting strategy and delivering long-term transformation. Promoting equality and inclusion, reducing health and workforce inequalities. Providing robust governance and assurance. Creating a compassionate and just culture. Building a trusted relationship with partners and communities. The post holder will be supported to perform at their best through the use of the NHS Leadership Competency Framework as part of performance appraisal and the development of their personal development plan. Role Summary The Chief Nursing Officer is the most senior nursing & allied health professional leader across the local health and care systems, providing strategic clinical advice and leadership to the Board and across the systems inline with national direction, system challenges and local population health needs. This is a strategic role and will set the strategic intent and direction, in partnership with the Chief Medical Officer, to ensure that clinical and professional leadership are central to all the work that the ICBs undertake. Acts as lead nursing & allied health professional voice within the clustered ICBs and as convenor of relevant professional leadership across both systems. This role and portfolio drives strategy and commissioning for quality, based in a detailed understanding of the local population that is translated into actionable intelligence. Provides clinical & professional strategic leadership across the STW & SSOT geographies for Nursing, Midwifery & Allied Health Professionals. Works closely with the Chief Medical Officer to form a strong and unified clinical team. Provides strategic direction and ensures high standards of care, safety, and quality of commissioned services across the health and care systems in nursing, midwifery, and allied health professions. Provide visible professional leadership for nursing, AHPs and support multi-professional leadership across the system. Accountable for statutory and non-statutory functions including IPC, CHC, SEND, and LMNS (not exhaustive). Leads the development and delivery of integrated clinical strategies aligned with ICB objectives, embedding multi-professional leadership throughout. As Director of Infection Prevention and Control, ensures robust IPC governance. Drives quality improvement across commissioned services and aligned to the ICBS commissioning strategy. Champions health equity, personalised care, and inclusive workforce development, fostering talent pipelines and continuous professional growth. Oversees clinical governance, risk management, and public accountability, ensuring services deliver measurable improvements in patient outcomes and experience. Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details.