Job overview

The Nursing Lead for Workforce, Standards and Professional Practice provides strategic leadership and expert direction on all professional nursing matters across the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust (WAST). As a key member of the senior nursing leadership team, the post holder has Trust-wide responsibility for the design, delivery and governance of systems that uphold professional standards, enhance workforce capability, and ensure that nursing practice meets the highest regulatory, ethical and clinical expectations.

 This includes leading the implementation and integration of national and professional frameworks such as the Strategic Nursing Workforce Plan for Wales, the Chief Nursing Officer for Wales’s Priorities, and delivery of Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) and Restorative Clinical Supervision (RCS) models, ensuring they are tailored to meet the unique challenges of a mobile, dispersed, and autonomous workforce.

 The post holder holds delegated authority as the Trust’s senior professional lead for fitness to practise, nursing assurance, and supervision, and will work with senior leaders or independently to develop and implement Trust-wide professional strategies. They will lead the development of internal policies, quality assurance frameworks and performance measures that support professional nursing excellence and regulation compliance.

Main duties of the job

Provide strategic leadership for professional nursing standards, fitness to practice, revalidation and staff development.

Lead implementation and governance of the PNA role and Restorative Clinical Supervision (RCS) across all nursing services.

Ensure alignment with the Chief Nursing Officer for Wales’s national priorities and delivery against the Strategic Nursing Workforce Plan for Wales.

Oversee professional governance structures, including policies, revalidation systems, supervision, and assurance processes.

Lead the Trust’s response to regulatory guidance and quality improvement priorities linked to the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act.

Act as an ambassador for the nursing profession within WAST and represent the Trust at regional and national forums.

Provide assurance through to the Board and Executive Team through robust governance reporting on nursing quality, professional supervision, and workforce readiness indicators.

Develop strong professional networks across HEIW, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Health Boards and regulatory bodies to influence and embed best practice.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and /or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Working for our organisation

#RemarkablePeople

Our workforce is made up of over 4,000 remarkable people who contribute to the delivery of world-class patient care across Wales, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether you work in a patient-facing role or within our range of support services, the work that you do enables us to provide high quality care, wherever and whenever we’re needed.

The Trust recognises the need for its workforce to represent the diversity of the population it serves across the whole of Wales and seeks to create an environment where diversity is celebrated and inclusivity matters. We are also keen to break down any barriers into the Trust, and would encourage applications from under-represented groups, including those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ communities  and disability groups.

Careers within the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust are diverse and varied, with opportunities arising right across the service. Whatever your skills and background, you’re sure to find a career with us which is fulfilling, challenging, and rewarding.

In line with the Trust’s Starting Salary Procedure, all applicants will start at the bottom of the band for the position applied for, but can apply for a higher salary if they have previous experience relevant to the position.

The Trust actively seeks to recruit and appoint people currently under represented in the workforce. This includes women, people with disabilities, LGBT, and those from minority ethnic groups. All staff are encouraged and supported to learn Welsh. Please be sure to provide full contact details for all referees, including email addresses where possible. Failure to do so may result in significant delays in your application.

To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa, unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK.  If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.