Lead Nurse for Practice Improvement

Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and ambitious senior nurse to join West London NHS Trust as our Lead Nurse for Practice Development, Education and Quality within Community Health Services. This is an exciting opportunity to lead nursing education, practice development and quality improvement across a diverse portfolio of community services, influencing the development of a skilled, confident and high-performing nursing workforce.

Working closely with senior clinical and operational leaders, you will provide professional leadership for nursing practice, clinical skills development and workforce transformation. You will play a key role in shaping how nursing standards, education and quality are delivered across the service, ensuring staff are equipped to provide safe, effective and evidence-based care. As a senior leader, you will help drive innovation, improve patient outcomes and create a culture of continuous learning and excellence.

Main duties of the job
As the Lead Nurse for Practice Development, Education and Quality, you will lead clinical education, workforce development and practice improvement programmes across Community Health Services. You will provide professional leadership and line management to Practice Development Nurses and Clinical Practice Improvement Leads, supporting the delivery of high-quality, safe and evidence-based care.

You will oversee clinical training, competency frameworks, preceptorship programmes and career development pathways, ensuring nurses have the knowledge, skills and support required to meet professional standards. You will lead and support quality improvement initiatives, clinical audits and governance activities, using evidence, data and learning to improve patient care and workforce performance.

The successful candidate will demonstrate expert clinical nursing skills, strong leadership and people management abilities, excellent communication and influencing skills, and experience of leading change within complex healthcare environments. You will be able to coach, teach and assess advanced clinical practice, analyse complex information, support workforce planning and drive improvements in quality, patient safety and professional standards.

The post holder will work closely with nursing, medical and allied health professional leaders across the Trust, represent Community Health Services in local and regional forums, and contribute to strategic service development.

About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Date posted: 28 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £72,719 to £83,505 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS (Outer)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 222-ICS-512
Job locations: West London NHS Trust, 1 Armstrong Way, Southall, UB2 4SD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse (Adult, Mental Health or Learning Disability)
• Evidence of advanced clinical skills training relevant to community nursing.
• Teaching, assessing or practice education qualification (or equivalent experience).

Desirable

• Master's degree or working towards.
• Clinical supervision training.
• Advanced Clinical Practice /Non medical prescribing qualification

Experience
Essential

• Significant post registration nursing experience, with a strong background in delivering high quality clinical care in either a hospital or, preferably, a community healthcare setting.
• Demonstrable expert clinical competence in community based nursing practice, including: Physical Assessment, Woundcare, management of deteriorating patients, advanced nursing skills including IV and syringe pump management
• Experience performing, teaching and assessing advanced clinical skills.
• Experience supervising and managing staff
• Experience contributing to research, literature reviews or peer review activity.
• Experience leading practice improvement initiatives and supporting regulated practice.

Desirable

• Experience working across multiple community service areas.
• Experience commissioning or designing specialist training programmes.

Knowledge
Essential

• In-depth knowledge of community nursing clinical skills and evidence-based practice.
• Understanding of NMC standards for education, supervision and assessment.
• Knowledge of competency frameworks, preceptorship and workforce development models.
• Understanding of governance frameworks, regulated practice requirements and clinical risk
• Knowledge of Training Needs Analysis (TNA), workforce planning and safer staffing principles

Skills
Essential

• Expert clinical aptitude, with the ability to perform, teach and assess advanced clinical skills to a high standard.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities and maintain high-quality decision-making.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Highly developed teaching, facilitation and presentation skills.
• Competent IT user, able to use clinical systems, audit tools, digital learning platforms and data dashboards
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to analyse complex information, contribute to research activity and support literature and peer review processes.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: West London NHS Trust
Address: West London NHS Trust, 1 Armstrong Way, Southall, UB2 4SD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.westlondon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Deputy Director of Nursing and Quality
James Davies
james.davies31@nhs.net