About this role
Job summary
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking an experienced and compassionate leader to join the Chief Nurse Office as Bereavement Services Lead.
This senior role provides strategic, operational and governance leadership across mortuary services, patient affairs and chaplaincy, ensuring safe, high-quality support for patients, families, staff and partners.
Based at St Mary's Hospital with Trust-wide responsibilities, the post holder reports to the Deputy Director of Nursing and works closely with senior leaders. Key responsibilities include strengthening governance, driving service improvement and ensuring compliance with CQC, Human Tissue Authority and national standards.
As the Designated Individual for mortuaries, the role carries responsibility for regulatory compliance under the Human Tissue Act, alongside oversight of performance, risk, audit, finance and business planning.
You will bring strong financial management, analytical and communication skills, alongside a successful track record of leading change, managing complex issues and working collaboratively with senior stakeholders.
The successful candidate will have a relevant first degree, a recognised management qualification or equivalent experience, and registration with a relevant professional body. Experience of budget management, project delivery, cost reduction programmes, workforce management and handling complex employment matters will be essential.
Main duties of the job
Provide senior clinical, operational, governance and business management leadership within the Chief Nurse Office, with primary responsibility for the effective running, development and assurance of Mortuary, Patient Affairs and Chaplaincy services. Lead the development of Bereavement Services to ensure families receive a professional, proactive and compassionate service that is responsive to bereavement needs within a multi-faith, multi-cultural and spiritually inclusive environment. Support the Deputy Director of Nursing and the Chief Nurse Office leadership team to deliver agreed objectives, achieve key performance targets and ensure services operate within Trust governance, regulatory and statutory requirements. Ensure standard operating procedures are implemented and consistently followed, risks are identified and mitigated, and clear escalation routes are in place where performance, quality or compliance concerns arise. Provide high-quality data analysis, reporting and corporate papers to support operational, financial and business decision-making, with a focus on Mortuary, Patient Affairs and Chaplaincy services. Lead service improvement, business planning, cost reduction programme reporting and contract oversight, working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
About us
At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.
Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.
We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.
Environmental sustainabilityClimate change and poor air quality is a health emergency that harms people's health and wellbeing and widens health inequalities. The Trust is also committed to reducing its impact on the environment by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2045. All our employees have a role to play, and we have an active green network that supports staff to act in ways that ensures that our services are efficient, sustainable and reduce our impact on the environment www.imperial.nhs.uk/about-us/our-strategy/green-plan.
Job description Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.
For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Person Specification
Education/ qualifications Essential
Relevant degree Recognised management qualification at postgraduate level and/or experience Registration with relevant professional body (NMC / HCPC / Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology) or experience leading or managing mortuary, bereavement, pathology, patient affairs, chaplaincy or end-of-life related services
Desirable
Relevant postgraduate qualification Project management skills course /qualification Experience of working with bereaved families Knowledge of HTA standards, Human Tissue Act requirements and mortuary governance
Experience Essential
Operational and staff management in the NHS Track record of success in delivering change and project management Managing and deciding on complex employment issues including handling grievances and disciplinary issues Budget management experience Writing project plans with evidence of delivery Audit, quality management systems, SOP development and regulatory inspection preparation
Desirable
Writing business plans with evidence of delivery
Skills/knowledge/ abilities Essential
Well-developed business planning and marketing skills Ability to analyse and effectively present performance data and identify areas for improvement Ability to problem solve and to develop solutions to issues Excellent organisational and time management skills Ability to co-ordinate and investigate complaints, including experience of dealing with distressed patients /relatives /staff
Desirable
Knowledge of NHS contracting process Knowledge of national NHS policy
Values and behaviours Essential
Ability to lead sensitively in emotionally complex, high risk and highly regulated environments Ability to influence and negotiate at a senior level within the division and wider trust Ability to enthuse, motivate and involve staff to meet challenging targets by providing direction, reviewing performance, and motivating others
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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 Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Address Trust wide
London
W2 1NY
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.imperial.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)