Salary £68,583 to £73,141 (St Peter & St James Hospice's Band 8c)
Location St Peter & St James Hospice, North Common Road, North Chailey, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 4ED
{Mergefield Value}
{Mergefield Value}

Published

Not Published

Closing

in X days

This is a Permanent, Full Time vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.

Lead with Compassion, Inspire Excellence, and Shape the Future of Palliative Care

Are you an experienced healthcare leader with a passion for delivering exceptional, patient-centred care? Do you thrive on driving quality, innovation, and strategic development in a clinical setting?

We are looking for a Director of Care to join our Senior Leadership Team at St Peter & St James Hospice. This is a rare and rewarding opportunity to shape the future of specialist palliative care services, ensuring equitable access to outstanding, evidence-based care for everyone in our community who needs us.

 

Location: St Peter & St James Hospice, Haywards Heath, BN8 4ED
Salary: £68,583 - £73,141 per annum (St Peter & St James Hospice's Band 8c)
Closing Date: 3rd June 2025
Interview Date: 11th June 2025

 

What You’ll Be Doing

Strategic Leadership & Service Development:

  • Lead the hospice’s clinical services as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team.
  • Oversee the development and implementation of strategic and operational plans, ensuring services remain inclusive, innovative, and financially sustainable.
  • Work in collaboration with the Medical Director to enhance service delivery and optimise resources.
  • Represent the hospice in external partnerships, including the Hospice Alliance and Integrated Care Boards.

Quality & Compliance:

  • Act as the Registered Manager for the hospice, ensuring compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards and best practices.
  • Lead on clinical governance, ensuring care services remain safe, effective, and responsive.
  • Provide expert advice on best practice, safeguarding, and regulatory frameworks.
  • Oversee the development and review of care policies, procedures, and quality standards.

Operational & Financial Management:

  • Manage the care directorate budget, ensuring efficient use of resources.
  • Provide operational reports and strategic insights to the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team.
  • Work closely with the Head of Finance to secure sustainable funding for care services.

Leadership & Workforce Development:

  • Provide professional leadership to all multi-disciplinary care teams, ensuring a culture of excellence, compassion, and inclusivity.
  • Ensure effective workforce planning, maintaining the right skill mix and staffing levels.
  • Oversee the education and professional development of clinical staff, including the provision of clinical supervision.
  • Champion a supportive and inspiring environment for staff and volunteers, ensuring their wellbeing and professional growth.

 

What We’re Looking For

  • Registered Nurse with valid NMC registration.
  • Master’s level qualification (or equivalent experience) in a relevant clinical or managerial field.
  • Proven senior leadership experience in a clinical setting, ideally within palliative or hospice care.
  • Strategic and financial acumen, with experience managing budgets and service planning.
  • Expertise in clinical governance, CQC standards, and safeguarding.
  • Track record of successful organisational change and service development.
  • Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills – experience working with external partners and commissioners.
  • Excellent problem-solving, communication, and decision-making abilities.

 

Why Join Us?

  • Make a meaningful impact – Lead the delivery of compassionate, high-quality care that truly makes a difference in people's lives.
  • Strategic leadership role – Shape and develop the future of palliative and end-of-life care in response to an evolving health and social care landscape.
  • Collaborative working – Partner with healthcare professionals, local providers, and commissioning bodies to expand and enhance service provision.
  • Exceptional work environment – Be part of a supportive, passionate, and values-driven hospice team.

 

What We Offer

  • The opportunity to lead a respected and well-established hospice, shaping the future of palliative care in our community.
  • A highly supportive, values-driven team dedicated to delivering exceptional care.
  • Ongoing professional development to enhance your leadership and clinical expertise.
  • A rewarding and meaningful career, where your leadership will directly impact patients and families at their most vulnerable times.

 

See the full job description, person specification and recruitment pack for the role at the bottom of the webpage. 

For more information or an informal discussion about the role, please contact us at hr@stpjhospice.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

The Organisation

St Peter & St James Hospice is a leading provider of specialist palliative and end of life care for our Mid-Sussex community.

People affected by life-limiting illness are central to everything we do and it is our mission to ensure they receive the best possible care, in the right place, at the right time.

Our services are free of charge can be accessed at home, in a care setting, or at the Hospice in North Chailey.

We achieve our goals through the organisation’s talented people, by attracting, retaining and developing a highly skilled, diverse and engaged workforce.

Over 150 employees and 400 volunteers work in a variety of roles across our Clinical Services, Retail and Support Functions. If you're looking to put your skills to use in an organisation that makes a difference for its local community and values Compassion, Integrity, Accountability, Excellence and Inclusivity then click 'Apply Now'!

Benefit 1

Benefit 2

Benefit 3

Benefit 4

  • Innovation

We are creative and fearless in our work.

  • Accountability

We take ownership of our work and lead from the front.

  • Teamwork

We collaborate widely and build supportive environments.

27 days holiday

Company sick pay scheme

Enhanced maternity/adoption pay

Monthly occupational health clinics

Leadership development programme

20% discount in our charity shops

  • Charlie Harkavy
  • Trainee Nursing Associate

"I worked in Housekeeping, then on the In-Patient Unit and am now in the Community Team undertaking a degree supported by the Hospice."

  • Dr Rob Kidway
  • Speciality Doctor

"It's the people we work with and the community we serve that make it such a special place."

  • Jacqui O'Donovan
  • Welfare Adviser

"I've been here for nearly 25 years and continue to enjoy supporting our patients, their loved ones and carers both at home and at the hospice."

  • Vrishali Pawar
  • People Services Assistant

"If you have the appetite to develop your skills, you are encouraged and empowered to learn and grow within the organisation."

  • Jon Anderson
  • Community Clinical Nurse Specialist

"Being a part of someone’s end of life care and supporting their loved ones through their grieving process is a real privilege."

  • Jess Stobbart
  • Housekeeping Assistant

"Working here, I've learnt that the smallest actions can create the biggest changes in people's lives."

Our people are our strength. We value diversity and inclusion so encourage applications from everyone, regardless of race, national origin, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability or age.

Please ensure you have your own means of transport as the hospice is not accessible by bus and is located on a main road without public footpath. Our precise location can be found here: https://stpjhospice.org/contact-us/ 

If you have any questions about this vacancy or require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please contact us on hr@stpjhospice.org.

Please note we may shortlist and interview candidates as applications are received. Offers of employment are subject to satisfactory results from pre-employment checks (right to work, references, Occupational Health, and DBS if applicable).

Footer Accreditation
Footer Accreditation
Footer Accreditation
Footer Accreditation
Footer Accreditation