NHS Dumfries and Galloway Mental Health Directorate is seeking an experienced, credible and inspirational nursing leader to join our Senior Management Team as Lead Nurse for Mental Health and Learning Disability Services.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of Mental Health and Learning Disability Nursing across Dumfries and Galloway, providing strategic, professional and clinical leadership within a progressive and ambitious Mental Health Directorate.
As Lead Nurse, you will be responsible for leading the professional development, quality, governance and strategic direction of the nursing workforce across Mental Health and Learning Disability Services. Working as a key member of the Directorate Senior Management Team, you will influence and support the delivery of the Directorate’s strategic priorities, ensuring nursing services continue to deliver safe, effective, person-centred care and achieve key performance objectives. The role also has a significant contribution to wider nursing leadership across NHS Dumfries and Galloway and national nursing developments.
You will work collaboratively with senior clinical leaders, operational managers, partner agencies and external stakeholders to support service improvement, workforce development, quality assurance and transformation programmes. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership skills, strategic thinking, a commitment to compassionate leadership and a proven ability to influence change and deliver improvement across complex healthcare systems.
Applicants should be a registered Mental Health Nurse/Learning Disability Nurse with substantial senior leadership experience within Mental Health and/or Learning Disability Services and be educated to Master’s level or able to demonstrate equivalent experience.
This post requires PVG Scheme Membership.
Interviews will take place on 06/11/2026
If you would like an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact:
Justin Murray, General Manager – Tel: 01387 244007 | Justin.Murray@nhs.scot
Jena Davies, Deputy General Manager – Tel: 01387 244914 | Jena.Davies@nhs.scot
We welcome applications from motivated and compassionate leaders who are committed to improving outcomes for people who use mental health and learning disability services and who are keen to help shape the future direction of care across Dumfries and Galloway. Based on the vacancy details for the Lead Nurse Mental Health and Learning Disability post
If you require a Work Visa, please check to see if you and the vacancy you are applying for are eligible by visiting the Home Office website: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
DISCLOSURE SCOTLAND – Some of our posts may require you to undergo a criminal records check. Changes as of the 1 April 2025 to the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership now sees more roles requiring PVG that may not have needed this check in the past. If you are successful in this role you will be notified which level of check is required by the recruitment team. If you would like to read more information please visit: Disclosure levels – mygov.scot
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITYNHS Dumfries and Galloway is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Dumfries and Galloway welcomes applicants from all sections of the community.
PUBLIC PROTECTIONPublic protection practice encompasses the recognition and management of risk in order to prevent or reduce harm to children, (including unborn babies), young people and adults. All public protection legislation, and NHS Dumfries and Galloway (NHSDG) policies and guidance are founded on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the European Convention on Human Rights, and the principles of these Conventions underpin all NHSDG core business.
Benefits
- Staff and patients across Dumfries and Galloway enjoy free, unlimited parking at all our hospital sites.
Additional Information for International Candidates
RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UNITED KINGDOMNHS Dumfries and Galloway has a legal obligation to ensure that it does not employ any worker who has not been granted the relevant permission to work in the UK. This permission is without exception granted by the UK Border Agency. We are required to check the entitlement to work in the UK of all prospective employees, regardless of nationality or job category.
WORK VISAIf you require a Work Visa, please check to see if you and the vacancy you are applying for are eligible by visiting the Home Office website: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visaIt is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or if you require a work visa that the post would be eligible to be sponsoredBEFORE submitting your application form. We are unable to provide sponsorship for bank contracts.
UNITED KINGDOM REGISTRATIONNHS Dumfries & Galloway are unable to support OSCE Training for international nurses for vacancies.Vacancies requiring professional registration require full United Kingdom registration with the appropriate council (eg NMC, HCPC, GMC, GDC etc).
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