Job Advert
Nurse Lead: Sexual Assault Response Coordination Services (SARCS) Network
Up to 3 years fixed term – 1 day a week
As per the Fixed Term Contacts Policy - Where individuals with continuous service within the NHS apply for fixed-term contract roles, PSD Scotland reserves the right to refuse any such appointment.
On 1 April 2026, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) became one national organisation, focused on continuity today and a stronger, more connected service for tomorrow.
As part of this transformation, NSS and NES have joined to form a new organisation: Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland). This new organisation will play a pivotal role in supporting the renewal and ensuring the long-term sustainability of health and care services across Scotland.
About the Organisation:
PSD Scotland unites expertise from NES and NSS in a way that will allow us to accelerate national programmes to support the NHS to deliver better care, now and in the future.
We support staff with education and training, provide the tools and data that improve services, and run vital national functions such as procurement, logistics and blood, tissue and cell services.
The Post:
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and highly motivated person to provide nursing leadership to the SARCS Network.
Working closely with a range of stakeholders across health and social care, criminal justice organisations as well as people with experience of SARCS services and Third Sector and advocacy organisations, the post holder will have a key strategic role in providing national nursing leadership to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the continuous improvement of SARCS. This will include supporting the delivery of holistic, person centred, trauma informed care to the highest standard in accordance with the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Standards.
The post holder will be crucial in engaging and corralling the collective needs of nursing workforce within SARCS and national partners through the Network’s governance structure, being mindful of the variety of local models that operate across Scotland.
The Candidate:
Applicants will be leaders in their field with experience of working at a strategic level and ideally a national level. A proven record in leading service improvement, ability to work across traditional organisational, geographical and professional boundaries and a demonstrable understanding of the ethos of networks are essential.
Experience of and ability to bring a wide range of partners and agendas together regularly and leading through consensual collaboration is key to the role, as is an understanding of the complex needs of this population group.
Applications would be welcome from candidates from nursing professionals. Applicants must be willing to work with autonomy and serve as a national point of contact for the nursing workforce within SARCS.
Strong project management and IT skills would be desirable.
Applicants must have a current substantive role as an NHS Scotland employee and have the support of their Nurse Director for this post to be incorporated into their job plan. The employing NHS Board will be recompensed for the agreed sessional commitment on the basis of evidence of actual backfill costs incurred to release the individual to fulfil the Clinical Lead role requirements.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo a PVG Scheme/Disclosure Scotland check. Any candidate who have lived/worked overseas for more than 12 months in the preceding 5 years will also be required to provide a criminal record check from the appropriate overseas agency.
Candidates must have current NMC registration at the time of applying.
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK and have entitlement to work in the UK for the post in which you will be employed.
Benefits:
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits. HR Benefits Brochure.
Inclusion:
Public Services Delivery Scotland is a national organisation and, as an anchor institution, it is our ambition to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that flexible working creates an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and feel confident about their ability to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. This is supported through Once for Scotland flexible working policies. PSD Scotland has made a long-term commitment to staff health and well-being and offers many learning and development opportunities to support and improve our approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are a number of equality staff networks in place which all staff are welcome to join. We are also an equal opportunities employer and as such guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, it is the aim of PSD Scotland to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service that supports applicants on their candidate journey. If you are interested in any reasonable adjustments, please contact the Recruitment Team on NSS.wfrs@nhs.scot
Further information:
For more information contact: Hannah Cornish, Portfolio Manager National Services Directorate (NSD) Hannah.Cornish@nhs.scot or Dr Craig Wheelans, Associate Medical Director, NSD at Craig.Wheelans@nhs.scot
Closing date for completed applications is 4th June 2026.
Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).
We are an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme,guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies