Inviting two proactive leaders to join our team!

NHS Western Isles is inviting experienced and proactive leaders to apply for one of the two vacant posts being advertised to launch a new structure to lead the nursing, allied health professional and clinical support service departments and systems.

The new structure will include two revised posts – both of which replace senior posts in the existing structure: an Associate Director of Clinical Support Services & Deputy Chief Operating Officer and an Associate Director of Clinical Services and Deputy Nurse/ AHP Director. The restructure will be cost neutral with a possible small efficiency saving, and both posts will report to NHS Western Isles’ recently appointed new Nurse and AHP Director/Chief Operating Officer.

The posts will work across NHS Western Isles’ hospital sites and clinical support service departments and systems, and will have significant leadership, development and delivery roles to drive improvements for staff and patient experience and outcomes.

The Associate Director of Clinical Services will be a highly visible clinician who is accessible to both patients and staff. The postholder will be the professional lead for Nursing or Allied Health Professionals (dependant on own professional background) across NHS Western Isles.

The Associate Director of Clinical Support Services and Deputy Chief Operating Officer will be responsible for the overall management and development of the clinical support services workforce in NHS Western Isles.

NHS Western Isles is encouraging those with ambition and drive to consider applying for one of the exciting new positions, based in a location voted last year as one of the happiest places to live in the UK*.

Both posts are offered at band 8b (£74,003 – £79,164) with distant islands allowance and relocation expenses of up to £8,000.

NHS Western Isles Chief Executive, Gordon Jamieson, said: “NHS Western Isles is currently going through a period of significant natural turnover of experienced senior staff. We have taken the opportunity to examine and refresh the overall structure with the emphasis on senior management and leadership to support frontline clinical services. In particular, we have done this in two areas, which are the direct clinical delivery services and those services that sit alongside, delivering a range of critical support.”

NHS Western Isles is highlighting the unique and unrivalled benefits of coming to work in the stunning Outer Hebrides, where individuals will be fully supported by a highly skilled team and where they will be motivated on a daily basis by the excellent patient feedback on services and high levels of patient satisfaction.

Whilst the opportunities and competitive remuneration packages associated with these new senior roles should be attractive to anyone looking for a new challenge, alongside working as part of close-knit and supportive teams focused on innovation and improvement, NHS Western Isles is also highlighting the benefits of living and working in one of the UK’s most unspoilt locations.

NHS Western Isles Chief Executive Gordon Jamieson said: “We are clear that the appeal of the Western Isles as a location to live and work is unrivalled and very special, and hugely attractive to those looking for a healthier work-life balance, and for those wanting to become part of a community. Recent recruitment campaigns focused on our unique selling points as a special close-knit island community, where wellbeing and job satisfaction are the priorities, and through sharing these special features that we have to offer, we have been able to successfully attract a range of staff to our islands.”

Our recruitment drive is highlighting why a move to the Western Isles is the right choice for Wellbeing, potentially for individuals who may want to escape the stressful hustle and bustle of city life for a healthier work-life balance and to embrace a wide range of development opportunities for improved job satisfaction.

Known as Scotland’s Atlantic Islands, the Western Isles are steeped in history and culture, with stunning landscapes, spectacular coastlines, a strong sense of community and identity, and renowned Hebridean hospitality. Whilst the stunning landscapes and famous sparkling beaches are undoubtedly strong selling points, NHS Western Isles wants to take a step back from the tourist draws and promote the Western Isles as a place to live and work, not just to visit.

The Western Isles also has excellent sports facilities, with sports centres across the islands, and an enviable local authority membership scheme for residents. Stornoway boasts a state-of-the-art sports facility with a fully equipped gym, spa, dance studio, climbing wall and swimming pool; whilst the smaller facility in the North-West of Lewis in Ness also offers the additional features of a ten-pin bowling facility and soft play area for kids.     

Outdoors, there are numerous sporting opportunities, from water sports such as kayaking, surfing and paddleboarding; to climbing, excellent walks, golf, rugby, bowling and football to name a few. Add to that the multi-arts venue on the Stornoway seafront (with cinema, theatre, art gallery and concert hall) and the numerous clubs and opportunities for young people, including arts, drama, dance, karate, scouting, kickboxing, and gymnastics, together with a good education system, and you have an ideal place to raise a family.  

Contrary to misconceptions about a small and basic health system, NHS Western Isles regularly leads the way in healthcare innovation, with a number of ‘firsts’ for Scotland achieved, and taking the use of technology to advanced levels to improve care and treatment for residents in a remote island location.   

Mr Jamieson added: “It’s important that we clarify misconceptions about the Western Isles for anyone thinking about a career move. We’re remote, but we’re accessible and we have excellent and expanding clinical networks. Yes, we have smaller teams, but our teams are supportive, motivated and work in an environment that empowers them to make a difference. Yes, there are limitations in terms of what we can do on-island, but we’re innovative, creative and forward thinking, which leads to a high sense of job satisfaction and excellent services for our patients.    

“It’s true we have unrivalled beaches and landscapes to offer, but we have so much more of a story to tell, and so many more reasons to make this a place to live and work, not just to visit.”    

For more information on living and working in the Western Isles visit the following  sites www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk , www.isle-of-lewis.com.

Current posts close on July 16, 2025.

Find NHS Western Isles on Facebook, X @NHSWI or Instagram.

For further information about the role, please contact: Gordon Jamieson, Gordon.jamieson@nhs.scot or call 07740250090.