Senior Sister / Charge Nurse
Job Description
Job summary
Are you interested in a career in emergency nursing? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you at East Kent! As one of the largest acute trusts in England, East Kent is renowned for its exceptional healthcare services and is surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of beaches and the Kent countryside. With easy access to central London, East Kent offers a perfect balance between work and leisure. Whether you enjoy exploring historic cathedrals, castles, top-tier grammar schools, or dining at chic restaurants, East Kent has something for everyone.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to manage and develop a team of nursing staff, alongside overseeing the day-to-day operations of an Emergency Department. This is a demanding yet rewarding position that will challenge you to utilise your communication and problem-solving skills, while expanding your knowledge in urgent and emergency care, as well as operational management. You will be at the forefront of delivering high-quality care in a fast-paced environment.
We are proud to announce that our WHH A&E team has recently won the Nursing Times TEAM OF THE YEAR 2024 award. This prestigious recognition celebrates those who are making nursing more innovative, patient-focused, and inclusive. Join us and be part of this award-winning team!
Main duties of the job
This role offers a fantastic opportunity to lead a dynamic team, contribute to critical care, and develop your career in a supportive environment.. Your main duties will include:
- Lead and support nursing staff, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
- Mentor junior staff, ensuring competence and confidence in their roles.
- Conduct performance reviews and provide feedback to support development.
- Oversee the day-to-day management of the Emergency Department, ensuring efficient patient flow.
- Coordinate resources to ensure timely, high-quality care.
- Implement and monitor clinical and safety standards across the department.
- Provide direct patient care, especially in urgent and complex situations.
- Support the team in managing critical cases, making important decisions when needed.
- Prioritise patient safety and ensure a high standard of care.
- Promote effective communication within the team and with other healthcare professionals.
- Act as a liaison between senior management, medical staff, and other departments.
- Provide clear updates during handovers and meetings.
- Lead the orientation and training of new staff.
- Encourage ongoing professional development and best practices.
- Lead initiatives to improve patient care quality and safety.
- Ensure compliance with clinical policies and participate in governance meetings.
- Ensure patients and families are treated with compassion, respect, and dignity.
- Address patient concerns promptly and escalate issues as necessary.
About us
The Trust is committed to supporting flexible working to fulfil our pledge as part of The Trust's People Strategy to help staff to achieve a healthy work/life balance. Please speak with your Recruiting Manager for further information and opportunities.
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates on a Skilled Worker Visa applying for roles Band 5 and above.
We offer a full package of benefits, including a car lease scheme; on-site childcare; generous annual leave in line with NHS terms and conditions; high street and public transport discounts; a 24/7 staff support service - and the little things that make life easier, like on-site Amazon lockers and fresh fruit and veg stalls.
Job responsibilities
Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in 'supporting documents
Person Specification
Governance
Essential
- Sound knowledge of the principles & practice of emergency care
- Ability to manage change, both personally & as a facilitator
- Awareness of current NHS issues & appreciation of the issues surrounding governance & quality initiatives
- Knowledge of adult and child safeguarding
Desirable
- Project management, knowledge & skills
- Ability to manage databases
- Ability to recognize the contribution of members of the MDT
Skills
Essential
- A minimum of 5 years recent post registration emergency nursing experience.
- A minimum of 2 years' recent experience working at Band 6 level in the Emergency Department
- Leadership and management experience
- Able to critically analyse and apply research to the clinical setting
Desirable
- Experience of working with an electronic patient record and other basic IT systems
- Clinical supervision experience
Qualifications
Essential
- RGN qualification
- Hold registered mentor or teaching / education qualification
- Clinical competence in IV drug administration Venepuncture & Cannulation & X-ray requesting
Desirable
- Working towards Masters level study
- ALS Instructor/ATNC Instructor
- Major Incident Medical Management
- Advanced Life Support Advanced Trauma Nursing Course
Professional Attributes
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate initiative and self-motivation
- IT skills e.g., word, excel, outlook and hospital database experience
Other
Essential
- Uphold and model the Trust values
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
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
William Harvey Hospital
Ashford
TN24 0LZ
Employer's website
https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/ (Opens in a new tab)
