216366 Senior Charge Nurse

NHS National Services Scotland; Dumfries; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS National Services Scotland is seeking a Senior Charge Nurse for Day Surgery, Short Stay Unit, and Endoscopy Services at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. The role demands strong clinical leadership, a commitment to patient-centered care, and the ability to manage multiple departments effectively while promoting team development.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Collaborative working culture

Free unlimited parking

Qualifications

• Significant clinical experience in nursing areas: day surgery, short stay, and endoscopy.
• Proven leadership and staff management skills across services.
• Commitment to service improvement and professional integrity.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership across Day Surgery, Short Stay, and Endoscopy departments.
• Ensure high standards of clinical care and service efficiency.
• Support patient flow and contribute to service redesign initiatives.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Problem-solving

Decision-making

Patient care

Team management

Education

Registered Nurse qualification

Job description

We are looking for an experienced, resilient nurse leader to take on the role of Senior Charge Nurse with responsibility for Day Surgery, Short Stay Unit, and Endoscopy Services at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

This post can be offered as a permanent position or as a secondment opportunity for development, depending on the candidate’s current circumstances and aspirations.

This is a complex and demanding role that will suit someone with strong clinical leadership experience and a comprehensive understanding of surgical and procedural care pathways.

The postholder will oversee three busy departments and play a critical role in maintaining safe, effective and person-centred care within the context of wider operational pressures.

About the Role
As Senior Charge Nurse, you will be a visible and accessible leader responsible for the daily running and strategic development of nursing services across the three units. This role requires a high level of professional credibility, sound decision-making, and the ability to lead and support multidisciplinary teams through challenge and change.
You will be working within an organisation that values continuous improvement and expects clinical leaders to actively shape service delivery while supporting staff development and patient experience.

Main Responsibilities
• Provide professional leadership and operational management across Day Surgery, Short Stay, and Endoscopy.
• Ensure high standards of clinical care, teamworking, and service efficiency.
• Support patient flow through effective bed utilisation and close working with hospital management teams.
• Contribute to workforce planning, quality improvement, and service redesign initiatives.
• Act as a key liaison between clinical and operational teams.

Candidate Profile
We are seeking a registered nurse with:
• Significant clinical experience in at least two of the relevant areas: day surgery, short stay nursing, and endoscopy.
• Proven leadership and staff management skills, ideally across multiple services.
• A calm and proactive approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
• A commitment to service improvement, team development, and professional integrity.

This is not a beginner's leadership role. It requires someone with the confidence, knowledge and drive to step into a large and complex remit—and to do so with clarity, compassion, and focus.

What We Offer
NHS Dumfries & Galloway is committed to supporting its leaders with professional development, opportunities for innovation, and a collaborative working culture. You’ll be joining a team that recognises the importance of strong, values-driven leadership in delivering safe and sustainable services.

Informal enquiries please contact [e-mail]

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

To find out more about working with NHS Dumfries and Galloway and for an insight into our friendly, beautiful corner of Scotland please visit our Work With Us web pages https://www.nhsdg.co.uk/workwithus/

NHS Scotland is reducing their full-time working week from 37.5 to 37 hours per week for NHS Agenda for Change workers in Scotland from 1 April 2024 but with no change in pay. This reduction will also be applied pro rata for part time staff. This advert and any subsequent offer/contract of employment therefore reflects the new working hours. However, as not all service areas will be able to adopt the 37 hour working week immediately from 1 April 2024, you may be required to work up to an additional 30 minutes per week for a temporary period, for which you would be paid, until the service you are working in changes rosters or working patterns to accommodate the new reduced working week.

APPLICATION PROCESS - https://www.careers.nhs.scot/how-to-apply/application-process/
Please note that our correspondence method is by e-mail, therefore please ensure you enter your email address accurately. Please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders) and also your Jobtrain account for updates. Please contact Jobtrain Candidate Support Hub - https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home for advice and support with any system issues.
~ We recommend using the Internet Browser "Google Chrome" or "Microsoft Edge" when using Jobtrain. Users may also experience issues if accessing Jobtrain via mobile phone.
~ DO NOT upload a CV as this will not be used for short listing purposes.
~ Within the application you are required to answer three questions giving you the opportunity to fully evidence why you are the ideal person for the job. This section times out after 30 minutes, a tip is to build your reply on a Word document and copy and paste into Jobtrain. If you exceed the maximum amount of characters it will cut your text at this point, please check your information once copied and pasted.
~ Once you have submitted your application form you will be unable to make any amendments.
~ Posts close at midnight on the indicated date.
~ If you are a member of staff please ensure you update your Jobtrain profile to reflect that you are employed by NHS Dumfries and Galloway.
~ Staff and patients across Dumfries and Galloway enjoy free, unlimited parking at all our hospital sites.
Please be aware that a vacancy may close early due to volume of applications, therefore you should not delay in submitting your application.

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
NHS 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 PROTECTION
Public 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.

RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
NHS 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. Candidates who require a Certificate of Sponsorship can access further information on the UK Border Agency’s new points based system that now governs the way individuals from outside the UK can work at www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk
Please ensure the vacancy salary meets the minimum salary required for sponsorship. We are unable to provide sponsorship for bank contracts.

UNITED KINGDOM REGISTRATION
NHS Dumfries & Galloway are currently 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 etc).