Charge Nurse

NHS National Services Scotland; Carstairs; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK seeks a Charge Nurse for their dynamic nursing management team. The successful candidate will oversee ward-based nursing, ensuring high standards of person-centred care while fostering collaboration and professionalism. Applicants must be qualified in Mental Health or Learning Disability and demonstrate leadership skills. Duties include leading teams, supporting patient care, and maintaining clinical supervision in a challenging yet rewarding environment. This role offers a permanent contract with full-time hours and competitive allowances.

Benefits

High Secure Environmental Allowance

High Secure Clinical Responsibility Allowance

Mandatory training and induction

Qualifications

• Must be a qualified nurse in Mental Health or Learning Disability.
• Management experience is advantageous but not required.
• Must be able to work flexible shifts including night duty.

Responsibilities

• Lead the ward-based nursing team to provide high standards of care.
• Collaborate with Senior Charge Nurses on patient care standards.
• Support service development through Clinical Supervision.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Teamwork

Flexibility

Ability to work autonomously

Crisis management

Education

Qualified in Mental Health or Learning Disability

Evidence of Leadership and Continuing Professional Development

Job description

Charge Nurse

AfC Band 6 (pro rata) plus a High Secure Environmental Allowance of £1,750.47 per annum (pro rata) and a High Secure Clinical Responsibility Allowance of £4,201.29 per annum (pro rata)

Hours – Full Time

Contract Duration – Permanent

Please note that successful candidates must be available to attend a two‑week mandatory induction and training course commencing on 16th March 2026

Post Details

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Charge Nurse (Qualified in Mental Health or Learning Disability) to join our innovative and dynamic nursing management team within the Treatment and Recovery service here at the State Hospital.

As a Charge Nurse, you will be responsible for leading our ward‑based nursing colleagues to deliver the highest standards of person‑centred care and acting as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team. You will ensure professional standards and high‑quality nursing care, exhibit excellent communication and teamwork skills, and demonstrate flexibility, forward‑thinking, and the ability to work autonomously. Maintaining composure under pressure in challenging situations is essential.

You will collaborate with Senior Charge Nurses to ensure high standards of patient care and support service development through Clinical Supervision and Reflective Practice. Previous management experience is advantageous, although training will be provided. Evidence of Leadership and Continuing Professional Development (e.g., ILM, Project Lift, QI training) is required.

The successful candidate will work a shift pattern of four days on and two days off, including one full weekend off within a six‑week rota cycle. Rotas are generated up to 12 weeks in advance to support planning. The role also includes Night Duty shifts, averaging 75 hours per fortnight during these periods.

Equal Opportunity

At the State Hospital, we know diversity enhances our work and workplace culture. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are under‑represented in our nursing workforce. These include candidates from minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender identities.

Contact Information

If you are a passionate and dedicated nurse with exceptional leadership skills, apply now to be part of our team at the State Hospital.

For an informal discussion please contact Senior Charge Nurse, Hazel Crawford on 01555 840293 Ext. 4506 or Senior Charge Nurse, Paul McKeever on 01555 8402168.

Closing Date

The closing date for applications is 11.59pm on Monday 29th December 2025.

Interview Date

Interviews will be in person at the State Hospital and take place week commencing 12 January 2026.

Recruitment Process Support

If you have any queries or require assistance regarding the application form or recruitment process, please contact the HR Team on [e-mail] to discuss your requirements.

Additional Information

We anticipate a high level of interest in this position therefore we may close the vacancy prior to the closing date once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Please ensure you complete and submit your online application at an early stage to avoid disappointment.

NHS Scotland 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. NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society. It should be noted that the State Hospital is a high secure hospital and the current organisational position based on a risk assessment is that we welcome applications from people under the age of 18 for non‑clinical roles however to be eligible for a clinical role applicants should be 18 years and older. Should you have any questions in relation to this please contact [e-mail].

Right to Work

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. As part of the pre‑employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check this entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa, and settled and pre‑settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, and if you can demonstrate such cover, please refer to the GOV.UK website. For specific types of post, it might be possible to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licensed Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or ‘going rate’. Further information on these criteria can be found. Please note that the State Hospital is NOT licensed to issue certificates of sponsorship under current UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) regulations. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship to work with us. It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you have an appropriate right to work in the UK BEFORE applying.

Reduced Working Week*

From 1 April 2026, the working week for NHS Agenda for Change staff in Scotland will reduce from 37 to 36 hours for full‑time employees. Part‑time staff will receive a pro‑rata reduction in hours, with no loss of earnings. The State Hospital is committed to implementing this change; however, it may not be possible to fully transition on 1 April in all areas. In some departments, implementation may take longer to ensure patient safety and service continuity. If your department cannot safely accommodate the reduced hours from 1 April, you may be required to continue working 37.5 hours per week (pro‑rata for part‑time staff) until adjustments can be made. You will, of course, be remunerated accordingly. Our priority is to implement the 36‑hour working week across all areas as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.