Charge Nurse

NHS National Services Scotland; Kirkcaldy; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Fife Admissions Unit One is seeking a Band 6 Charge Nurse to join our 37-bed medical ward and GP assessment area. You will manage day-to-day operations, support staff, coordinate admissions, and ensure patient-centred, high-quality care.

You will lead the nursing team, mentor junior staff, and work with the multidisciplinary team to uphold clinical standards and a positive working environment.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with valid NMC registration.
• Substantial experience at Band 5 level in acute/admissions settings.
• Strong leadership and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, organisational and IT skills.
• Demonstrated competency in IV medicines administration.
• Evidence of ongoing personal development and willingness to contribute to education and audit.
• Good understanding of NHS policies, procedures and national targets.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support nursing staff in the admissions unit.
• Ensure safe patient flow and timely assessments.
• Act as a clinical role model and mentor for junior staff.
• Contribute to service development, education, audit and quality improvement.
• Take the lead in high-risk situations in the absence of the Senior Charge Nurse.
• Support introduction of new practices and staff training in the specialty.

Skills

NMC registration

Band 5 experience

Leadership

Communication & IT

IV medicines administration

Professional development

NHS policies knowledge

Job description

1 Year Fixed Term or Secondment

Are you a dynamic and compassionate nurse ready to take the next step in your career? Admissions Unit One at NHS Fife is seeking a motivated Charge Nurse to join our dedicated team.

Admissions Unit One is a 37-bedded medical ward incorporating a GP assessment area. The ward operates in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, ideal for individuals who thrive under pressure and are committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care.

About the Role

As a Band 6 Charge Nurse, you will play a pivotal role in the day-to-day management of the unit, supporting staff, coordinating admissions, and ensuring safe and effective care delivery. You will work closely with the multidisciplinary team to maintain clinical standards and promote a positive working environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support nursing staff in the delivery of care within the admissions unit.
• Ensure safe patient flow and timely assessments.
• Act as a clinical role model and mentor for junior staff.
• Contribute to service development, education, audit, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Take the lead in high-risk situations in the absence of the Senior Charge Nurse.
• Support the introduction of new practices and train staff in areas relating to the specialty.

What We’re Looking For

• Registered Nurse with valid NMC registration.
• Substantial experience at Band 5 level within a relevant acute or admissions setting.
• Strong leadership and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and IT skills.
• Demonstrated clinical competencies including IV Medicines Administration.
• Evidence of personal development and a willingness to contribute to education and audit.
• Good understanding of NHS policies, procedures, and national targets to support the team effectively.

Training & Development

We offer a supportive environment with access to ongoing training, leadership development programmes, and opportunities to advance your career within NHS Fife.

Fixed Term/Secondment Opportunity

Existing permanent employees must first discuss this opportunity with their substantive line manager. The secondment policy can be found here Hub Blink (joinblink.com) If you do not have approval for a secondment from your current line manager, you will not be able to progress your application for a fixed term post. External applicants, with continuous NHS Service, must also have in place a secondment agreement, from their existing board to apply for this post.

For informal enquiries, please contact Senior Charge Nurse Lisa Stokoe on 01592 643355 ext 21808 or Senior Charge nurse Jamie Beveridge on ext 22373.

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• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you—not an AI tool.

A requirement of this post is to become a member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme Prior to appointment.

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 your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK websitehere.

It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsoredBEFORE submitting your application form.

We offer flexible working and family-friendly policies and fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

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. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.