Critical Care Sister / Charge Nurse | Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The Great Western Hospitals NHS FT; Swindon; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Swindon is seeking an experienced Senior Nurse for the Critical Care Unit. This part-time role (24 hours per week) involves coordinating safe patient care, acting as a clinical expert, and supporting staff development within the intensive care unit. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills and critical care expertise, ensuring high-quality treatment for critically ill patients. Applicants must have experience in managing a clinical area autonomously and leading teams during shifts.

Qualifications

• Senior nurse in a critical care environment (Band 6) with ability to coordinate and manage a defined clinical area.

Responsibilities

• Co-ordinate the safe delivery of care to critically ill patients as a senior CCU team member.
• Act as a clinical expert practitioner, advising nurses and medical staff.
• Work autonomously to manage a defined clinical area without supervision.
• Take overall accountability for the clinical area when in charge of a shift.
• Support staff to develop essential clinical skills within the intensive care unit.
• Ensure fundamental patient needs are met using evidence-based practice.
• Participate in strategic development for the clinical area.
• Lead in the absence of a medical practitioner ensuring patient stabilization.

Skills

Critical care expertise

Leadership

Communication

Job description

Overview

Part time - 24 hours per week

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, experienced, motivated nurse to develop leadership and management skills.

As a senior member of the Critical Care Unit (CCU) team you will be required to co-ordinate the safe delivery of care daily to critically ill patients. The CCU Band 6 sister will be a role model who acts as a clinical expert practitioner providing specialist knowledge and advises nurses, medical staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team working within the critical area. As a 24-hour service provider the post holder is expected to work autonomously, coordinating and managing a defined clinical area without direct supervision ensuring the safe delivery of specialist treatment.

The post holder will have overall accountability and responsibility for the clinical area when in charge of a shift. You will have a specific interest in clinical practice development and in collaboration with the Clinical Educators; you will support staff to develop essential clinical skills and expertise within the intensive care unit. You will ensure that fundamental needs for individual patients are met and that care is evaluated using evidenced based practice. Participate in operational and strategic development for the clinical area by attending unit and Trust wide meetings and act as a representative of CCU throughout the Trust in Trust champion roles. Recognise the deteriorating patient and take the lead in the absence of the medical practitioner to ensure appropriate treatment and intervention is undertaken to stabilise the deteriorating patient until medical help is available.

Responsibilities

• Co-ordinate the safe delivery of care daily to critically ill patients as a senior CCU team member.
• Act as a clinical expert practitioner, advising nurses, medical staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team within the critical area.
• Work autonomously to coordinate and manage a defined clinical area without direct supervision, ensuring the safe delivery of specialist treatment.
• Take overall accountability and responsibility for the clinical area when in charge of a shift.
• Support staff to develop essential clinical skills and expertise within the intensive care unit, in collaboration with Clinical Educators.
• Ensure fundamental needs for individual patients are met and that care is evaluated using evidence-based practice.
• Participate in operational and strategic development for the clinical area; attend unit and Trust-wide meetings; represent CCU in Trust champion roles.
• Recognise deteriorating patients and lead in the absence of the medical practitioner to ensure appropriate treatment and stabilization until help is available.
• Use advanced communication skills to convey sensitive, complex information to patients and carers, providing emotional support and information as appropriate.
• Provide support and expertise to colleagues when dealing with highly emotional or distressing clinical situations.
• Contribute to policy development and implementation in collaboration with other senior grades.
• Undertake or supervise projects/audits related to professional development of nursing and care of CCU patients; assist in data collection for local and national audits.
• Work with external management teams to ensure timely admission of emergency and elective patients based on clinical priority; actively manage patient flow within CCU and resolve short-term resource conflicts.
• Review and update the live e-roster, allocation and skill mix daily to maintain adequate cover.

Qualifications/Experience

• Senior nurse in a critical care environment (Band 6) with ability to coordinate and manage a defined clinical area.

Additional information

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Advert closes on Wednesday 24 Sep 2025.