Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse

Oxford University Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust; Harwell; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Junior Sister/Charge Nurse for the Band 6 Emergency Department role at The Horton General Hospital, Banbury. The post requires ED experience, strong leadership, and a PG Cert in emergency care or Level 7 equivalent.

You will act as shift co-ordinator, supervise a multidisciplinary team, and contribute to clinical governance, training, and operational development within a fast-paced ED.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with active licence and NMC revalidation ongoing.
• Minimum of 3 years acute care registered nurse experience in an ED setting.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development and mentorship competence.
• PG Cert in emergency care or Level 7 equivalent completed.

Responsibilities

• Act as shift co-ordinator, supervising and supporting the multi-disciplinary team.
• Develop, manage and monitor performance of a nursing team with high care standards.
• Promote effective communication and teamwork across all levels.
• Demonstrate clinical leadership and specialist knowledge.
• Assist Senior Sister/Charge Nurse with staff management, governance and risk.
• Contribute to departmental strategic and operational development.
• Deliver patient-centred care and maintain standards in practice.
• Coordinate deployment of staff and ensure optimal patient care during shifts.
• Lead training and educational initiatives for junior staff.

Skills

Communication skills

Team supervision

Mentorship

Leadership

Clinical supervision

Education

Registered Nurse qualification

3 years acute care experience

NMC revalidation

Mentorship qualification (NMC)

PG Cert emergency care or Level 7

Tools

NMC Code of Conduct

Job description

Band 6 Emergency Department

The Emergency Department at The Horton General Hospital currently has a vacancy for a Junior Sister/Charge Nurse. We are a friendly team of skilled practitioners, who take pride in the quality of the care we provide in a fast-paced and demanding environment. We know the values of providing excellent care to the most vulnerable patients, at times of high stress for them and their families. Experience of working in the emergency department is vital with minimum 3 years experience. Essential requirement for PG cert in Emergency care or equivalent L7 training to have been completed

Main duties of the job

• To act as the shift co‑coordinator on a day-to-day basis, providing supervision and support to the multi‑disciplinary team.
• Develop, manage and monitor the performance of a team of nurses, ensuring that the highest standards of care and safety are achieved and maintained at all times
• Promote effective communication and teamwork at all levels
• Demonstrate clinical leadership skills and evidence of specialist knowledge
• Assist the Senior Sister/ Charge Nurse, in management of staff within the Emergency Department including human resource management, clinical governance and risk management.
• Contribute toward the strategic and operational development of the department

Job responsibilities

The overall purpose of this role is to:

• To act as the shift co‑coordinator on a day-to-day basis, providing supervision and support to the multi disciplinary team.
• Develop, manage and monitor the performance of a team of nurses, ensuring that the highest standards of care and safety are achieved and maintained at all times
• Promote effective communication and teamwork at all levels
• Demonstrate clinical leadership skills and evidence of specialist knowledge
• Assist the Senior Sister/ Charge Nurse, in management of staff within the Emergency Department including human resource management, clinical governance and risk management.
• Contribute toward the strategic and operational development of the department

Clinical Practice and research

The post holder will:

• Deliver a patient centred style of practice that reflects and promotes the beliefs and values of professional nursing practice and patient care.
• Assume co‑ordinator role for shift on a day‑to‑day basis, responsible for the deployment of staff, and the provision of optimal care for all patients.
• Set and maintain standards of practice, conduct or decision making in conjunction with Head Nurse.
• In collaboration with others, develop specialist policies and protocols for the area
• Promote effective communication and liaison with other health care professionals with ongoing responsibility for patient care.
• Adhere to the NMC Code of Conduct and Scope of Professional Practice at all times.
• Demonstrate a commitment to research, evidence based practice and clinical excellence and participate in the introduction of research‑based changes to improve patient care.
• Demonstrate an understanding of accountability, responsibility and duty of care.
• With Support of the senior Sister / Charge Nurse, act as a clinical team leader and develop a team of nurses, providing support and clinical supervision.
• Develop and implement training programmes and educational packages for junior staff.
• With support of the senior Sister / Charge Nurse, conduct annual staff appraisals, giving constructive feedback, facilitating development of personal development plans and ensuring objectives are met.
• Provide support and guidance for mentors.

Management and Organisational role

The post holder will:

• Promote effective interpersonal relationships with all members of the multi disciplinary team thereby ensuring a good team spirit and collaborative and holistic working practices.
• Demonstrating a problem solving approach to clinical and management issues, seeking advice from senior nurses as appropriate
• Identify nursing / patient needs with the multi‑disciplinary team, assisting colleagues and advising on patient care issues where appropriate.
• Facilitate departmental projects, audits and quality initiatives in collaboration with senior staff.
• Be proactive in undertaking specific responsibilities as delegated by the senior Sister/ Charge Nurse/ Head Nurse.
• Ensure equipment, supplies, disposables and staffing resources are used appropriately by all staff.
• Report and act on untoward incidents such as complaints, clinical emergencies, and injury or drug administration errors as detailed in departmental and Trust protocols and procedures.
• Demonstrate an awareness of budgetary restrictions and their implications for the department.
• Be involved with developing and implementing local departmental policies, educating and supporting junior staff in their implementation.
• Participate in the implementation of departmental and Trust policies, providing training and support for staff in their utilisation
• Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of organizational and governmental policies and agendas, identifying implications for patient care, staff management and budgetary targets.
• Participate in the implementation of the organizational zero tolerance policy and support junior staff in relation to it.

Professional Development and Education

The post holder will:

• Continually update nursing practice in accordance with current research and evidence in nursing and specialist practice.
• Promote and practice evidence based nursing care, implementing new ideas and changes for the benefit of patient care and staff development.
• Accept responsibility for own personal and professional growth and for maintaining a record of evidence of professional development experiences within a Personal Professional Portfolio.
• Discuss personal and professional development needs during an annual appraisal with Senior Sister/ Charge Nurse / Head Nurse and develop, agree and document action points in a personal development plan.
• Act as mentor to students and colleagues, planning and implementing orientation programmes, guiding practice, assessing competence, enabling and supporting their learning.
• Attend mandatory study days and others relevant to their clinical area.

Person Specification

Education, training, qualifications (Essential)

• Registered Nurse (Part 1, 8, 12 or 15 of register depending on area of practice) or National certification in area of Practice.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development through maintenance of an ongoing NMC revalidation.
• Minimum of 3 years acute care registered nurse experience.
• Evidence of achievement on a Nursing and Midwifery (NMC) approved Mentorship qualification.
• PG Cert in emergency care or level 7 educational equivalent

Education, training, qualifications (Desirable)

• UK recognised Degree in Nursing relevant to post
• Post‑graduate qualification related to an area of practice.

Clinical Practice (Essential)

• Articulate and knowledgeable of skills needed to deliver a high standard of care in the area of practice.
• Able to work under own initiative within boundaries of role
• Demonstrates awareness of importance of working as part of a team.
• Able to document observations, results, decisions and actions etc. effectively in patient's notes and communicate these effectively to appropriate members of the multi‑disciplinary team.
• Able to communicate effectively with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi‑disciplinary team.
• Able to proactively contribute to the education of learners and non‑registered and less experienced staff.
• Demonstrates ability to manage, direct and evaluate the nursing care for a defined caseload of patients

Clinical Practice (Desirable)

• Competent to administer intravenous medicines
• Competent in central venous access management

Leadership and Management (Essential)

• Excellent communication skills.
• Able to prioritise own workload and that of others as appropriate.
• Demonstrates ability to maintain and contribute to the development of standards of practice, conduct or decision making in conjunction with team leaders/ward manager/unit co‑ordinator
• Acts as a role model and are able to lead by example to ensure the Trust's values and behaviours are reinforced throughout their area of practice
• Able to supervise non‑registered and less experienced staff to ensure effective care delivery.
• Able to effectively and appropriately escalates concerns to reduce risk and promote patient safety.

Leadership and Management (Desirable)

• Previous experience of managing clinical incidents and complaints.
• Previous experience in the relevant specialty
• Previous substantive management experience of specific clinical area

Quality (Essential)

• Understanding of professional and current issues related to area of practice.
• Demonstrates ability to keep up to date with professional issues that influence nursing practice relating to the area of clinical practice, management education and research.
• Able to identify own learning needs and ensure own professional development is maintained by keeping up to date with practice developments
• Able to lead the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies/protocols/guidelines relevant to area of practice.
• Demonstrates ability to question and challenge nursing practice in a constructive way so that standards of patient care are continually evaluated and improved.
• Previous evidence of leadership within practice and the multidisciplinary team.

Quality (Desirable)

• Recognition as having abilities for innovation within their sphere of practice.

Other (Essential)

• Motivated and able to articulate reasons for desire to work in the specific practice area

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Closing date: 30 October 2026
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum/ pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: 321-MRC-8299343-B6
Location: Horton General Hospital, Oxford Road, Banbury, OX16 9AL

Employer contact details

Matron: Michelle Brock, [e-mail], 07734731597