Junior Sister/Charge Nurse

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site leisure facilities

Subsidised parking

Staff break spaces

Bus travel discounts

Flexible working options

Job summary

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 6 Junior Sister/Charge Nurse for Ward C5, a 23-bed renal unit with dialysis capacity. You will lead a team, develop dialysis skills, and support safe staffing and patient flow within a busy renal service.

The role includes working with the Senior Sister, opportunities for development, and flexible hours; prior renal experience is beneficial but training is provided.

Qualifications

• Current registration with the NMC as an adult nurse.
• Evidence of continued professional development (CPD).
• Completion of a leadership programme or equivalent.
• Qualification in acute care management and acute care scenarios training.
• Evidence of specialist renal post-registration development.

Responsibilities

• Provide high standard nursing care based on full assessment with MDT input.
• Work with Band 7 to ensure specialist renal and dialysis care.
• Act as a resource in the area and respond to emergencies and deteriorating patients.

Skills

NMC registration

CPD

Leadership development

Acute care management

Renal post-registration development

Job description

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Junior Sister/Charge Nurse

The closing date is 11 November 2026

Ward C5 is looking to recruit an enthusiastic and motivated Band 6 Junior Sister/Charge Nurse. This role requires an adaptable and flexible leader who can demonstrate visible clinical leadership to support the team in delivering high quality, specialist care.

Ward C5 is a 23 bedded renal ward, specialising in renal medicine. The ward cares for patients with acute admissions secondary to acute and chronic kidney disease, peritoneal dialysis, vasculitis related illness and a cohort of medical patients.

The ward includes a 6 bedded acute dialysis unit - serving inpatients and outpatients requiring acute dialysis. Support and oversight of the acute dialysis unit is provided by the specialist dialysis band 6 team and band 7 on C5. Leadership and support is required from the C5 junior sister to ensure collaborative working and effective use of staffing resources.

You will work with the Senior Sister to provide leadership to the junior staff. Support will be provided to develop your knowledge and skills within renal medicine. Prior experience is not essential as support and training will be given and there will be the opportunity to develop dialysis skills. A willingness to learn and develop is essential.

Divisionally, there are bleep holding responsibilities covering nights and weekends to ensure safe staffing levels, effective patient flow and oversight and escalations of clinical and patient safety requirements.

Main duties of the job

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Using clinical expertise drawn from a current knowledge of best practice in acute care, provide a high standard of skilled care to patients based on a full assessment of the individuals needs in consultation with the multi-professional team (MDT).

To work with the band 7 to ensure specialist care for renal and dialysis patients, including competent staff to deliver care to peritoneal dialysis patients within the hospital.

To be a resource in own area, and for patients outside that area but within clinical field, using relevant scope of practice skills To assess and respond to clinical emergency's and the deteriorating patient.

To devise and evaluate care plans based on initial triage tool and subsequent on going assessment process with realistic nursing goals with the consultation patients, family and the multi-professional team.Working with patients and their families to facilitate effective self-care and an effective discharge process.

To strive at all times to maintain high standards of nursing care by participating in and supporting programmes to improve practice.

Actively influence bed utilisation within the ward. Work with the multidisciplinary team to optimise and support effective patient flow and timely discharges.

To ensure all written documentation adheres to the medical Department, Trust's Policy and Procedures and Nursing & Midwifery Council Guidelines

About us

Come Nurse with us...

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the country. It comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital. We provide accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge and regional and national specialist services. It's a great place to nurse, work and live.

You will work on a vibrant hospital campus with a friendly community feel; we have excellent facilities to practise your skills and abilities to support your career pathway and development. Our values of Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent support the delivery of outstanding care. We have a fully electronic patient record system that is improving health-care quality; this is transforming services, improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?

• Our values and reputation for outstanding care
• Opportunities to experience a range of specialities
• Career and development opportunities
• Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team
• Research experience and opportunities
• Lovely location and quality of life
• Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Current registration with the NMC as an adult nurse
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Completion of a leadership program
• Qualification in acute care management and acute care scenario training
• Evidence of any speciality relation professional development / course
• Evidence of Specialist renal post registration development

Experience

• Post registration experience within an acute clinical area
• Experience of team leading and evidence of extensive take charge experience
• MDT working and complex discharge planning
• Experience as team leader
• Experience in team development and management eg. Appraisals, sickness management
• Previous experience of bleep holding
• NHS experience

Knowledge

• Sound theoretical and practical knowledge of nursing within the clinical area
• Awareness of Trust and Ward/Department policies
• Knowledge of mentorship and teaching
• Knowledge on understanding on ward nursing quality metrics
• Knowledge on the standard procedure mentioned in the job description
• Assessment and measurement of quality and safety
• Advanced assessment skills
• Understanding of acute and chronic health conditions
• Experience in the care of adult Renal and Diabetic medicine
• Proficiency on use of computer database and software

Skills

• Highly developed communication skills
• Maintenance of confidentiality
• Identify problems and recommend solutions
• Positive and effective team worker
• Awareness and respect for colleagues', patients' and relatives' cultural and emotional needs
• Willingness to adapt to change as the organisation develops
• Experience of using EPIC
• Ability to provide strong and compassionate leadership in order to affect change
• Advanced clinical in renal nursing to provide clinical leadership
• Practical skills teaching

Additional Requirements

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent
• Be able to work a variety of shift patterns including up to six nightshifts in a four week rota
• To learn to undertake divisional bleep holding
• Understanding of team working
• Proactive, flexible and professional approach to change

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.

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust