Junior Sister/Charge Nurse Ward L4 (Colorectal Surgery)

Cambridge University Hospitals; Cambridge; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 6 Junior Sister/Charge Nurse for the Colorectal Surgery ward in Cambridge. You will lead clinical care, coordinate daily ward activity and work with surgeons and the multidisciplinary team to support patient flow from admission to discharge.

The role offers flexible working options, 37.5 hours per week, and a development-first environment with supervisory responsibilities and dedicated education support.

Qualifications

• Current and relevant registration on NMC Register.
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development.
• Recent attendance on a leadership development programme.
• Management training.

Responsibilities

• Provide skilled, high-quality nursing care for colorectal patients.
• Coordinate ward day-to-day management and safe patient care delivery.
• Recognise and respond to deteriorating patients appropriately.
• Collaborate with MDT to support discharge planning.
• Promote infection control, medicines management and patient safety.
• Lead and support the nursing team with clinical leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Prioritisation

Independence

Teamwork and collaboration

Writing and presentation

Education

NMC registration

CPD evidence

Leadership development

Management training

Job description

Junior Sister/Charge Nurse Ward L4 (Colorectal Surgery)

Band 6

Main area General Surgery - Division A Grade Band 6 Contract Secondment: 12 months Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Full Time or Part Time / Flexible working hours may be considered) Job ref 180-A-267249

Employer Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Addenbrookes Hospital - Division A Town Cambridge Salary £39,959 - £48,117 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 18/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 06/11/2026

Job overview

Are you a skilled, experienced and compassionate nurse looking for an exciting opportunity to develop your clinical and leadership skills within a specialist colorectal service?

We are pleased to offer an exciting one-year secondment opportunity for a Band 6 Nurse to join our friendly and supportive colorectal ward team.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced nurse to develop their clinical expertise, leadership skills and specialist knowledge within colorectal nursing while working as part of a supportive and dedicated multidisciplinary team.

Our ward provides care for patients undergoing a wide range of colorectal surgical procedures and treatments, supporting patients throughout their surgical journey from admission and pre-operative preparation through to post-operative recovery and discharge.

As a Band 6 Nurse, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality, evidence-based and compassionate care while providing clinical leadership and support to the wider nursing team. You will work closely with surgeons, junior doctors, specialist nurses, allied health professionals and other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure our patients receive safe, effective and person-centred care.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for:

Providing skilled, high-quality and compassionate nursing care to patients with colorectal conditions.

Coordinating the day-to-day management of the ward and supporting the safe delivery of patient care.

Using your clinical knowledge and skills to recognise and respond appropriately to the deteriorating patient.

Working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to support effective patient management and discharge planning.

Promoting high standards of infection prevention, medicines management, documentation and patient safety.

We are looking for a skilled and confident registered nurse who:

Has experience working in an acute surgical environment, ideally with colorectal experience.

Demonstrates strong clinical knowledge, assessment skills and sound clinical decision-making.

Works effectively within a busy multidisciplinary team.

Previous colorectal experience would be advantageous, but we would also welcome applications from skilled surgical nurses who are keen to develop their specialist colorectal knowledge and leadership experience.

This one-year secondment provides an excellent opportunity to broaden your experience, develop your leadership capabilities and gain specialist knowledge within a busy colorectal service.

You will be joining a supportive and forward-thinking team where you will have opportunities to develop specialist colorectal knowledge, enhance your leadership skills and contribute to improving patient care.

Working for our organisation

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)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full-time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full-time permanent contract unless you have:

• applied for a Graduate visa
• or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.

Internal applicants on permanent contracts can apply for this post as a secondment or fixed term contract. For secondments you must have the approval of your line manager before applying. If you are an internal applicant currently on a fixed term contract you are able to apply for this as a fixed term position.

This post is subject to a 12-week probationary period, during which performance, conduct and attendance will be reviewed in line with Trust standards. The probationary period provides a structured and supportive approach to help new employees successfully transition into their role.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 18th October 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on 6th November 2026.

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 café, 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 and relevant registration on NMC Register
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
• Recent attendance on a leadership development programme
• Management training

Experience

• 2 years post registration experience
• Experience of co-ordinating a ward on a regular basis
• Demonstrable understanding of managing change
• Introduced evidence-based practice
• Experience of colorectal or acute surgical nursing
• Previous experience of ward management
• Colorectal Surgical Experience
• Success in working collaboratively across professions and services
• Experience of bleep holding role

Knowledge

• Clinical practice and demonstrable knowledge of developments in nursing policy and practice
• Clinical governance
• Principles of lifelong learning
• Workforce planning, recruitment and retention

Skills

• Ability to lead, motivate and empower others
• Highly developed communications skills
• inter-personal skills
• Ability to prioritise work, meet tight deadlines and work independently
• Positive and effective team worker
• Writing and presentation skills

Additional Requirements

• Exposure prone procedures
• Contact with patients in a clinical setting
• Contact with immunosuppressed patients
• Direct contact with patients
• Regular contact with infectious patients
• Working with respiratory sensitivities
• Working with latex gloves

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.