Junior Sister - Ward D2

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

Benefits offered by this job

On-site leisure facilities

Staff pod break spaces

Bus travel discounts

Job summary

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Paediatric Nurse (Junior Sister) to join the D2 ward. The 22-bed paediatric unit cares for children aged 0–16 with acute, chronic, and emergency needs, including neuro rehab patients.

You will provide clinical leadership, promote high standards of care, and mentor junior staff and students while contributing to ward quality improvement projects as part of a supportive multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Significant acute General Paediatric Nursing experience.
• Experience leading a team or coordinating a shift on a Children’s ward.
• Experience in medical and surgical paediatric settings.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and chronic disease management.
• Ability to deliver expert nursing care to children and families.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team and be a positive role model for staff.
• Drive quality improvement projects and audit standards of care.
• Educate and support junior staff and students.

Skills

Communication

Clinical credibility

Leadership

Quality improvement

Education/Mentoring

Education

RN (Child) / RSCN

Diploma Level

Teaching/Assessing/Mentoring

Degree

Post-registration study

Job description

Main area Paediatrics Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent 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-E-267273

Employer Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Addenbrookes Hospital - Division E Town Cambridge Salary £39,959 - £48,117 p.a. pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 11/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 23/11/2026

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed Paediatric Nurse with established leadership and organisational skills, a vision to provide a quality service and to maximise a positive patient experience on this dynamic childrens ward.

As a Junior Sister in children’s services, you’ll be joining a diverse and stimulating department. Our work is wide ranging and we are well respected both locally and as a regional specialist treatment centre. We provide excellent care across medical and surgical specialities. Our ethos of child centred care and multi-professional collaboration with both specialist Clinical Nurses, Consultants and Allied Health Professionals puts team work at the centre of all we do.

This is an excellent opportunity to join the existing team on D2. We are a 22 bedded multi specialit paediatric ward that forms part of the inpatient childrens services at Addenbrookes. The ward caters for children from 0-16 with a range of acute, chronic and emergency needs. Being a regional neurological centre we have patients with us for a length of time whilst they undergo neuro rehab. We also are the designated area to help children and their families who may be admitted for support with their mental health. Admissions to the ward come via elective surgery, through paediatric ED, step downs from PICU as well as transfers in from across the region.

Main duties of the job

You will be an excellent communicator who is clinically credible amongst work colleagues and a positive role model. You will have a questioning mind, never settling for mediocrity and your leadership skills will inspire and motivate those around you.

You will have drive to always seek the best solution for patients, families and staff and will be committed to ensuring patients receive safe, excellent care. Being involved in Ward Quality improvement projects,you will work with the existing senior team. You will ensure that standards of care that our patients receive remain at the highest level, by being involved in auditing of NQMs and developing strategies for improvement.

You will understand the importance of educating and supporting both junior staff and students ensuring a positive and nurturing learning environment enabling staff to thrive and grow.

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.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 11th November 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on 23rd November 2026.

All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12-week probationary period. This provides a structured and supportive period to help you settle into your role, with regular reviews and feedback.

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.

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

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

• RN (Child) / RSCN
• Educated to Diploma Level
• Teaching/ Assessing/ Mentoring module
• Degree
• Post registration study relevant to post

Experience

• Significant acute General Paediatric Nursing experience
• Experience in leading a team or in routinely coordinating a shift on a Childrens ward
• Experience working on both a medical and a surgical ward
• Experience in managing a change in clinical practice
• NHS experience

Knowledge

• Broad knowledge of medical and surgical nursing care
• Good understanding of Safeguarding issues
• Understanding of chronic disease management
• Knowledge of community support networks available to children, parents and families

Skills

• Ability to deliver expert nursing care to children and families
• Ability to work effectively in a team
• Ability to deliver education and training programmes
• Demonstrates ability to work across organisational boundaries
• Ability to develop protocols and guidelines for practice

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

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.