Senior Charge Nurse - Intensive Care Unit

NHS National Services Scotland; Paisley; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

27 days annual leave

Cycle to Work Scheme

Learning & development opportunities

Job summary

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is seeking an experienced Senior Charge Nurse (Band 7) to lead the Intensive Care Unit at Royal Alexandra Hospital. The role involves 24-hour responsibility for the nursing team delivering care to critically ill patients across HDU and ICU services.

Join a large Trust committed to patient-centred care, continuous professional development, and equality initiatives. Permanent, full-time with Monday–Friday pattern, based at Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with significant post-registration experience.
• Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate ongoing professional development.
• Expert clinical knowledge within a critical care setting.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to provide credible clinical leadership and work effectively within a large multi-professional team.
• Commitment to enhancing patient experience and delivering high-quality care.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safe and effective clinical practice.
• Enhance the patient experience of care.
• Manage, support, and develop team performance.
• Contribute to the delivery of organisational objectives.
• Ensure Healthcare-Associated Infection measures and key performance indicators are applied across ward teams.
• Maintain and monitor high standards of treatment and care delivery.
• Promote a culture, values, behaviours, and skill set that meet high standards.
• Support and implement equality and diversity initiatives.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Critical care knowledge

Patient-focused care

Education

Nursing degree

Job description

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non‑clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The role:

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Charge Nurse (Band 7) to join the Intensive Care Unit within Clyde Critical Care at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. The service consists of a 9-bed Intensive Care Unit and a 12-bed High Dependency Unit, providing care for emergency and elective patients across a range of medical and surgical specialities. The post holder will provide clinical leadership and hold 24‑hour continuing responsibility for the nursing team caring for critically ill patients requiring organ support, specialist care pathways, and enhanced nursing observation.

All roles will be assessed for sponsorship eligibility in line with current Home Office requirements. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) can only issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) where these are met.

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:

Permanent, Full‑time

Shift pattern - Monday - Friday

Base location - Royal Alexandra Hospital

Key responsibilities:

• Ensure safe and effective clinical practice.
• Enhance the patient experience of care.
• Manage, support, and develop team performance.
• Contribute to the delivery of organisational objectives.
• Ensure Healthcare-Associated Infection measures and key performance indicators are applied across the ward teams, including hand hygiene and environmental audits.
• Maintain and monitor high standards of treatment and care delivery.
• Promote a culture, values, behaviours, and skill set that consistently meet high standards within the clinical environment.
• Support and implement equality and diversity initiatives.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:

• Registered Nurse with significant relevant post-registration experience.
• Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate ongoing continuing professional development.
• Expert clinical knowledge within a critical care setting.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to provide credible clinical leadership and work effectively within a large multi-professional team.
• Commitment to enhancing patient experience and delivering high-quality care.

What we offer:

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies

AI tools guidelines

• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you, not an AI tool.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work‑life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full‑time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.

This vacancy may close early due to a high volume of applications. We recommend applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

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