Senior Staff Nurse - Vernon Ward Elective Surgical Ward

st georges nhs trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in London is seeking a Senior Staff Nurse to join a dynamic and caring team. This role involves supporting patient care, providing leadership, and ensuring the effective management of the ward. Candidates must possess excellent communication skills and a motivation to work in a fast-paced environment. The trust offers ongoing professional development and a commitment to high-quality patient care. This position provides an opportunity to lead a supportive team and contribute to clinical education and training.

Benefits

Ongoing professional development

Training opportunities

Qualifications

• Must have excellent communication skills to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Must be enthusiastic and highly motivated to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in providing leadership and supporting junior staff is important.

Responsibilities

• Support and deputise for the Ward Senior Charge Nurse ensuring excellent nursing care.
• Motivate and supervise the ward team to maintain excellent standards of care.
• Manage the ward in the absence of the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Leadership

Teamwork

Dynamic approach

Motivated

Education

NMC registration

Relevant nursing degree

Job description

A Vacancy at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Vernon Ward (Elective Surgery Ward) is looking for an enthusiastic, dynamic & caring senior staff nurse, who wants to develop their acute nursing & leadership skills in order to deliver good quality care to patients. Successful candidates will be joining a supportive, friendly team who are committed to ensuring excellent patient care. This Ward caters to multispeciality patients under an elective pathway. The successful candidates must be enthusiastic, hardworking, dynamic & highly motivated to work in this fast‑paced environment. They must have excellent communication skills & be able to work as part of the multidisciplinary team.

We can offer ongoing professional development on the ward & training opportunities relevant to the clinical area.

The post holder will support and deputise for the Ward Senior Charge Nurse to ensure the provision of excellent nursing care and the effective management of staff and other resources. They will also carry out the day‑to‑day management and co‑ordination of the ward/department and ensure that there are education and training opportunities for all staff, including pre‑ and post‑registration students and/or providing specialist knowledge if working in a clinical area where a post‑registration course is essential (e.g., critical care setting).

Professional / Clinical Responsibilities

• Ensure nursing care is assessed, planned, implemented and evaluated using research evidence as appropriate.
• Provide leadership, motivating the ward/department team to ensure excellent nursing care, providing support and supervision of more junior staff.
• Ensure that all nursing procedures are carried out in accordance with St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust policies, taking appropriate action in emergency situations.
• In conjunction with the multidisciplinary team, be responsible for setting, monitoring and maintaining excellent standards of care, particularly for patients with multiple needs who require complex packages of care.
• Maintain personal contact with patients, relatives and carers, being sensitive to their needs for courtesy, dignity and privacy and ensuring a friendly environment at all times.
• Manage the ward/department in the absence of the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse, coordinating the clinical team and delegating duties as appropriate, maintaining safe staffing levels and informing the Senior Nurse of any problems or incidents.
• Ensure that accurate and timely nursing records are maintained, monitoring standards and taking appropriate corrective action as necessary.
• Store, check and administer drugs in accordance with Trust policy.
• Work in an unsupervised capacity throughout all areas of the speciality, including wards and outpatients.
• Prioritise own work and that of others to ensure the ward/department is managed effectively.
• Contribute to the local resolution, investigation and follow‑up action of any informal or formal complaints, taking the lead in the absence of the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse.
• Provide specialist knowledge and expertise in a specified clinical area or speciality.

Organisational Responsibilities

• Co‑ordinate the admission/reception of new patients in conjunction with the Bed Management Team.
• Arrange, in consultation with the multidisciplinary team and the Bed Manager, the discharge/transfer of patients and initiate appropriate community care services.
• Communicate and cooperate with other wards and departments, giving accurate information as required, particularly with regard to notification of incidents and accidents to staff, patients and visitors.
• Maintain and monitor a safe and clean environment within the clinical area in accordance with the Trust Health and Safety, Clinical Risk and Infection Control Policies.
• Represent the ward/department at meetings, participating in audit, research, projects and coordinating the appointment of link nurses for areas of clinical expertise.
• Maintain and monitor levels of stock and ensure that there are adequate supplies and that resources are used effectively.
• Handle, check and store patient’s cash and valuables in accordance with Trust policies.
• Complete the ward/department staffing rota as a delegated duty, ensuring that there are appropriate staffing levels and skill mix to meet patient care needs.
• Take appropriate action to address unexpected changes and situations, informing the on‑call Senior Nurse or Manager as necessary.
• Be familiar with and use the PAS system and any other computerised system integral to the running of the service.
• Actively contribute to Clinical Governance and achieve the goals of the Service Delivery Unit and the Nursing Strategy.
• Demonstrate a willingness to lead and motivate a team, providing clear direction and consistent leadership at all times.
• Assist in the recruitment, selection and retention of nursing staff in conjunction with the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse.

Education and Research Responsibilities

• In consultation with the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse take a lead role in the education and assessment of all pre‑ and post‑registration students in accordance with University and Trust requirements.
• Undertake the regular performance review of staff, setting clear and achievable objectives appropriate to the grade and role.
• Ensure that all nursing staff attend mandatory training and that attendance is accurately recorded at ward/department level.
• Take responsibility for personal and professional development and practice, recognising own limitations and the need for continuing education.
• Take a lead in initiating, implementing and evaluating new ideas and changes in clinical practice.
• Plan and participate in the orientation of new staff and the development of junior staff in conjunction with the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse.
• Promote health education and provide appropriate information and advice to patients and their carers.
• Participate in and lead quality initiatives to promote and ensure that nursing care is evidence and research based.

General Responsibilities

• Act in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors and be accountable for own clinical practice and professional actions at all times.
• Ensure continued and effective registration with the NMC.
• Take responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and others and comply at all times with the requirements of the Health and Safety Policy.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity.
• Promote equal opportunities for staff and patients in accordance with St George’s Healthcare and University policies to ensure that no person receives less favourable treatment than another on grounds of sex, race, marital status, religion, colour, creed, nationality, ethnic or national origin or sexual orientation.
• Be aware of and work within the policies of St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust carrying out duties as may be required and that are consistent with the responsibility of the grade.

Values & Safeguarding

The post holder will support the Trust’s vision of a thriving Foundation Trust at the heart of an integrated healthcare system, delivering improved patient care at community, hospital and specialist settings, supported by a unique and nationally recognised programme of research, education and employee engagement. We expect all staff to share the values that are important to the Trust – being Excellent, Kind, Responsible & Respectful – and behave in a way that reflects these.

St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. All staff are expected to share in this commitment, be aware of safeguarding policies and procedures, attend child or adult safeguarding training at an appropriate level for their role, and be able to identify concerns and know what action to take.

This advert closes on Friday 2 Jan 2026.