Sister/Charge Nurse A and E

NHS Jobs; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Jobs is seeking an experienced Emergency Department leader in the United Kingdom. The post requires robust clinical leadership, expertise in triage and patient flow, and a track record of improving quality and safety in fast-paced emergency care settings.

The role focuses on supervising multidisciplinary teams, safeguarding, infection control, and professional development, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice and service improvement.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration.
• Experience leading teams in Emergency/Acute settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional and clinical leadership to nursing and support staff within the Emergency Department.
• Coordinate day-to-day departmental operations and staffing.
• Ensure timely assessment, treatment, escalation and discharge of patients.

Skills

Leadership

Staff development

Communication

Change management

Team building

Education

NMC Registration

Tools

EPR systems

EPMA systems

MS Office

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Provide professional and clinical leadership to nursing and support staff within the Emergency Department.
• Coordinate day-to-day departmental operations, ensuring safe staffing levels and effective patient flow.
• Ensure timely assessment, treatment, escalation, and discharge of patients in accordance with departmental standards.
• Support the management of patients with complex needs, including paediatric, mental health, gynaecological, medical, surgical, and trauma presentations.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice.
• Lead on patient experience, safeguarding, infection prevention, and risk management initiatives.
• Support recruitment, induction, appraisal, performance management, and professional development of staff.
• Act as a clinical role model and expert resource, supporting staff in the delivery of high standards of emergency care.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and external agencies to ensure seamless patient care and service delivery.
• Deputise for the Emergency Department Matron/Lead Nurse as required.

Person Specification (Summary)

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration.
• Significant post-registration experience within Emergency, Acute, Critical Care, or Urgent Care settings.
• Proven leadership and people management skills.
• Demonstrable experience in leading teams, managing change, and delivering service improvements.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and decision-making abilities.
• Commitment to staff development, education, and continuous quality improvement.

Technical Work Based Skills

• Advanced knowledge of emergency nursing care, including rapid patient assessment, triage, and management of acutely ill and injured patients.
• Competence in leading clinical shifts within a busy Emergency Department, ensuring safe patient flow and effective resource allocation.
• Extensive experience using Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems for patient documentation, clinical decision-making, and care coordination.
• Proficient in the use of Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) systems, ensuring safe and effective medicines management.
• Skilled in patient assessment and escalation using recognised clinical frameworks, including NEWS2, Sepsis Six, and deteriorating patient pathways.
• Ability to interpret and act upon diagnostic investigations including ECGs, blood results, imaging requests, and point-of-care testing.
• Knowledge of emergency care pathways, safeguarding processes, Mental Capacity Act principles, and management of patients presenting with mental health crises.
• Experience in clinical governance activities including audits, incident investigations (Datix), risk management, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Competent in workforce management, including rota coordination, staffing escalation processes, and effective deployment of resources to meet service demands.
• Experience supervising and supporting multidisciplinary teams, including Registered Nurses, Healthcare Assistants, Nurse Associates, Medical Staff, Allied Health Professionals, and students.
• Advanced communication and leadership skills to coordinate care, manage complex situations, and facilitate effective multidisciplinary working.
• Competent in managing emergency situations including cardiac arrest, trauma, major incidents, and clinical deterioration.
• Strong understanding of infection prevention and control, health and safety, and emergency department operational policies.
• Ability to support, mentor, assess, and develop staff through appraisals, clinical supervision, competency assessments, and educational initiatives.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, data analysis, report writing, and preparation of service improvement and governance reports.
• Experience participating in departmental improvement projects, performance monitoring, and achievement of key emergency care standards and targets.

Knowledge Required

• Comprehensive knowledge of local and organisational policies, procedures, and clinical governance frameworks applicable to emergency care.
• Detailed understanding of teaching and learning principles to support staff development, induction, mandatory training, and continuing professional development.
• Knowledge of mentorship/supervision frameworks and the ability to support pre-registration nursing students, apprentices, newly qualified staff, and internationally recruited nurses in practice.
• Successful completion of a recognised Mentorship, Practice Assessor/Practice Supervisor, or Assessment of Learning in Practice (ALP) module, or equivalent teaching and assessing qualification, with the ability to assess competence in the clinical environment.
• Knowledge of the NMC Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA) and requirements for supporting learners in practice.
• Understanding of workforce development, performance management, appraisal processes, and staff wellbeing initiatives.
• Knowledge of quality improvement methodologies, audit processes, risk management, incident reporting (Datix), and patient safety principles.
• Sound knowledge of emergency nursing pathways, deterioration management, safeguarding, infection prevention and control, and evidence-based practice.
• Understanding of leadership and change management principles to support service development and delivery of high-quality patient care.

Assessing, Planning, Implementing and Evaluating Care

• Demonstrates expert clinical assessment skills, providing timely, holistic assessment of patients with undifferentiated and complex presentations.
• Develops, implements and evaluates evidence-based care plans that are patient-centred and responsive to changing clinical needs.
• Ensures care is delivered safely, effectively and in accordance with local policies, NICE guidance and professional standards.
• Monitors patient outcomes and coordinates ongoing evaluation of care, making appropriate adjustments where required.
• Promotes dignity, privacy, safeguarding and advocacy for all patients and their families.

Triage and Emergency Care

• Competent and experienced in triaging patients using the Manchester Triage System and associated pathways.
• Prioritises patients according to clinical urgency, recognising deterioration and escalating concerns promptly.
• Demonstrates sound clinical judgement in managing patient flow and allocation of resources during periods of high demand.
• Supports staff in the assessment and management of acutely unwell patients, trauma presentations and medical emergencies.

Leadership and Management

• Provides visible and effective clinical leadership within the Emergency Department.
• Coordinates departmental activity, ensuring safe staffing levels and effective patient flow.
• Acts as a role model, promoting professionalism, accountability and high standards of care.
• Leads by example in maintaining a positive, supportive and inclusive working environment.
• Effectively manages challenging situations, conflict resolution and service pressures.

Communication and Teamwork

• Communicates clearly and professionally with patients, relatives and the multidisciplinary team.
• Builds collaborative relationships with ambulance services, inpatient teams, community services and external agencies.
• Supports effective handovers and ensures accurate documentation and communication of patient care plans.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence when managing sensitive situations.

Quality, Safety and Governance

• Promotes a culture of patient safety and continuous quality improvement.
• Investigates incidents, complaints and DATIX reports, ensuring lessons learned are shared with the team.
• Supports clinical audits, service improvement initiatives and compliance with national and local standards.
• Maintains awareness of risk management, infection prevention and control, safeguarding and medicines management.

Education and Staff Development

• Supports the learning and development of registered nurses, healthcare assistants, nursing associates and students.
• Acts as a mentor, assessor or practice supervisor, encouraging professional growth and clinical excellence.
• Encourages reflective practice and evidence-based care.

Appointees to this role will be required to demonstrate the States of Jersey Tier 6 core accountabilities, behaviours and values, together with the following personal attributes: Strong clinical leadership skills with the ability to inspire, motivate and support multidisciplinary teams within a fast-paced emergency care environment. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with patients, relatives, colleagues and external agencies. Highly developed decision-making and problem-solving abilities, demonstrating sound clinical judgement in complex and unpredictable situations. Resilient, adaptable and able to remain calm under pressure while managing competing priorities and operational demands. Compassionate, professional and patient-centred, promoting dignity, respect and inclusion in all interactions. Demonstrable emotional intelligence with the ability to manage challenging situations, provide constructive feedback and support staff wellbeing. Committed to continuous improvement, quality assurance and delivering safe, effective and evidence-based care. Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to coordinate resources efficiently and maintain patient flow within the Emergency Department. Ability to lead change, embrace innovation and contribute positively to service development and transformation. Accountable and self-aware, demonstrating integrity, professionalism and a commitment to the highest standards of nursing practice. Ability to mentor, develop and empower others, fostering a culture of learning, collaboration and professional growth. Flexible and responsive to the changing needs of the service, supporting delivery of care across a 24-hour emergency care setting.