Charge Nurse

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust; Ivy Chimneys; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious healthcare provider in Ivy Chimneys seeks a Sister/Charge Nurse for its CDC. The successful candidate will oversee patient care, lead a nursing team, and ensure high-quality standards. Responsibilities include clinician management, responding to patient feedback, and adhering to Trust policies. A strong clinical background and proven leadership skills are essential. This role provides opportunities for professional development and is focused on delivering compassionate care to patients.

Benefits

Development opportunities

Flexible working

Focus on wellbeing

Qualifications

• Post-holder must have experience in clinical settings.
• Role requires evidence of teaching and assessing junior staff.
• Demonstrated ability to improve patient experience is required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of patient care in the CDC.
• Provide leadership and support to the nursing team.
• Ensure compliance with Trust policies and procedures.

Skills

Evidence of previous working within CDC/radiology

Substantial post-registration experience

Teaching junior members of staff

Job description

Sister/Charge Nurse – CDC

The closing date is 28 January 2026

The post holder will be expected to liaise with all key members of the CDC, MDT (multidisciplinary team), and service users related to all CDC activities and pathways. The post holder will be responsible for all aspects of patient care including directly clinically managing unwell patients within all specialities and patients affected by adverse reactions to contrast medium. The post holder will support the CDC services when there is a medical emergency. The post holder will rota on a rota covering the CDC operational time frame of 7 days per week, 08:00hrs – 20:00hrs and supervise the nursing team in providing cover for all opening hours of the CDC, daily monitoring of planned vs actual staffing levels and liaising with the clinical nurse manager for outpatients services when there is a shortfall in cover. The post holder will respond to patients, relatives and carers concerns as they arise and take remedial action as required. The post holder will take delegated responsibility for ensuring highest level of quality, safety and infection prevention & control are always maintained. The post holder will continually monitor feedback to ensure a positive focus on incorporating this to improve patient care and satisfaction. The post holder will be an effective role model and mentor promoting a culture that aligns to the trust values through clinical practice.

Clinical Responsibilities

• To promote a quality service using research and evidence based practice in line with the framework of clinical governance and national standards/guidelines (e.g. The Royal College of Radiologists and Nursing standards)
• Provide daily emergency cover as required, in the absence of a Senior Nurse, CNS or Doctor being in clinic. The Nurse will provide assistance at ILS level
• Attend relevant training and supervision to carry out roles and responsibilities of the role.
• Carry out planned diagnostics and assessment for a group of patients without supervision but seek advice where necessary.
• Ensure the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of evidence based, individualised patient care.
• Assist and advise staff, both registered and non-registered in the delivery of patient care within the clinic environment.
• Maintain accurate clinical observation/assessment of the patient and act accordingly.
• Collate monthly/annual report relating to own and team activity.
• Maintain data quality standards / department or similar systems in the future.
• Undertake training for electronic information systems in place & under development.
• Adhere to Trust / local guidelines for ordering relevant tests and access results reported on Cerner and follow them (where necessary).
• Role model use of Trust intranet and internet to staff.
• Maintain and update own clinical experience and contribute as role model to ensure the delivery of nursing care is at highest possible level to meet patient requirements.
• Monitor the quality of nursing care and act audit information to achieve agreed standards and take the lead on customer care initiatives. This will include the development and utilisation of local action plans.
• Ensure that nursing documentation is maintained to the Trust standard (including electronic records) and implement audits of records to measure and evaluate care planning.
• Investigate complaints, accident reports and untoward incidents within clinic and in conjunction with the Line Manager and implement recommendations for action.
• Identify clinical risks and ensure that appropriate action is taken, in accordance with the Trust Risk Management policy.
• Undertake nursing procedures. Perform expanded practices such as venepuncture, ILS.
• Act as the patient’s advocate.

Responsibility for Patients

• To ensure high standards of care are given to all patients, monitoring this through spot checks and clinical quality indicators outcome measures.
• To obtain patient and relative feedback by undertaking hourly clinical rounds with the aim of recognising the deteriorating patient and providing excellent standards of care.
• To ensure communication with patients and significant others is established, ensuring empathy and reassurance regarding assessment, care, and treatment.
• Be accountable at all times for ensuring that safeguards are in place for patients, in particular those adults or children at risk.
• To ensure transport patients are picked up and leave the department in a timely manner.
• To be responsible for an adverse reaction to contrast patient, ensuring their immediate pathway is followed.
• To be responsible for any unwell patient within the department, ensuring their immediate pathway is followed.
• To ensure that all patients are cared for in a clean and well‑maintained clinical area, ensuring that all staff are aware they are directly responsible for cleanliness standards when in charge and escalating issues when necessary.

Responsibility for Leading and Managing

• To be compliant with Radiation Safety/IR(ME)R training modules via the e‑learning platform.
• To take charge of the clinic on a daily basis and coordinate patient flow.
• Be responsible for daily walk‑in diagnostics ensuring any urgent patients are escalated appropriately.
• Liaise closely with the clinical nurse manager for discussion of patient’s diagnostic results and pathway of care.
• Assist in the orientation of new staff and students where applicable.
• Ensure that nursing practices comply with Trust policies and procedures.
• Communicate effectively at all times and maintain a harmonious working environment.
• Be responsible for the accurate documentation and care of patients electronic health records.
• Maintain a safe and healthy environment.
• Assist in ensuring the availability of resources for patient care.
• Ensure all equipment is in good working order and report appropriately when defective.
• Participate in audit and suggest any change to improve standards.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the economical use of resources and contribute to the overall control of the ward or departmental budget.
• Assist management in the investigation of complaints and identifying future learning.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development

• To be actively involved in the development of Trust policies and procedures, providing specialist input, leading their implementation and reinforcing their use.
• To take the lead in ensuring compliance to Trust policies and procedures amongst the multi‑disciplinary team.
• Liaise with the clinical nurse manager and matron to participate in the Trust Business planning cycle, identifying areas of service development.
• To be aware of service delivery plans, participating in planning for future activity and identifying outcome measures of care.
• In conjunction with clinical nurse manager identify, analyse and discuss cost pressures and financial constraints in a timely manner.

Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources

• Accountable for general CDC environment needs, being alert to possible sources of cross‑infection, maintaining safe and clear walkways ensure fire exits remain clear and equipment and supplies are stored correctly.
• Accountable for the safe custody, storage, usage and recording of all medication including controlled drugs and medical gases in accordance with trust policy.
• To be responsible for a system for monitoring the non‑staff budget.
• Accountable for efficient and economical use of ward supplies.

Responsibility for Information Resources

• To be responsible for ensuring confidentiality and safekeeping of patient identifiable information.
• To ensure that there are effective communication systems in place to allow staff to keep abreast of developments in the organisation including unit meetings.

Responsibility for Research, Education & Development

• Actively seek evidence based practice which will support clinical outcomes as appropriate.
• In conjunction with the MDT develop a mechanism for setting goals and benchmarking standards of care.
• Plan, lead and delegate local audit and research as required, ensure findings are disseminated appropriately and recommendations implemented.
• Monitor the quality of nursing care and action audit information to achieve agreed standards.
• Participate in Trust wide research awareness sessions for nurses, midwives and AHPs and recommend innovations for clinical practice.

Systems & Equipment

• The PAHT clinical information systems
• ICE
• Alex Health
• CRIS
• Alertive

Decisions & Judgement

• To be able to make judgments that involve highly complex facts or situations that require analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options in the management of the mortuary and bereavement services.
• To be able to frequently advise and guide healthcare professionals whilst maintaining effectiveness and efficiency of own workload.

Communication & Relationships

• Act as an ambassador for the trust at all times.
• To provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information and in turn present this information to a large group of staff or members of the public in a persuasive, negotiating, training, empathetic or reassuring manner.
• Liaise and communicate effectively with appropriate hospital and community colleagues to ensure early identification of any recurring problems.
• Anticipate barriers to communication and take appropriate action to improve communication.
• To provide leadership to the clinical teams within the CDC, ensuring all professional staff are appropriately managed and supported to maximise their engagement, motivation, efficiency and effectiveness.

Physical Demands of the Job

• High stress factors associated with dealing with members of the MDT.
• Complying with Trust moving and manual handling policy.

Most Challenging/Difficult Parts of the Job

• It requires physical and emotional investments.
• Balancing management responsibility and clinical caseload.
• Working with a diverse group.
• To provide immediate care to the unwell patient.
• Providing immediate professional and personal support to team members facing challenging patient care issues and fluctuating caseload.

About us

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high‑quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave; a national programme that’s changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined‑up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector. This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives. We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Evidence of previous working within CDC/radiology

Experience

• Substantial post‑registration experience in clinical setting.
• Evidence of teaching junior members of staff and assessing students in practice.
• Proven evidence of improving the patient experience.
• Current experience of line management of staff.
• Previous experience of people management.
• Proven experience of monitoring and acting on nursing quality data and developing appropriate action plans.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust