Sister/Charge Nurse (CHDU)

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Sister/Charge Nurse for the Cardiac High Dependency Unit (CHDU). The role includes leading a nursing team, ensuring safe, effective and timely patient care, and supporting professional development within a busy acute hospital setting.

The post offers a permanent position and a secondment of 34 hours from 23 November 2026 to 20 November 2027, with a 37.5-hour permanent option.

Qualifications

• Essential criteria: Qualified Nurse (Degree/Diploma) and registered nurse.
• Significant post-registration experience in relevant speciality and ward management.
• Ability to demonstrate clinical decision making and judgement.
• Commitment to continuing professional development and staff learning.

Responsibilities

• Senior role model and support personal and professional development of the department’s nursing team.
• Ensure quality agendas are met and care is safe, effective, timely and patient-centred.
• Lead and motivate a team of nurses and allied health professionals within CHDU.

Skills

Leadership

Ward management

Clinical decision making

Staff development

Team motivation

Proactive attitude

Education

Qualified Nurse (Degree/Diploma)

Job description

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us. Job Title: Sister/Charge Nurse (CHDU) Contract Type: Permanent & Fixed Term Fixed Term Contract End Date: November 2027 Purpose for Fixed Term: Maternity / Shared Parental / adoption Leave Backfill Main duties of the job This is an exciting opportunity to join our team in Cardiac High Dependency Unit as a Sister/ Charge Nurse. There will be one full time ( 37.5 hours) permanent position available and one Secondment position of 34 hours from the 23rd November 2026 until the 20th November 2027. CHDU is a 20-bedded unit that caters for mixed specialty adult patients including cardiac surgery, congenital heart disease, thoracic and cardiology patients requiring specialist high dependency care and planned short term ventilation. You will join our friendly and dedicated CHDU team, within a care group which has a local, national and international reputation for delivering expert cardiothoracic care to our patients. Clinical expertise is at the forefront of making sure that patients have the best clinical outcome and receive care that is current and evidence based. CHDU at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust leads the way for innovative care for adult cardiac patients. Working for our organisation As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme. Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted. We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for being a senior role model and will be pivotal in supporting the personal and professional development of the department’s allied health professional and nursing team. With the support of the matron team, will ensure that quality agendas are being met, making certain that your team are delivering safe, effective, timely care in a caring and supportive way.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a person with a positive proactive leadership style, a team player who is passionate about developing staff so they in turn deliver a high standard of patient care. You must have significant experience in a relevant speciality, with the aptitude and skill necessary to lead and motivate a team of nurses and allied health professionals, working closely with the MDT. If you believe you have the dedication and inspiration along with the necessary skills that we are seeking we would love to discuss this opportunity with you further. This role is for a 24/7 service and includes day shifts, night shifts, weekends, and bank holidays.

Person specification

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• Qualified Nurse (Degree/Diploma)
• Registered nurse on appropriate part of the register
• Significant post registration experience / qualification / training, including experience and knowledge within relevant speciality
• Ward management experience
• Knowledge of current issues within acute Health Service
• Experience in an acute hospital setting
• Provide evidence of supporting / managing a range of learners in practice
• Provide evidence of supporting colleagues to promote effective learning in practice
• Ability to demonstrate clinical decision making and judgement
• Commitment to the post and Care Group responsibilities
• Commitment to continuing professional development

Desirable criteria

• Experience in handling adverse events and complaints
• Appraisal skills
• Act in the role of Practice Assessor or supporting the progression of learners / supporting challenges as needed
• Some insight into budget management

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patient First
• Working Together
• Always Improving