Sister/Charge Nurse - Critical Care

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A major healthcare institution in Liverpool seeks a Band 6 Sister / Charge Nurse for its Critical Care unit. The successful applicant will have a minimum of 2 years experience, hold a recognised Critical Care Course, and demonstrate leadership skills. Responsibilities include overseeing the unit, developing care programmes, and ensuring compliance with professional standards. The position offers an annual salary of £38,682 to £46,580 pro rata.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years experience at Band 5.
• Recognised Critical Care Course required.
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate leadership qualities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the unit in the manager's absence.
• Develop and evaluate programmes of care.
• Ensure compliance with NMC's Code of Conduct.

Skills

Leadership

Critical Care Knowledge

Communication Skills

Teamwork

Education

Registered Nurse, current NMC registration

1st level degree or equivalent

Teaching and assessing qualification/equivalent

Job description

Overview

Go back Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 02 October 2025

Critical Care merged ITU, POCCU and HDU in October 22 in the New Royal. This is an exciting time to become part of the leadership team.

The post holder will work without direct supervision and will be required to take charge of the unit for a span of duty in the absence of the manager, who holds continuing responsibility.

Key responsibilities will include the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care, effective leadership and staff management/development.

The post holder will always work within the NMC\'s Code of Professional Conduct.

Main duties of the job

Critical Care has a vacancy for Band 6 Sister / Charge Nurse. This post includes internal rotation. The applicant should have a minimum of 2 years experience at Band 5, have a recognised Critical Care Course and should have an understanding of looking after Level 3 patients with RRT. Applicants must be a Registered General Nurse with evidence of professional development in the Critical Care environment. You must be able to demonstrate leadership qualities and have the ability to work on your own initiative.

Informal visits are welcomed.

About us

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women\'s NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women\'s Hospital specializes in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK\'s largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.

For roles at Liverpool Women\'s, visit their careers page

Job responsibilities

The post holder will work without direct supervision and may be required to take charge of the unit for a span of duty in the absence of the manager, who holds continuing responsibility.

Key responsibilities will include the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care, effective leadership and staff management/development.

The post holder will always work within the NMCs Code of Professional Conduct.

Key responsibilities

Clinical responsibilities

• Co-ordination of the unit in the absence of the manager including planning, allocation and evaluation of work carried out by teams or individuals and self.
• Provide specialist knowledge to all Nursing staff on the Unit
• Will promote a critical, analytical approach to the delivery of nursing care ensuring that the ward environment is responsive to current issues.
• In support of the unit manager will assist in the review and update of procedures and protocols relating to the care of patients.

Develop methods for identifying, maintaining and improving the quality of patient care through facilitation of best practice and clinical benchmarking.

Ensure due regard is given to the customs, values and spiritual beliefs of patients/clients.

• Responsible for the safe custody, checking and administration of drugs, including inotropes

Possess the clinical knowledge and skills to care for, unsupervised, a level 2 and 3 critically ill patient which will include the management of patients in multi organ failure and complex nursing needs.

Explore and undertake expanded practice to optimise patient care as required, in accordance with unit and Trust policies (to include respiratory support, haemodynamic monitoring and manipulation)

Management/Leadership responsibilities

• Exercise effective leadership acting as an exemplary role model for the unit team.
• Support the manager in maintaining adequate staff cover and skill mix on the ward through effective use of staffing rotas

Ensure effective communication with patients and their carers.

Liaise with nursing, medical and allied health professional colleagues to ensure that all facets of the patients` care are covered.

• Ensure that the ward participates in maintaining standards relating to clinical governance.

Support the implementation of risk management policies within the unit, including the development of action plans to address identified risks.

• Ensure effective communication with relatives, Trust staff and other hospitals to facilitate the smooth transfer and after-care of patients/clients
• In support of the unit manager ensures outcomes and action plans from patient complaints are implemented and monitored.
• Ensure own and other staffs compliance with mandatory training and help maintain current records.
• In conjunction with the unit manager will ensure compliance with Trust policies and procedures.

Assist in monitoring and managing staff sickness/absence following the Trust guidelines, and liaise with the manager or ADM as necessary.

Participate in recruitment and selection of staff within the nursing team ensuring appropriate policies are adhered to.

Support the unit manager in the implementation of the Trusts Human Resources Strategy including the principles of Improving Working Lives and Investors in People.

• Monitor performance of staff that are identified by the unit manager, ensuring that learning needs are identified through personal development plans, appraisal systems and supervised practice
• In conjunction with the unit manager contribute to planning, monitoring and control of resources.
• Contribute to nursing developments within the ward/department via appropriate forums as required

Ensure that all equipment is checked and maintained in safe working order.

Education responsibilities

• Support the unit manager in identifying staff training and development needs via personal development plans
• Contributes to the dissemination of information from individuals undertaking professional development to the ward team, patients and carers; inclusive of the link nurse network
• Collaborate with the clinical practice facilitators to develop and promote an effective and responsive clinical learning environment

Ensure that nursing care is wherever possible is evidence based. Encourage and initiate nursing audit and research, assisting with the implementation of findings where appropriate.

• Contribute to the development of competency based training packages for use within the unit; inclusive of preceptorship, pre and post registration nurses
• Ensure appropriate nurse/patient allocation to facilitate the learning needs of staff

Act as a mentor for all pre and post registration nurses and health care assistants.

• The nurse will utilise Clinical Supervision and Peer Group support.

Professional Responsibilities

• Act at all times in a manner that upholds the reputation of the Trust and safeguards the wellbeing and dignity of patients and their relatives.

Act always in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct and Guidance documents and maintain active status on NMC Register.

• Take every reasonable opportunity to sustain and improve knowledge.
• Identify objectives within a PDP that support the delivery of high standards of clinical care

* The post holder shall as necessary provide cover for and undertake duties of absent colleagues.

* The post holder shall follow all the policies and procedures of the organisation.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse, current NMC registration
• Teaching and assessing qualification/equivalent
• 1st level degree or equivalent

Experience

• Evidence of team leadership
• Evidence of maintaining a clinical learning environment.
• Evidence of developing high standards of patient care through clinical benchmarking
• Evidence of working with pre and post registration students

Knowledge

• Knowledge of current nursing issues and clinical governance

Skills

• Application of evidence based practice
• Basic IT skills, including e-mail and word processing
• Ability to work in changing environments

Other

• Supportive of colleagues
• Well motivated
• High level of personal and professional credibility
• Committed to high standards of patient care

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.

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum pro rata