Sister/Charge Nurse (E4)

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Southampton is seeking a Band 6 Sister/Charge Nurse for the thoracic surgical ward. You will mentor and lead junior staff, ensuring safe, effective, and compassionate care for patients. The ideal candidate will be a qualified nurse with significant experience and ward management skills. This role offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a dynamic team environment.

Benefits

Flexible working environment

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Registered nurse on the appropriate part of the register.
• Significant post-registration experience in a relevant specialty.
• Ward management experience.
• Ability to manage competing priorities under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Support the Ward Manager in day-to-day operations.
• Lead and develop junior staff through coaching and supervision.
• Ensure high standards of safe, timely, and effective care.
• Participate in audits and quality projects.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical decision making

Communication

Patient care

Education

Qualified Nurse (Degree/Diploma)

Job description

Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us. Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Role

As a Band 6 Sister/Charge Nurse, you’ll play a pivotal role in supporting the Ward Manager with the day-to-day running of E4. You’ll lead by example, mentor junior staff, and ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and compassionate care. You’ll be encouraged to use your initiative, identify opportunities for improvement, and lead on service development projects.

This Is An Excellent Opportunity For

• A Band 5 nurse ready to step into leadership
• A current Band 6 seeking to broaden their skills in a highly specialised surgical setting.

About Us

E4 is a dynamic 20-bed thoracic surgical ward, specialising in major procedures including lung resections, chest wall and rib surgery. We’re proud of our reputation for delivering high-quality, patient-centred care and work closely with our surgical and multidisciplinary teams to ensure the best outcomes for our patients.

Working for our organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations. Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We are committed to providing a flexible working environment and supporting you to balance family, study, or wellbeing with your career. We champion individuality and are committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

We are recruiting a committed and experienced Junior Sister / Charge Nurse (Band 6) to join our 20‑bed thoracic surgical ward, E4. In this senior clinical leadership role you will support the Ward Manager in coordinating day‑to‑day operations across a 24‑hour service, ensuring high standards of safe, timely and effective care for patients undergoing complex thoracic procedures. You will lead and develop junior staff through coaching, supervision and education, take charge of the ward as required, and contribute to workforce planning, rostering and skill‑mix decisions. The role requires strong clinical judgement, a proactive approach to service improvement and clinical governance, and the ability to manage competing priorities under pressure while maintaining compassionate, patient‑centred care. You will participate in audits, quality and change projects, support learning and appraisal processes, and work closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver excellent outcomes. This is an ideal post for an ambitious Band 5 ready to step into leadership or a current Band 6 seeking broader surgical experience.

Person specification

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patient First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

• 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