Sister/Charge Nurse - Paediatric Emergency Department

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Knowsley; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Trust in England is seeking a passionate Band 6 Ward Sister/Charge Nurse for its Paediatric Emergency Department. The role involves leadership, managing patient flow, and ensuring high standards of care in a newly developed environment. The ideal candidate should possess strong clinical skills, excellent communication, and a commitment to quality care. Applications are welcomed from individuals with significant post-registration experience and relevant NMC registration.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in paediatric nursing.
• Strong interest in patient flow.
• Up-to-date knowledge of current issues in patient care.

Responsibilities

• Deputise for the Paediatric Lead Nurse.
• Manage staffing and resources effectively.
• Contribute to clinical governance and audit.

Skills

Strong clinical knowledge

Excellent communication skills

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Valid RSCN/RN Child NMC registration

Significant post registration experience

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Are you a dynamic individual looking for a new challenge? An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly enthusiastic Registered Nurse to join the Paediatric Emergency Department as a Band 6 Ward Sister/Charge Nurse; this post is 15 hours per week. We are just moving into an extended and redeveloped department which will ensure that the children are treated in the best environment possible.

If you are an efficient worker with strong clinical knowledge, excellent communication skills and able to work under pressure whilst remaining focused on safe good quality care, seeking a new personal challenge we look forward to your application.

You will need to have significant post registration experience and a sound clinical background as well as a valid RSCN/RN Child NMC registration. We are seeking an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and self-motivated Band 5/6 with a ‘can do’ mind-set and a strong interest in patient flow and the need to ensure patients are not admitted to hospital when there are other options for their treatment.

If successful you will be part of a fantastically motivated and forward-thinking team who constantly strive to give the highest standards of care.

The post holder should have up to date knowledge of current issues in patient flow and changes within the NHS. The role is challenging and instrumental to the day-to-day operations within the Trust.

To deputise for the Paediatric Lead Nurse with continuing responsibility for providing a seamless, safe service.

To ensure the optimum, cost-effective use of staffing and resources to maintain and develop standards of care and safety as appropriate.

To assist in implementing changes and maintain standards, to ensure the care delivered to families is according to relevant national access and treatment targets, national guidance, standards, recommendations, and legislation.

To participate fully and provide evidence that the clinical governance agenda is active, effective and continuous throughout the Paediatric Emergency Department including:

• Standard setting
• Policies and guidelines (including Trust policies, Paediatric clinical policies, and local Paediatric operational policies)
• Benchmarking locally and nationally
• Risk management
• Clinical audit
• Ensuring clinical practice is protocol and/or pathway driven, evidence-based or guided by best practice if the evidence is not available

To ensure the Paediatric Emergency team work to safe practices at all times and work proactively to monitor standards throughout the department, acquiring evidence and acting on findings.

About the Trust Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites. We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our services:

• Acute Care – Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
• Primary Care – Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
• Community Services – Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital for rehabilitation; urgent care at the Urgent Treatment Centre in St Helens town centre.
• Specialist Regional Services – Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital for the region.

Achievements include: Outstanding by CQC (Aug 2018); Top 100 places to work in the NHS; National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme.

Core responsibilities include providing leadership, management and team development; coordinating patient flow; contributing to policy development; stock and resource management; and representing the clinical area in groups and at conferences.

To promote and deliver effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team and other wards and departments in the Trust and externally; participate in business planning; and initiate investigations of incidents as required.

Clinical Management

• Provide senior nursing advice and support to facilitate high quality, individualized care in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
• Manage and coordinate complex clinical situations, taking appropriate action in emergencies.
• Be clinically competent with specialised equipment and act as a clinical role model and leader for all staff.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate care using evidence-based practice; promote holistic care involving physiological, psychological, spiritual, socio-economic and cultural aspects.
• Contribute to standards of nursing care and liaison with medical staff; ensure care is delivered within scope and professional standards.
• Promote patient and relative involvement in care management and maintain shared responsibility for delivery of care by the nursing team.
• Maintain safe custody of drugs and ensure compliance with checks and administration procedures.
• undertake training to expand clinical skills and manage safe staffing levels.
• Identify clinical risks and act per Trust risk management policy; ensure nursing documentation meets Trust standards.

People Management

• Assess and develop development plans; participate in orientation for new staff; monitor performance and support revalidation.
• Deploy staffing resources effectively; support team members; assist in recruitment and induction; ensure staffing and skill mix meet patient needs.
• Coordinate off duty, annual leave, sickness and absence.

Leadership Development

• Promote a learning environment; participate in staff education and development; mentor and support learners and teams.
• Assess learning needs; lead specialty-based teaching; maintain personal development for revalidation.
• Support junior nurses, students and HCAs; share specialist knowledge; promote good practice across the ward and trust.

Budget responsibilities

• Ensure efficient use of resources; stock management and equipment upkeep; manage patient valuables; approve timesheets for temporary staff.

Research and Audit

• Develop and implement nursing practice audits; promote research awareness; apply findings to practice; disseminate results; collect and analyse audit data; use data to improve patient care.

Personal Development

• Maintain own continuing professional development and participate in knowledge development review; identify self-development needs and maintain a professional portfolio for revalidation.

This advert closes on Monday 22 Sep 2025