Charge Nurse & Senior ODP

NHS; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health service provider in Newcastle upon Tyne is seeking motivated and skilled individuals for the Sister/Charge Nurse/Senior ODP position within Cardiothoracic Theatres. Candidates will lead theatre teams and ensure high-quality patient care in complex surgical cases. Key requirements include current registration, relevant clinical skills, and the ability to mentor others. This role involves weekend and flexible hours. Join us in making a significant impact on patient outcomes while enjoying a supportive working environment.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse/ODP with current NMC/HCPC registration.
• Must have relevant post-registration experience.
• Prepared to take degree level study.

Responsibilities

• Lead theatre team and manage resources effectively.
• Scrub for various cardiothoracic surgical cases.
• Participate in organ retrieval and out of hours on-call.

Skills

Clinical skills in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Leadership in theatre

Emergency handling

Mentoring ability

Patient advocacy

Education

Registered Nurse / Operating Department Practitioner

Current NMC / HCPC registration

Diploma in a health related subject

Degree in health related subject

Specialist qualification if relevant

Job description

Sister/Charge Nurse/Senior ODP

The closing date is 21 January 2026

An opportunity has arisen for motivated, flexible and dynamic Scrub Sisters/Senior ODPs/Charge Nurses to work within Cardiothoracic Theatres at the Freeman Hospital.

Cardiothoracic Theatres comprises of 5 operating theatres that undertake all aspects of adult and paediatric cardiothoracic surgery, transplantation, ECMO, ventricular assist devices and cardiothoracic emergencies. This includes organ retrieval from DBD and DCD donors and we are currently the only paediatric DCD heart retrieval team in the world using the XVIVO.

Shortlisted candidates must possess current and relevant clinical skills and experience within Cardiothoracic Surgery. The post holders will be required to undertake weekend and out of hours work including cardiothoracic organ retrievals and paediatric work unassisted within 3 months of commencing the role.

Please note, a valid current passport will be essential to permit travel to other hospitals and regions within the UK and Europe to retrieve organs.

Responsibilities include:

Ensuring high quality care and a safe environment for patients

Theatre team lead, managing resource effectively for optimal clinical outcomes

Handling emergencies with skill and expertise

Serves as a mentor and role model for junior colleagues

Participate in staff performance management and appraisals

Driving positive change and fostering a culture of flexibility and patient centred care

• Interview Date Monday 09 February 2026

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

Scrub for a variety of adult, paediatric and congenital cardiothoracic surgical cases.

Participate within the out of hours on call service which covers the hospital, in addition to the on call organ retrieval service.

Provide skilled care to patients throughout their perioperative journey.

Act as patient's advocate and ensure patient's wishes, choices and beliefs are taken into account in the decision-making process as necessary in collaboration with the family.

Maintain safe and effective patient care, ensuring that working practices conform to theatre and trust policies and procedures.

Maintain accurate and legible records of care in line with Trust policy and NMC/HCPC Codes of Conduct and Standards of Proficiencies.

Actively be involved in monitoring and promoting high standards of care, including audits.

Mentor students as well as new members of staff within the department.

Maintain a culture in which infection control is intrinsic to care delivery and is monitored in line with trust policy.

About us

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:

• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Freeman Hospital
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job responsibilities

• To support the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse / Senior ODP, acting as a deputy when the Senior Sister / Charge Nurse / Senior ODP is absent.
• In areas within the organisation Nurses / ODPs may be banded at 6 by virtue clinical reasons, for example, critical care.
• Provide effective support and leadership to staff, patients and carers within the Theatre or Department.
• Act as role model, teacher and supervisor for junior staff and students.
• Ensure systems are in place to provide the continuity of safe effective care for patients at all times.
• Effective member of the multi-disciplinary team.
• May be required to participate in an On-call rota as required.

You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

Qualifications & Education

• Registered Nurse (appropriate to branch) / Operating Department Practitioner
• Current NMC / HCPC registration
• Diploma in a health related subject, prepared to take degree level study
• Specialist qualification if relevant to role or previous experience
• Meets Nursing and Midwifery Council standards for student supervision and assessment (formally Mentorship)
• Degree in health related subject

Knowledge & Experience

• Previous post registration experience which must be relevant and recent
• Evidence of achievements and career development in current post and of on-going professional development
• Understanding of professional accountability in a leadership role
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant NHS policy or project specific policy context
• Has understanding / experience of adult / child safeguarding
• Audit / research experience
• Relevant clinical skills relating to the specialty e.g. cannulation / IV drug administration / scrub skills relevant to speciality / anaesthetic skills appropriate to speciality

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.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust