Staff Nurse - PICU

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Staff Nurse for the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) on a fixed-term basis. The role supports maternity leave cover and runs for nine months from January 2027.

The PICU is a busy regional centre providing care for critically ill children up to 16 years, with a 24-hour retrieval service and close collaboration with cardiology, neurology and neonatology specialists.

Qualifications

• Qualified nurse with evidence of practising in paediatric or critical care.
• Ability to provide high-quality safe care in a busy PICU.
• Experience teaching or supervising learners in clinical settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide safe, high-quality care to children from birth to 16 years.
• Work across 24-hour shift patterns, including days and nights.
• Be motivated, enthusiastic and able to work under pressure.
• Support patients and relatives with compassionate care.
• Demonstrate post-preceptorship competencies in paediatric critical care.

Skills

Paediatric care

Critical care

Motivated team player

Great communication

Education

Qualified Nurse (Degree/Diploma)

Registered nurse on appropriate part of the register

Job description

Job Overview

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

Job Title: Staff Nurse - PICU

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

Fixed Term Contract End Date: September 2027

Purpose for Fixed Term: Maternity Leave Cover

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting secondment opportunity to join our team in PICU for 9 months starting from January 2027. We are looking for an experienced staff nurse within Child Health with a PCC level 2/3 course.

PICU is a 15 bedded regional Lead Centre providing care for critically ill children from birth up to 16 years of age. We care for some of the most complex illnesses and injuries and work closely with specialists from all surgical and medical areas, including cardiac surgery, cardiology, neurosurgery, neurology and neonatology as well as treating major trauma patients. Southampton General Hospital is a designated major trauma centre offering full onsite major trauma provision for both children and adults.

The unit looks after 950 to 1000 patients per year across Thames Valley and Wessex. It is one of the largest PICU by number of admissions and has one of the best survival rates. Our PICU provides a 24 hour retrieval service SORT ,working together with Oxford PICU and a nurse led ECMO service.

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

• Experience in working in an acute Paediatric care environment or critical care.
• Post preceptorship
• Be motivated, enthusiastic and able to work with maturity in pressurised situations.
• You will be expected to provide safe care of the highest quality to all of our patients and their relatives.
• The flexibility to work the full range of shift patterns within a 24-hour shift pattern is essential. Our contracts are 50% days and 50% nights, You will be expected to do a range of shifts including weekends and a ratio of 50% days 50% nights.
• Ideally to have level 2 paediatric critical care course

Person Specification

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• Qualified Nurse (Degree/Diploma)
• Registered nurse on appropriate part of the register
• Knowledge of current issues within acute Health Service
• Understanding of personal accountability
• Knowledge of own role within the team
• Provide evidence of teaching and supporting learners in practice in the role of practice supervisor
• Awareness of evidence-based practice
• Awareness of responsibilities for management of infection control
• Evidence of on-going personal development
• Able to use initiative

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of recent study
• Previous experience/qualification in relevant specialty
• Teaching experience