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Job summary

Main area
Intensive Care
Grade
Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week (Full Time or Part Time / Flexible working hours may be considered)
Job ref
180-A-267159
Employer
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Addenbrookes Hospital-Division A
Town
Cambridge
Salary
£49,387 - £56,515 p.a. pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
09/06/2026 23:59
Interview date
17/06/2026

Employer heading

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Senior Sister/Senior Charge Nurse - Intensive Care Team

Band 7

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 Senior Sister/Charge Nurse to join our Intensive Care team.

We are looking for someone innovative to join our diverse and passionate critical care team.

We currently have 32 critical care beds caring for both level 3 and level 2 patients across all specialities including as hepatology, transplantation, haematology, complex surgery as well as medical and surgical emergencies.

As a pivotal part of our team you will be responsible for the leadership, management and coordination of the nursing team to ensure that critically ill patients and their families receive safe, effective and high quality care. In addition you will be responsible for leading and developing nurses and nursing practice within our ICU. Our band 7 team works collaboratively with the senior medical and allied professionals to ensure our patients are given outstanding care.

We offer excellent development opportunities for all staff which includes local education, leadership and development programmes as well as courses at degree or masters level.

You will also be required to carry the critical care coordinator bleep. This role includes optimisation of patient admissions and transfers to the ward areas, balancing and ensuring safe staffing across the critical care units and sharing the critical care position with the hospital.

 

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for the management and co-ordination of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure that critically ill patients and families receive an optimum level of safe, effective care.  The post holder will also be responsible for leading and developing nurses and nursing practice within the JVF ICU/HDU.

Working for our organisation

Come Nurse with us…

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the country. It comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital. We provide accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge and regional and national specialist services. It’s a great place to nurse, work and live. 

You will work on a vibrant hospital campus with a friendly community feel; we have excellent facilities to practise your skills and abilities to support your career pathway and development. Our values of Together – Safe, Kind, Excellent support the delivery of outstanding care. We have a fully electronic patient record system that is improving health-care quality; this is transforming services, improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?

• Our values and reputation for outstanding care
• Opportunities to experience a range of specialities
• Career and development opportunities
• Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team
• Research experience and opportunities
• Lovely location and quality of life
• Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
-    applied for a Graduate visa
-    or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

For NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough based roles, all applicants from NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who have identified that they are at risk of redundancy will be prioritised over those not at risk. However, interviews cannot be guaranteed.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 9 June  2026

Interviews are due to be held on  17 June 2026

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff. 

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • NMC Registered Nurse
  • Recognised critical care post registration course. 60 credits or equivalent curriculum, aligned with national competency
Desirable criteria
  • Teaching/assessment qualification
  • Leadership/management experience
  • Diploma/Degree
  • Research Experience

Experience

Essential criteria
  • At least 12 months experience as band 6 in charge in critical care
  • Experience of leading and developing staff
  • Experience of teaching, training and mentoring staff
  • Expert Clinical Practice
  • Awareness of reflective and evidence based practice
Desirable criteria
  • Experience in a variety of acute care areas
  • Project management experience
  • Audit/research experience

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Expert clinical knowledge
  • Ability to integrate education/professional needs with the needs of the service
  • Knowledge of Critical Care current climate and national standards
Desirable criteria
  • Understanding of current issues in Critical Care Nursing

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Good interpersonal and communication skills
  • Leadership and team working skills
  • Good organisational skills
  • Ability to integrate educational/professional needs with service needs
  • Able to adapt to the changing needs of the unit
Desirable criteria
  • Assertive/perceptive counselling skills
  • Able to prioritise workload
  • Good decision-making skills

Additional Requirements

Essential criteria
  • Adaptable to changing situations due to both workload and colleague needs
  • Committed to continuous professional development (both own and in others)
  • Evidence of both professional and personal development
  • Willing to learn
  • Interested in critical care and the nursing of the critically ill
  • Able to promote good working partnerships with other departments
  • To be willing to undertake Mentoring and Mentor Module relevant to job banding and as required by your Line Manager
  • The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of together, safe, kind and excellent.
Desirable criteria
  • Willingness to undertake additional roles
  • Willingness to accept alternative shift times
  • Understanding of current issues in critical care
  • Interest in teaching
  • Representation of unit/organisation in broader initiatives
  • Good computer skills

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDVeteran AwareNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Age-Friendly Employer PledgeCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.NHS Rainbow badgeTime to changeStep into healthApprenticeships Top 100 Employers 2024

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Jane Olds
Job title
Matron Adult Critical Care
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01223 256088
Additional information

Work Mobile: 07926 071466

 Jane Olds

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