Job summary
- Main area
- Elderly Care
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (to cover days, nights and weekends)
- Job ref
- 203-EM716
- Employer
- South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Victoria Ward
- Town
- Warwick
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 10/08/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Clinical Sister/Charge Nurse - Victoria Ward
Band 6
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.
We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 6000 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don’t need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare.
The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
Probationary Period
All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society. We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual – we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.
As part of our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion we encourage all applicants to complete a short survey. This can be accessed via the link below:
https://forms.office.com/e/ahWY3eAGM2
We appreciate you completing the survey.
Agile and Flexible Working
All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.
The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.
Staff Benefits
The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available.
Car Parking
The Trust currently have limited availability of car parking spaces, as such are operating a waiting list for new starters joining the organisation.
To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).
Job overview
South Warwickshire Foundation Trust are excited to be advertising an opportunity for a Band 6 Clinical sister/charge nurse post for an individual who wants to join the growing team on Victoria ward.
We are a 21 bedded ward, giving enhanced care to older adults with complex medical needs, who may need a longer stay in hospital. We achieved outstanding in our last ward accreditation.
We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic nurse to develop the care we give, to improve patient experience with new initiatives. We work closely with the MDT and families to provide the best outcome for all. We are a passionate team who believe in meeting challenges head on in order to help us deliver the best care.
Applicants will gain the experience to expand knowledge and skills in elderly medicine. You will be given the opportunity to attend training to help with the role. This will be both a clinical and managerial role, with a 2 week induction period.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will contribute to the development of the ward team and support the Ward Manager in the delivery of a consistently high quality and cost effective service.
To deputise for the Ward Manager as required.
Working for our organisation
Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide safe, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Hold a Diploma/Degree in Professional Nursing.
Be a first level registered nurse with 2 years’ experience in an acute setting.
Possess relevant post basic education and experience, which should include a minimum of two years at Band 5.
Provide evidence of continuous personal and professional development.
Possess the aptitude and confidence for working within a rapidly changing environment.
Have excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
Have excellent interpersonal and organisational skills.
Key Responsibilities
To provide clinical and professional leadership and support to all non-medical staff in the ward, ensuring that nursing practice is based on current and best evidence.
Take responsibility for own personal and professional development, maintaining clinical credibility and competence at all times.
Keep an up to date personal portfolio, in line with requirements in maintaining NMC registration.
Ensure that the wards philosophy is in line with the principles of clinical governance and that all staff understands its significance to practice.
In conjunction with the Ward Manager ensure that KPI’s, Nurse Care Indicators and Infection Prevention standards are maintained each month.
To participate in the setting and maintaining of high standards of evidence based nursing.
Accurately undertake full health assessments, interpreting clinical signs of patients, results and investigations and make recommendations for patient management.
To supervise and evaluate work of all nursing staff.
Promote patient and carers involvement in care planning, delivery and evaluation, ensuring junior staff develop the necessary skills to do this.
Implement a communication system to keep patients and their relatives/families informed of treatment and progress. Undertake audits at regular intervals to maintain standards of record keeping.
Supervises and monitors junior staff in developing the necessary skills to identify care priorities and address them in a pertinent and timely manner, seeking advice where appropriate.
Communicates and interacts with patients, carers and staff in a non-judgmental way, demonstrating mutual respect and trust utilising a variety of communication skills.
To ensure patients and relatives needs are met in a courteous, helpful and compassionate manner.
Act as a patient advocate to facilitate the process of shared decision making in respect to health, choice of treatment and care. Use interpersonal and communication skills where there may be significant barriers in order to build confidence. Ensure that patients’ individual needs are expressed and valued and individual care plans are understood.
To liase with other agencies and professionals to maintain good service provision.
Maintain effective relationships between the ward and the multi-disciplinary team.
To maintain accurate and comprehensive records of patients care in line with the NMC code for record keeping.
Co-ordinate clinical activities within the unit and have responsibility for shift management.
Act as clinical leader and role model, sharing expertise with colleagues.
To ensure safety and confidentiality of patient information.
Communications and Working Relationships
To work with the ward manager to ensure that all staff sickness is monitored and that the Trusts sickness and absence policy is adhered to.
Early informal management of complaints with the aim of a satisfactory resolution. Ensure appropriate escalation when this is not achieved.
Ensure that units equipment is serviced properly and timely to maintain continuity of services at all times.
Act as role model and mentor to student nurses including the setting of action plans as necessary.
Adheres to the systems for reporting clinical incidents ensuring accurate and timely completion of Trust incident forms. Monitors the practice of other staff.
Investigate complaints and untoward incidents in accordance with Trust policies and procedures. Provide statements accurately, timely and professionally. Support the ward manager in improving systems to prevent recurrence.
Ensure that the wards clinical procedures and protocols are understood and adhered to by all staff. These should represent best possible practice and reflect Trust and National strategy for the management of emergency and acute patients.
Contribute to the recruitment and selection of quality staff for the unit, identifying future job requirements for profiling to compliment the ward team and to participate in induction programmes, Mentorship/preceptorship and Trust recruitment open and assessment days.
In conjunction with the ward manager facilitate staff development by achieving ward objectives using the principles of IPR using the KSF and developing personal development plans for all staff. Monitor staff performance and report progress to the ward manager at regular intervals.
Contribute to the planning, organisation and evaluation of work, ensuring adequate induction of new staff including effective preceptorship for newly qualified nurses and nurses new to the speciality of emergency medicine.
Review the standard of ward documentation at regular intervals, benchmarking performance against NMC guidelines.
Support Clinical Governance within the ward by utilising: Risk Management; Education/training; Clinical Supervision; Clinical Audit and effective best practice.
Education
Develop clinical practice through education.
Participate in in-service training programmes where appropriate.
Share evidence based practice with colleagues.
Attend statutory training sessions annually.
Identify and use educational strategies to deliver information to patients and carers.
Participate in the development of patient focused education including training to support self-management and health promotion activities.
Assist in the development of other professionals by contributing to Trust wide specialist education and training.
Support the delivery of formal and informal teaching initiatives as part of the Trust’s education strategy as agreed with the appropriate senior nurse to ensure practice development, staff empowerment and improved care for patients.
Act as a mentor/clinical supervisor as appropriate.
Take personal responsibility for life-long learning and personal development through clinical supervision and appraisal. Actively engages with learning and development opportunities needed to work as an advancing practitioner and take appropriate action to ensure these needs are met.
Manage Finance
Contribute to the planning, monitoring and control of the wards resources, by ensuring that the wards resources are optimised and that expenditure on pay and non-pay are kept within the allocated budget.
Assist the ward manager to optimise nursing resources by an even distribution of staff annual leave and matching skill mix to workload.
Identifies, reports and acts upon and evaluates discrepancies between skill mix and workload within the clinical area.
Ensure you adhere to the policy for booking bank and agency staff and supervise junior staff to ensure that they do the same.
Ensure all resources are used in a cost effective manner, identifying and assisting in the implementations of cost improvement initiatives.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- First level RN
- Diploma / Degree in Professional Nursing/Health Studies
- Evidence of continuous professional development
- AIM / ILS Trained
Desirable criteria
- Mentorship and Assessing qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant NHS experience
- Wide range of Extended Skills
- Proven leadership skills
- Experience and understanding of audit and evidence-based care
Skills
Essential criteria
- Demonstrates knowledge of evidence based practices
- Demonstrates understanding of clinical audit and clinical effectiveness
- Demonstrates understanding of resource management
- Able to effectively plan and delegate duties
- Able to manage personal time and that of others efficiently and effectively
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Able to work as an effective team member
- Is committed to and demonstrates ability to teach successfully
- Able to adapt to changing circumstances and demonstrates ability to influence change successfully
- Shows initiative: able to think positively and stimulate a productive team climate
- Able to achieve individual and team objectives
- Committed to the delivery of high quality healthcare
Other
Essential criteria
- Demonstrates commitment to self-development and the development of others
- Able to work flexible shifts including night duty and weekend working when required
- Able to change duties at short notice
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Helen Stevenson
- Job title
- Ward Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01926 495321
- Additional information
Ext. 4055
List jobs with South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust in Nursing and Midwifery or all sectors