Senior Sister/Charge Nurse, Children's Emergency Department

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279) Senior Sister/Charge Nurse, Children's Emergency Department The closing date is 10 December 2025 We're seeking an experienced senior nurse for an exciting opportunity in our busy Children's Emergency Department at the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, committed, and able to work well under pressure, with a strong desire to develop their skills. As part of a clinical team including Band 7 nurses, ED consultants, and the Matron for Children's Emergency Care, you will share responsibility for the department. You will work clinically alongside nursing staff, providing expertise and support. The role offers the chance to develop management and leadership skills within a diverse and supportive team. As a Band 7 nurse, you will be responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating care programs, setting care standards for children and their families in the ED, and leading nursing colleagues. You will also collaborate with the multidisciplinary team. This clinical position requires you to work shifts, including nights and weekends, and includes management time for completing leadership duties throughout the year. We're looking for individuals who are ready to make a difference in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you Main duties of the job Role Summary The post holder will support the Matron and senior sisters/charge nurses to ensure that high quality patient focused care is delivered within the Children's Emergency Service. The post holder will actively participate in the day-to-day clinical and operational management of the department. The post holder will act as a clinical leader and role model whilst providing direct quality patient care, sharing expertise with colleagues. The post holder will work within the ED team on professional nursing issues and management of clinical governance issues. The post holder will guide the activity of nursing, medical and other staff to ensure rapid assessment, treatment and ultimately transfer/discharge of children and young people. The post holder will participate in educational and training programmes for junior members of the team, including acting as a preceptor to newly qualified nurses. The post holder will lead a team of nurses on a shift by shift basis. The post holder will be required to work flexibly to achieve the key responsibilities of the post. This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route however sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds (£25000), and any role-specific criteria. About us At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust. Please note that if you currently work for another NHS Trust or UHSussex and you are applying to accept this position as a secondment opportunity, before applying you must seek agreement and authorisation from your current Trust/Manager. Secondments can't be agreed without this approval. If you are unable to gain approval you should refrain from applying unless you wish to take this role as a fixed term position. Job responsibilities Main Duties and Responsibilities Clinical Practice The post holder will provide specialist paediatric knowledge on the clinical care of emergency patients presenting with varying complaints and utilising advanced nursing skills across the childrens emergency care speciality. The post holder will, on a shift basis, ensure that all staff are aware of, and meet the needs of patients and relatives in a courteous, helpful and compassionate manner, whilst ensuring returned respect for staff members. The post holder will, on a shift basis, maintain effective relationships between the multi-professional team in the clinical environment. The post holder will maintain and develop own clinical expertise and knowledge. The postholder will be aware of, and work in line with, our Trusts Safeguarding Adults and Children procedures. Service delivery and improvement The post holder on a daily basis act as the shift leader to supervise, co-ordinate and control the provision of high quality care within the childrens emergency service. The post holder will lead on the embedding and implementation of the Patient First Improvement System (PFIS) within the Childrens Emergency Department. The post holder will apply this methodology to all service improvement projects ensuring that a culture of continuous improvement is fostered within the department. The post holder will lead the regular CED huddles in collaboration with the consultant in charge and the bed coordinator for the RACH. The aim being to promote patient safety and experience whilst working to deliver; compliance with 4 hour standard, avoidance of long stays in the department and compliance with the 12 hour standard through forward planning of emergency admissions, escalation and resolution of staffing issues. The post holder will be required to account for the reasons that patients wait for longer than expected within the department recognising the importance of the emergency care standards. The post holder will lead on subsequent quality improvement projects, PDSA and learning cycles alongside the CED team, to ensure that the department gives patients the very best experience and continues to provide safe care. Learning and Development The post holder will work closely with the practice development team and will have a proactive approach towards and be involved in the emergency team development through ongoing education initiatives. The post holder will foster an environment which supports and encourages personal and professional development within the multi-professional ED team. The post holder will encourage innovation by all members of the team and will act as a resource for those seeking knowledge and experience relating to emergency care issues. The post holder will promote reflective practice in self and others. They will do this through creating a culture of learning and development within the department that ensures all staff are supported to grow and develop into effective childrens emergency nurses. The post holder will participate in the trust appraisal process and will actively strive to meet targets set by individual performance review in order to maintain professional and current expert emergency nursing knowledge. Communications The post holder will be responsible for protecting all confidential information concerning patients and staff obtained in the course of professional practice, adhering to trust and statutory policies. The post holder will be able to competently establish and maintain effective communication with patients, their carers and the multi-professional and multiagency team. Identifying any potential barriers and adapting communication style as required. The post holder will be a positive role model within childrens emergency nursing acting with kindness and courtesy at all times. The post holder will lead the team within the emergency department on a daily basis to facilitate the care, treatment and safe discharge of all patients, providing specialist nursing advice where appropriate. The post holder will provide clear and concise, written, verbal and computer entered relevant information regarding the care and wellbeing of patients. Maintaining good computer literacy and typing skills and ensuring that all of the above is adhered to by all staff reportable to them on a shift to shift basis. Leadership and People Management The post holder will act at all times in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and within the individual Scope of Professional Practice. The post holder will ensure that the stated professional, legal and statutory requirements are complied with and that agreed trust policies and procedures and implemented. The post holder will lead, direct, motivate and support the team on duty during a given shit as an exemplry and professional role model for all members of the staff. Ensuring high standards are met and challenging any poor practice. The post holder will be responsible for the management of patient care and flow through the emergency department,ensuring timely discharge or onward admission. This will include the responsibility to anticipate and correctly escape issues that may affect flow and any potential delays to the emergency pathway. The postholder will have a detailed understanding of the implication this will have to patient care and experience. The post holder will manage resources, including staffing, equipment and supplies financial governance, to ensure the safe and effective running of the department within a finite budget. Personal Learning and Development Attend mandatory training updates as required. Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process. Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales. Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager Participate in the Trusts appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service. Person Specification Education and Qualifications NMC registration Degree in nursing or related subject APLS/EPLS provider Teaching and Assessing in Practice/ Mentorship module (or equivalent) evidence of post registration study in area related to paediatrics APLS/EPLS instructor History taking and physical assessment course Management experience (including leading a team) Experience of supervising and appraising staff Skills and Experience Highly effective communication skills (verbal, non verbal and written) Awareness of equality and diversity Ability to motivate a team Ability to rapidly determine priorities for patient care Excellent management and leadership skills Experience working in acute/emergency paediatrics Awareness of own leadership style Experience of policy development Quality improvement experience/PFIS optimistic outlook - ideas for role development - clear why they want the role Team player Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role). Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues 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. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279) £47,810 to £54,710 a yearper annum pro rata #J-18808-Ljbffr