Senior Sister/Charge Nurse - Emergency Department
NHS AFC: Band 7
Main area Medicine Grade NHS AFC: Band 7 Contract 12 months (Fixed term (maternity cover post)) Hours
- Part time
- Job share
- Flexible working
Site Royal Albert Edward Infirmary Town Wigan Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 05/07/2026 23:59
Job overview
Are you an experienced ED nurse looking to further your career within Emergency Care? WWL Emergency Department has an exciting development opportunity to cover a 12 month secondment until August 2027. The role is 37.5 hours per week, including days and nights across a 7 day working pattern (Monday - Sunday).
You will be a dynamic and highly motivated individual undertaking the role of Senior Sister/Charge Nurse and have the flexibility to be able to work within a busy and demanding environment. You will be expected to have sound clinical knowledge and wish to develop and share your leadership skills.
We have a strong Leadership Team to support you into this journey which includes our Departmental Unit Manager, Resus lead and Clinical Educator. We will be providing a bespoke induction tailored to the successful candidate's needs. The department is side by side with a Urgent Treatment Centre and currently Staff rotate regularly to work into here.
Candidates are required to present original certificates for qualifications at interview stage.
This vacancy is open to all internal and external candidates. NHS Employees should secure their manager’s agreement for a secondment arrangement prior to applying, as this will be a condition of any offer made. This vacancy is advertised on a fixed term basis as it has been established to provide cover for an employee on secondment and will be for 12 months (until August 2027) or when the substantive post-holder returns. Whilst this post is advertised on an acting / secondment basis there is the potential that this post may become permanent in the future.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will-
- Confidently rotate in all areas of the ED.
- Have experience of dealing with acute emergency and minor injuries/illnesses, with a proven professional background at an advanced level within ED nursing or a Minor Injuries Unit.
- Be able to lead and develop a team, promoting excellence in Emergency Care, whilst supporting other team managers in all aspects of department management.
- Have excellent communication skills and a flexibility to meet the needs of the service are required, as you will be involved in developing and implementing initiatives to improve the patient experience.
- Will be committed to providing high quality care to a range of patients with differing needs and be willing to embrace new role opportunities and expand your role as the service develops.
- Have a proactive approach to ED nursing.
- Be flexible and adaptable.
- Be ALS qualified and Level 2 Trauma trained ( Training can be provided).
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Planning and Organisational Duties
- Manage and organise the Emergency Care Centre on a daily basis, by co-ordinating the activities of the unit team and effective deployment of resources.
- Responsible for staff management issues including the delivery and implementation of a comprehensive range of HR duties.
- Identifies, maintains and improves the quality of patient flow during admission and discharge periods through the implementation of best practice.
- Allocates / deploys staff both medical and nursing in response to service demand and patients’ needs.
- Implements best practice and delivery of high standard of nursing care.
- Ensure that staff adheres to Trust procedures and protocols
- Responsible for ensuring compliance with local and national targets.
- Ensures appropriate staffing levels and skill mix in accordance with unit needs.
- Plans, reviews and adjusts staff rosters in accordance with unit/organisational requirements.
- Arrange the reception, transfer and discharge of patients in accordance with the unit’s policies and procedures, through effective liaison with the multidisciplinary team, other disciplines and if necessary external agencies.
- Ensure that effective communication is maintained both within the ward itself and with other relevant external agencies or individuals to ensure the management of the service meets the demands.
- Organise own workload and adjust priorities in response to issues arising in the workplace.
- Recognise and respond appropriately to issues, which require urgent or immediate attention, reporting to other members of the multidisciplinary/management team as necessary.
- Provides support to the organisation in maintaining equipment to ensure quality control standards are met.
- Co-ordinate change management strategies in providing an effective and efficient emergency care service.
- Responsibility to keep Matron informed regarding relevant clinical and personnel issues.
- Deputise for the Matron as requested at meetings and other events.
- Ensure self and staff comply with Trust’s policies, procedures and clinical guidelines.
- Responsible for proactive risk recognition, record and report untoward incidents and actively carry out steps to minimise further risk.
- Participate in the Trust’s quality monitoring programme.
- Ensure all staff are aware of major Incident / decontamination procedures.
Communications and Key Working Relationships
- Responsible for ensuring all patients are triaged and have a comprehensive assessment of their nursing needs.
- Maintains a responsibility for ensuring that patient’s care is planned, implemented and evaluated in accordance with their individual health care needs and varying levels of complexity.
- Provides expert nursing intervention and makes complex judgements when specialist knowledge and experience are required in ensuring optimum care and treatment is maintained.
- Support the provision of health education during patient consultations.
- Ensure that patients and their relatives are properly informed about their condition, treatment and expected outcomes.
- Maintain accurate maintenance of records compliant with legal, professional and organisational standards.
- Collect, analyse and evaluate information, report and act in accordance with unit protocols and guidelines.
- Work in close collaboration with members of multidisciplinary team to ensure that patient needs are met.
- Undertakes investigative procedures in accordance with unit guidelines. Interpreting and acting upon results as appropriate.
- Maintain safe administration of medicines, concordant with the NMC and Trust policies.
- Supervise and direct the work of more junior staff ensuring that instructions regarding ongoing patient care needs are followed.
- Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations.
- Ensure effective communication and sensitivity is maintained when dealing with people regarding difficult matters and / or difficult situations, in highly complex situations with both patients and relatives e.g. sudden bereavement, violence, aggression.
- Manage highly complex patient needs in resuscitation e.g. Trauma, cardiac arrest, thrombolysis, intubated patients, sudden death and paediatric acute illness.
- Support staff in dealing with sudden, traumatic difficult situations.
- Maintain professional accountability through the practice of safe standards in compliance with the NMC Code of Conduct.
- Undertake additional training to develop extended skills e.g. nurse generated x-ray and PGD’s.
- Participate in the management of complaints, responding to and taking appropriate action.
- Record and report untoward incidents to the unit manager and in their absence, actively carry out steps to minimise further risk as advised.
- Work as an Emergency Nurse Practitioner, following appropriate training. To receive patients directly with undiagnosed minor injuries / illnesses. Assess, diagnose, prescribe and treat those patients consulting with senior colleagues as necessary.
- Complete Occupational Health referral forms as necessary.
Responsibility for Research
- Maintain personal, professional knowledge and understanding of current issues relating to Emergency Care through commitment to self-development and through additional studying and reading.
- Promote and demonstrate innovative practice and implement changes required to meet the changing needs of the service.
- Deliver nursing care on the basis of available valid evidence and as detailed in clinical guidelines and protocols.
- Monitor and evaluate standards of care and contribute to the development of health care services.
- Take a lead role in the audit within the unit sharing learning with others and assist in ensuring identified scope for improvement is realised.
- Participate in the development and application of evidence-based practice within care delivery.
- Facilitate a supportive learning environment for all levels of staff including student nurses.
- Supervise mentor/preceptorship/supervisor to other members of the unit team as appropriate.
- Assist members of the unit team to identify their own training and development needs and support them in achieving individual goals.
- Formally assess the competence of staff and students producing verbal and written reports as required by the unit manager, the university or other departments or agencies.
- Deliver health education to patients and their families in accordance with their needs.
- Ensure own compliance and compliance of others with regards to mandatory training and PREP requirements.
- Participate in teaching/training sessions to all grades of staff.
- Promote nursing and midwifery strategy and encourage staff to be involved in achievement of standards.
Responsibility for Human Resources
- Maintain effective communication, both written and verbal, with all professional colleagues, hospital departments and other agencies in coordinating overall management of patient needs.
- Adhere to Trust policies and maintenance of the professional Code of Conduct.
- Maintain effective communication skills to liaise with patients, staff and visitors to receive and process information maintaining confidentiality.
- Utilise Trust’s IT resources appropriately and in adherence to policies and procedures.
- Maintain accurate and legible records.
- Attend departmental and directorate meetings as required and disseminate necessary information to staff.
- Responsible for day-to-day management and supervision of a group of staff.
- Manage the unit including deployment and supervision of staff, ensuring that Trust’s policies and procedures are adhered to.
- Actively involved in selection, recruitment and retention of staff.
- Actively conduct IPR/PDP process. Undertake IPR/PDP of staff to monitor performance and identify corporate and individual objectives.
- Implement Trust’s attendance management policy and monitor staff sickness.
- Plan, supervise and monitor staff rostering to facilitate maximum care delivery in line with Improving Working Lives initiatives.
- Ensure new staff receive an induction to the unit and obtain mentorship as appropriate.
- Act as a role model and leader by means of personal example and direct involvement in professional activities of the unit.
- Responsible for maintaining own professional accountability through practice of safe standards in compliance with NMC policies.
- Ensure all staff understand and adhere to relevant policies, procedures and guidelines.
- Contribute to ensuring effective use of all resources.
- Maintain adequate stock levels and ensure appropriate ordering of stock.
- Provide support in maintaining a balanced budget and identify changes in service delivery to increase efficiency in conjunction with divisional and unit managers.
- Ensure each individual patient receives prescribed treatment and the most appropriate cost‑effective care within available resources.
Person specification
Additional
- Flexible
- Internal rotation
- Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation
Knowledge
- Evidence of up to date Emergency Nursing issues
Skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Proven leadership/organisational skills
- Sound clinical skills
- Managing Staff on a regular basis
Experience
- Experience at senior level within Emergency Care / relevant acute setting
- Experience of teaching/assessing/supervising others in a clinical setting
- Evidence of change management in clinical practice
- ALS/TNCC qualification or equivalent
- Experience of working with Electronic Patient Record
Qualification
- RGN
- Evidence of continued professional Development
- Management /Leadership qualification or equivalent experience
- Diploma/ Degree qualification on health care subject
- In possession of or working towards Accredited Teaching / assessing certificate
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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.
