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Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent

Senior Ward Sister - Canterbury

The closing date is 09 April 2026

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Job summary

*Please note this role requires full right to work in the UK, we cannot offer Sponsorship or Visas for this role*

Join us in a pivotal leadership role where your expertise will shape exceptional palliative care.

If you're an experienced nurse leader passionate about making every moment matter, this is your opportunity to make a real and lasting difference.

About Us:

As an award-winning employer, Pilgrims provides end of life care services to patients and their families across east Kent.

Our commitment is to provide open, compassionate care and expertise for patients and their families both in the community and in-patient units.

Main duties of the job

As a Senior Ward Sister within our inpatient unit, youll lead and inspire a dedicated team to deliver compassionate, person-centred care to patients and those important to them.

This is more than a ward leadership role - youll influence service development, drive quality improvement, and champion a culture of excellence, safety and learning.

With a strong focus on both clinical leadership and team development, youll have the opportunity to mentor others, innovate, and contribute to the strategic direction of care across the organisation.

About us

Our Vision:

We recognise that our workforce is integral to the delivery of our Vision and our charitable aims. Pilgrims Hospices continues to create a highly skilled, motivated, engaged and healthy workforce by providing an environment where staff and volunteers feel highly motivated to perform their roles to a consistently high standard, and actively role model our charitable behaviours and values.

To achieve our Vision, we have a shared set of values and behaviours that enable us to be the people and the charity that patients and their loved ones need us to be.

They form our CODE, which guides us in our daily working and decision making:

  • Compassionate We treat everyone with compassion and care
  • Open We communicate openly, honestly and effectively
  • Dynamic We are dynamic, improving and developing our service
  • Empowered We empower people to achieve their outcomes

Our Benefits:

As an Employer of Choice we are committed supporting our employees and volunteers through both a holistic benefits package, but also through wellbeing and work/life balance.

Our hospices offer:

  • Friendly and highly professional working environments alongside people passionate
  • Opportunities for professional development through a range of extensive learning
  • A workplace pension scheme. Those joining us from the NHS may retain eligibility to membership of the NHS pension scheme
  • Subsidised meals
  • A good work-life balance and realistic working hours
  • Financial discounts, provided through the Blue Light Card scheme

Details

Date posted

31 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,388 to £56,515 a year Depending on experience

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

B0497-26-0014

Job locations

Pilgrims Hospice

56 London Road

Canterbury

Kent

CT2 8JA


Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Clinical Leadership and Quality of Care

Provide strong, visible clinical leadership, acting as an expert resource and role model within the inpatient unit.

Ensure the delivery of high-quality, individualised, evidence-based care for patients and those important to them.

Maintain oversight of clinical standards through regular review, audit, and evaluation of care delivery.

Actively participate in ward rounds and multidisciplinary team meetings, contributing specialist expertise to complex clinical decision-making.

Promote a culture of safety, proactively identifying and managing risks to patients, staff and visitors.

Lead on learning from incidents, complaints and feedback to continuously improve service quality and patient experience.

Ensure timely escalation of significant clinical or operational concerns to senior leadership.

2. Professional and Strategic Leadership

Inspire, support and develop a high-performing nursing team through effective leadership, supervision, and appraisal.

Promote open, transparent and compassionate communication across all levels of the organisation.

Act as a positive agent of change, supporting service development and innovation in line with organisational priorities.

Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams and external partners to enhance collaborative working and service integration.

Ensure all clinical practice aligns with professional standards, regulatory requirements (including CQC), and organisational policies.

Contribute to the development and delivery of Pilgrims Hospices strategic and operational objectives.

Maintain high standards of clinical documentation and governance.

3. People Management and Workforce Development

Ensure safe staffing levels and appropriate skill mix to meet patient needs.

Lead on recruitment, induction, development and retention of nursing staff and volunteers.

Foster a culture of continuous learning, supporting education, clinical supervision and reflective practice.

Identify training needs and ensure compliance with statutory and mandatory requirements.

Support and develop emerging leaders within the team, including Deputy Ward

Sisters.

Act as a mentor, coach and role model, promoting the values and behaviours of Pilgrims Hospices.

4. Operational and Resource Management

Support the effective day-to-day management of the inpatient unit, including weekends as required.

Ensure resources, including staffing and equipment, are used efficiently and safely within agreed budgets.

Contribute to financial planning and budget management processes.

Monitor and manage workforce utilisation, including bank and agency usage.

5. Audit, Research and Service Development

Lead and participate in audit, research and quality improvement initiatives.

Embed a culture of evidence-based practice and continuous improvement.

Support the development, implementation and review of clinical policies and procedures.

Ensure learning from audit and research is translated into practice improvements.

General Responsibilities

Act in accordance with organisational values, professional codes, and all relevant legislation.

Maintain the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality and accountability.

Take responsibility for personal and professional development, including

revalidation.

Work flexibly to meet the evolving needs of the service.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Clinical Leadership and Quality of Care

Provide strong, visible clinical leadership, acting as an expert resource and role model within the inpatient unit.

Ensure the delivery of high-quality, individualised, evidence-based care for patients and those important to them.

Maintain oversight of clinical standards through regular review, audit, and evaluation of care delivery.

Actively participate in ward rounds and multidisciplinary team meetings, contributing specialist expertise to complex clinical decision-making.

Promote a culture of safety, proactively identifying and managing risks to patients, staff and visitors.

Lead on learning from incidents, complaints and feedback to continuously improve service quality and patient experience.

Ensure timely escalation of significant clinical or operational concerns to senior leadership.

2. Professional and Strategic Leadership

Inspire, support and develop a high-performing nursing team through effective leadership, supervision, and appraisal.

Promote open, transparent and compassionate communication across all levels of the organisation.

Act as a positive agent of change, supporting service development and innovation in line with organisational priorities.

Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams and external partners to enhance collaborative working and service integration.

Ensure all clinical practice aligns with professional standards, regulatory requirements (including CQC), and organisational policies.

Contribute to the development and delivery of Pilgrims Hospices strategic and operational objectives.

Maintain high standards of clinical documentation and governance.

3. People Management and Workforce Development

Ensure safe staffing levels and appropriate skill mix to meet patient needs.

Lead on recruitment, induction, development and retention of nursing staff and volunteers.

Foster a culture of continuous learning, supporting education, clinical supervision and reflective practice.

Identify training needs and ensure compliance with statutory and mandatory requirements.

Support and develop emerging leaders within the team, including Deputy Ward

Sisters.

Act as a mentor, coach and role model, promoting the values and behaviours of Pilgrims Hospices.

4. Operational and Resource Management

Support the effective day-to-day management of the inpatient unit, including weekends as required.

Ensure resources, including staffing and equipment, are used efficiently and safely within agreed budgets.

Contribute to financial planning and budget management processes.

Monitor and manage workforce utilisation, including bank and agency usage.

5. Audit, Research and Service Development

Lead and participate in audit, research and quality improvement initiatives.

Embed a culture of evidence-based practice and continuous improvement.

Support the development, implementation and review of clinical policies and procedures.

Ensure learning from audit and research is translated into practice improvements.

General Responsibilities

Act in accordance with organisational values, professional codes, and all relevant legislation.

Maintain the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality and accountability.

Take responsibility for personal and professional development, including

revalidation.

Work flexibly to meet the evolving needs of the service.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience in a senior nursing role, including team leadership
  • Experience at Band 6 or equivalent within palliative care or a comparable setting
  • Demonstrable experience in leading change and service improvement
  • Experience of multidisciplinary team working within a patient-centred model
  • Experience in teaching, mentorship and clinical supervision
  • Experience in audit and quality improvement

UK/Full Driving License

Essential

  • Ability to travel across sites (full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle)

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse (NMC)
  • Leadership training or equivalent experience
  • Degree or diploma in nursing
  • Management qualification or willingness to complete
  • Practice assessor and or supervisor qualification
  • Advanced communications course

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Strong, compassionate and inclusive leadership skills
  • Excellent communication, influencing and interpersonal skills
  • Effective organisational and time management abilities
  • Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities
  • Competence in IT systems including Microsoft Office

Knowledge

Essential

  • Up-to-date knowledge of palliative and end-of-life care practice
  • Understanding of clinical governance, supervision and reflective practice

Right to work in the UK

Essential

  • Right to work in the UK as Pilgrims Hospices is not able to offer Sponsorship or Visas currently.
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience in a senior nursing role, including team leadership
  • Experience at Band 6 or equivalent within palliative care or a comparable setting
  • Demonstrable experience in leading change and service improvement
  • Experience of multidisciplinary team working within a patient-centred model
  • Experience in teaching, mentorship and clinical supervision
  • Experience in audit and quality improvement

UK/Full Driving License

Essential

  • Ability to travel across sites (full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle)

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse (NMC)
  • Leadership training or equivalent experience
  • Degree or diploma in nursing
  • Management qualification or willingness to complete
  • Practice assessor and or supervisor qualification
  • Advanced communications course

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Strong, compassionate and inclusive leadership skills
  • Excellent communication, influencing and interpersonal skills
  • Effective organisational and time management abilities
  • Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities
  • Competence in IT systems including Microsoft Office

Knowledge

Essential

  • Up-to-date knowledge of palliative and end-of-life care practice
  • Understanding of clinical governance, supervision and reflective practice

Right to work in the UK

Essential

  • Right to work in the UK as Pilgrims Hospices is not able to offer Sponsorship or Visas currently.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent

Address

Pilgrims Hospice

56 London Road

Canterbury

Kent

CT2 8JA


Employer's website

https://www.pilgrimshospices.org/jobs (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent

Address

Pilgrims Hospice

56 London Road

Canterbury

Kent

CT2 8JA


Employer's website

https://www.pilgrimshospices.org/jobs (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

HR

hr@pilgrimshospices.org

01233504133

Details

Date posted

31 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,388 to £56,515 a year Depending on experience

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

B0497-26-0014

Job locations

Pilgrims Hospice

56 London Road

Canterbury

Kent

CT2 8JA


Supporting documents

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