Job summary
Join our dynamic team as a Band 7 Sister/Charge Nurse in the Children and Young People's Emergency Department at one of the UK's largest paediatric trauma centres. This senior leadership role offers the chance to lead a skilled nursing team in a fast-paced environment, caring for children and young people with acute illness, injury, major trauma, mental health concerns, and life-threatening emergencies.
You will provide visible clinical leadership, support patient flow, ensure compliance with policies, and drive quality improvement and service development initiatives. Mentoring, supervising, and developing staff is key, alongside maintaining governance, safety standards, and operational efficiency.
We offer professional development opportunities to enhance leadership, management, and advanced clinical skills. Nottingham Children's Hospital holds ANCC Pathway to Excellence accreditation--the only children's hospital in Europe with this distinction--reflecting our commitment to staff engagement, excellence, and innovation. If you are an experienced paediatric emergency nurse with a passion for leadership and high-quality care, we welcome your application.
Main duties of the job
As Charge Nurse in the CYPED, you will provide senior clinical and operational leadership to ensure safe, effective, and compassionate care. You will maintain high standards of nursing practice, patient safety, and quality across the department.
You will lead the delivery of evidence-based care, working with the wider MDT to identify challenges affecting care quality and develop action plans to address gaps. Patient pathways and experiences will be regularly evaluated to ensure effectiveness and satisfaction.
Acting as the senior clinical point of contact, you will manage deteriorating patients, safeguarding concerns, and complex or high-risk cases. You will oversee patient flow, triage, and resource allocation to support timely and efficient care delivery and help achieve national and local performance standards.
You will supervise, support, and mentor the nursing workforce, promoting professional development, competence, and wellbeing. In partnership with the senior leadership team, you will manage staffing, shift coordination, sickness management, and maintain appropriate senior nurse presence.
The role includes supporting audits, quality improvement, and service development initiatives, ensuring learning is embedded and improvements sustained. You will also provide guidance and reassurance to patients, families, and staff, representing the patient and family voice in decision-making.
The post requires working a full range of shifts, including nights and weekends.
About us
With over 19,000 staff,we are one of the biggest employers in the city with a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local population. We play a leading role in research, education and innovation.
Come and join our wonderful team at NUH. We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!
We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical and Managerial Duties
The Band 7 Charge Nurse provides senior clinical and managerial leadership within the Children and Young Peoples Emergency Department, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and patient-centred care in a highly complex and fast-paced environment.
Clinically, the post holder will act as a visible senior leader, providing expert clinical guidance and supervision to the nursing team. They will be clinically competent in the assessment and treatment of children and young people presenting with a wide range of injuries and illnesses, including major trauma. The Band 7 will be trauma trained and skilled in advanced clinical interventions, including intravenous medication administration, Entonox use, plastering and immobilisation, and ECG acquisition and interpretation appropriate to role. They will take responsibility for coordinating nursing care and supporting complex clinical decision-making to ensure high standards of care and patient safety.
The Band 7 will act as a senior point of escalation for deteriorating patients, safeguarding concerns, and high-risk or complex cases, working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to ensure timely intervention. They will promote and maintain adherence to paediatric emergency care standards, Trust policies, and evidence-based best practice.
Operationally, the Band 7 will support the senior leadership team in the day-to-day management of the department, including staffing coordination, shift planning, sickness management, and maintaining minimum senior staffing levels across all shifts. They will oversee patient flow, triage processes, and resource allocation to optimise waiting times, throughput, and overall departmental efficiency.
From a governance and quality perspective, the Band 7 team will oversee the management of complaints and compliments, ensuring timely responses, learning, and feedback to staff and families. They will review and manage Datix incident reports, leading investigations where appropriate and ensuring action plans are implemented and monitored. The post holder will support and contribute to clinical audit, quality improvement initiatives, and compliance with governance and safety standards, embedding learning into practice.
The Band 7 will also play a key role in staff development, mentoring and supporting junior nurses and students, fostering a culture of learning, reflection, and professional development. They will contribute to appraisal, return-to-work processes, and ongoing competency assessment, supporting staff wellbeing and performance.
Throughout all aspects of the role, the Band 7 Charge Nurse will demonstrate compassion, professionalism, and strong leadership, acting as an advocate for children, young people, and their families. They will work within a collaborative and supportive multidisciplinary environment, leading by example and contributing to continuous improvement in patient care and outcomes.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical and Managerial Duties
The Band 7 Charge Nurse provides senior clinical and managerial leadership within the Children and Young Peoples Emergency Department, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and patient-centred care in a highly complex and fast-paced environment.
Clinically, the post holder will act as a visible senior leader, providing expert clinical guidance and supervision to the nursing team. They will be clinically competent in the assessment and treatment of children and young people presenting with a wide range of injuries and illnesses, including major trauma. The Band 7 will be trauma trained and skilled in advanced clinical interventions, including intravenous medication administration, Entonox use, plastering and immobilisation, and ECG acquisition and interpretation appropriate to role. They will take responsibility for coordinating nursing care and supporting complex clinical decision-making to ensure high standards of care and patient safety.
The Band 7 will act as a senior point of escalation for deteriorating patients, safeguarding concerns, and high-risk or complex cases, working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to ensure timely intervention. They will promote and maintain adherence to paediatric emergency care standards, Trust policies, and evidence-based best practice.
Operationally, the Band 7 will support the senior leadership team in the day-to-day management of the department, including staffing coordination, shift planning, sickness management, and maintaining minimum senior staffing levels across all shifts. They will oversee patient flow, triage processes, and resource allocation to optimise waiting times, throughput, and overall departmental efficiency.
From a governance and quality perspective, the Band 7 team will oversee the management of complaints and compliments, ensuring timely responses, learning, and feedback to staff and families. They will review and manage Datix incident reports, leading investigations where appropriate and ensuring action plans are implemented and monitored. The post holder will support and contribute to clinical audit, quality improvement initiatives, and compliance with governance and safety standards, embedding learning into practice.
The Band 7 will also play a key role in staff development, mentoring and supporting junior nurses and students, fostering a culture of learning, reflection, and professional development. They will contribute to appraisal, return-to-work processes, and ongoing competency assessment, supporting staff wellbeing and performance.
Throughout all aspects of the role, the Band 7 Charge Nurse will demonstrate compassion, professionalism, and strong leadership, acting as an advocate for children, young people, and their families. They will work within a collaborative and supportive multidisciplinary environment, leading by example and contributing to continuous improvement in patient care and outcomes.
Person Specification
Training & Qualifcations
Essential
- Current level one NMC registration
- Degree in health / nursing related Studies
- Mentorship Course
- APLS Provider
- formal training package in care of injuries
Desirable
- Formal Leadership and management training
- CPD Profile
- Completion of all local competency packages
- APLS Instructor
- Plaster trainned
Skills/Experince
Essential
- appropriate experience at band 6 level to include management/leadership experience
- Supervision of non registered staff, pre registration and post basic students
- Evidence of ability to mentor
- Ability to manage the clinical area or ward efficiently and effectively
- Ability to lead change and lead new ways of working
- Ability to manage complex staffing issues
- Advanced paediatric life support (APLS / EPALS or equivalent)
- completed role relevant packages
- Competence in managing major trauma and deteriorating patients, including escalation and coordination of care
Desirable
- Formal teaching of groups of staff
- Budget Management
- Audit Research within the clinical area
Communication
Essential
- Able to present and receive complex information within the multi professional team
- ability to manage complex staffing issues
- Team player who can initiate, delegate and completes improvement projects
- Demonstrate ability to complete audits and implement action plans.
- Ability to support colleagues, patients and relatives/carers in distressing circumstances
- Advanced assessment and triage management of acutely unwell and injured children and young people
- operational decision making skills
- knowledge of staffing Allocation and Rostering
Desirable
- Demonstrate evidence of providing formal teaching sessions
- Demonstration of team working and ability to work within a team
- Demonstrate leadership for the management of change
- Advanced Communication Skills Training
- ability to make operational decision making
- Supporting Workforce Wellbeing
Analytical and judgement Skill
Essential
- Ability to respond to, prioritise and analyse complex problems/ situations and ensure effective interventions are put in place.
- Ability to generate and present reports and documents
- Deal effectively with clinical issues within defined procedures/guidelines
Desirable
- Ability in the use of appraisal, personal development review and training needs analysis
- Demonstrate a knowledge of current issues related to NHS strategy and policy
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Can formulate short and long term objectives
- Demonstrate the personal development of members within a team
- provide input into recruitment planning and skill development to address longer-term staffing challenges
Desirable
- Demonstrate effective time management skills
- Experience in strategic planning for a service
Person Specification
Training & Qualifcations
Essential
- Current level one NMC registration
- Degree in health / nursing related Studies
- Mentorship Course
- APLS Provider
- formal training package in care of injuries
Desirable
- Formal Leadership and management training
- CPD Profile
- Completion of all local competency packages
- APLS Instructor
- Plaster trainned
Skills/Experince
Essential
- appropriate experience at band 6 level to include management/leadership experience
- Supervision of non registered staff, pre registration and post basic students
- Evidence of ability to mentor
- Ability to manage the clinical area or ward efficiently and effectively
- Ability to lead change and lead new ways of working
- Ability to manage complex staffing issues
- Advanced paediatric life support (APLS / EPALS or equivalent)
- completed role relevant packages
- Competence in managing major trauma and deteriorating patients, including escalation and coordination of care
Desirable
- Formal teaching of groups of staff
- Budget Management
- Audit Research within the clinical area
Communication
Essential
- Able to present and receive complex information within the multi professional team
- ability to manage complex staffing issues
- Team player who can initiate, delegate and completes improvement projects
- Demonstrate ability to complete audits and implement action plans.
- Ability to support colleagues, patients and relatives/carers in distressing circumstances
- Advanced assessment and triage management of acutely unwell and injured children and young people
- operational decision making skills
- knowledge of staffing Allocation and Rostering
Desirable
- Demonstrate evidence of providing formal teaching sessions
- Demonstration of team working and ability to work within a team
- Demonstrate leadership for the management of change
- Advanced Communication Skills Training
- ability to make operational decision making
- Supporting Workforce Wellbeing
Analytical and judgement Skill
Essential
- Ability to respond to, prioritise and analyse complex problems/ situations and ensure effective interventions are put in place.
- Ability to generate and present reports and documents
- Deal effectively with clinical issues within defined procedures/guidelines
Desirable
- Ability in the use of appraisal, personal development review and training needs analysis
- Demonstrate a knowledge of current issues related to NHS strategy and policy
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Can formulate short and long term objectives
- Demonstrate the personal development of members within a team
- provide input into recruitment planning and skill development to address longer-term staffing challenges
Desirable
- Demonstrate effective time management skills
- Experience in strategic planning for a service
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).