Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Band 6 Charge Nurse - 15 hours per week

The closing date is 08 February 2026

Job summary

We're looking for aspiring leaders and clinically credible nurses to join our dedicated team on the Dragonfly Unit, based at Carlton Court, Suffolk as a Charge Nurse.

The Dragonfly Unit is a general adolescent unit for young people between the ages of 12- 17 working with both males and females. We have 12 beds on our unit and work with young people who have a wide range of mental health problems and eating disorders.

We are looking for registered nurses with experience of working with children, young people and their families and carers. CAMHS experience would be especially welcome as would knowledge of attachment, child development and working systemically.

Whilst experience in working with children and young people would make you perfectly suited to this role, we are really open to welcoming people from clinical backgrounds who have experience in other areas of mental health. But we would like individuals to be well motivated, have good interpersonal skills, personal resilience, and an enthusiasm for working with children and their families whilst they are going through a difficult and stressful period in their lives, in terms of their mental health and well-being.

We also offer great training opportunities to support staff development.

Main duties of the job

We will look to support you to develop your skills in a variety of ways, including through leadership courses, mentorship as well as formal recognised qualifications too.

It can be a challenging environment at times, so we need clinicians with a positive attitude, compassion, resilience, and a hands-on approach. It is vital that the clinician is reflective around issues of power and difference, see the importance of working across systems, and can do that effectively.

If you have the drive to provide excellent care, can demonstrate high quality clinical skills and are willing to go the extra mile to help make a difference to people's lives then we would love to hear from you.

This post does require full PMA fitness (full training will be given) and to be able to work shifts including nights and weekends.

About us

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming, you'll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We're an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.

Date posted

26 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year gross per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

246-GYW7725054

Job locations

Dragonfly Unit

Carlton Court Hospital, St Peters Road

Lowestoft

NR33 8AG

Job description

Job responsibilities

As Charge Nurse, you will be expected to take responsibility for supporting your care team, working within governance processes to support the implementation of individualised and responsive care.

Management

Monitor the practice of junior staff and identify any learning and development needs in respect of the clinical skills base.

Maintain own and lead/supervise staff in maintaining professional, therapeutic relationship/boundaries with patients, carers, and colleagues.

Provide and ensure provision of regular line management supervision and Appraisals to junior members of staff.

Support to service evaluation and audit systems.

Support review/development of service wide policies and protocols.

Deputise for the unit ward manager if required supported by the Clinical nurse Specialist

Clinical

To be accountable for own professional practice.

Support the development and implementation of recovery focused interventions to patients with mental illness.

Provide training and support to others as appropriate, including non-statutory agencies.

Demonstrate effective personal planning and organisation of personal daily workload and that of others.

Work flexibly, managing own working time effectively according to service demands.

Make clinical judgements, identifying alternative courses of action, managing, and providing a high quality of care and supporting others to do the same.

Maintain respectful, effective professional interpersonal relationships with others.

Attend all mandatory training as required by the Trust and to undertake further training and updating as required to carry out the role.

Initiate, create and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients and carers and relevant others, ensuring that clinical practice is recovery focused and patient centred.

Promote the involvement of service users, carers, and relevant others in the development of the care pathway.

Work collaboratively with the Ward manager in establishing a clear philosophy for the multi professional clinical practice within the work area and develop an acceptable model of care that is shared amongst the team.

Ensure that all patients are given a full explanation on their care pathway/treatment options and no decision is taken forward without their involvement and consent.

Undertake clinical audit and clinical governance activities as required.

Ensuring that the practice of clinicians is recovery focused and patient centred, promoting the direct involvement of patients, carers, and relevant others in the development of the plan of care

Professional

Demonstrate a personal approach to practice that is reflective and informed by best practice including NICE Guidelines.

Adhere to local and professionally prescribed codes of conduct and practice.

Develop and maintain a professional portfolio which demonstrates reflective practice

Have monthly Management Supervision as per Trust Policy

Promoting in collaboration with the Ward manager, an atmosphere within the clinical area conductive of best practice.

Work co-operatively with the Clinical Team Leader in ensuring that members of the MDT maintain a professional portfolio.

Maintain personal standards and ensure self and others adhere to all policies, procedure, guidelines, and standards set by the Trust and relevant bodies.

Maintain an up-to-date knowledge relating to the current Mental Health Act 83/07 and any relevant guidance thereof and share all relevant information with colleagues as necessary. Ensure others adhere to the legislation.

Identify personal learning and training needs through KSF, appraisal and personal development plans on an annual basis.

Support and develop the principles of joint partnership working and to be pro-acting in fostering positive inter-agency relationships and information sharing.

Be responsible for organising student placements and learning outcomes, be the contact point for the link tutor to discuss student issues as they arise.

Ensure that self and others maintain yearly mentorship updates.

Ensure that personal appearance, practice and manner of self and staff conform to the standards and expectations of the Trust.

To comply with all Trust Policies, Guidelines and Protocols.

Fulfilling Organisational Responsibilities

At the discretion of, and in the absence of Clinical Team Leader, make the most efficient and effective use of ward resources in the context of an awareness of clinical need and financial limitation.

Support the Clinical Team Leader in the co-ordination and development of the clinical area.

Reporting and recording incidents, complaints and accidents involving patient, staff, or visitors in accordance with the Trusts standards or at the direction of the Senior Charge Nurse

Ensure compliance with regulations in respect of the storage and administration of drugs pursuant to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973

Ensure compliance with the trusts policies for the care of patients valuables and ensuring awareness amongst staff of the Standing Financial Instructions and other relevant guidance documents

Receive Section papers on behalf of the Hospital Managers as required.

Ensure that staff maintain knowledge of and work within Mental Health Legislation appropriate to their level of practice

Maintain a personal awareness of the requirements of the Health and Safety at work Act.

Participate in recruitment and selection as per Trust guidelines.

Plan, supervise and participate in induction and the preceptorship of all new staff

Regularly check email, incoming post, and trust intranet site for updated information on clinical practice standards and share with others as appropriate

Co-ordinating the ordering of equipment and supplies for the ward.

We are looking for someone who:

* Evidences a sound level of understanding of the effects of mental illness,alongside an empathetic approach to meet the individual needs of thepatient.

* Evidences a dynamic, creative, and positive approach

* Exhibits communication skills that shine through, and are essential forthis post

* Is trustworthy, self-motivated, and organised with time

* Applicants must possess attitudes and values that reflect the excellentstandards or care we expect within NSFT.

As a unit we pride ourselves on working together to deliver high quality care and to support each other through any challenging times.

You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team providing a high level of care for the young people; therefore, good interpersonal communication and organisational skills are required.

You will work supportively and collaboratively with the Clinical Team Leader in ensuring the effective management of the ward in all respects, environmental, financial, and clinical.

Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference, click APPLY!

Interview dates are to be confirmed and candidates may only be given a minimum of 3 days notice.

You will be contacted via email and invited to book a time. These emails may go to your SPAM, so please keep checking all your emails if applying.