University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Senior Staff Nurse

The closing date is 09 February 2026

Job summary

The Neurosurgical Team has recently expanded and is located in Brighton. We offer a full range of Neurosurgical and Neurovascular services and also support poly trauma.

Its an extremely exciting time with the recent move to the Louisa Martindale building . Not only is this a purpose built ward it creates extra opportunities for development. The Louisa Martindale Building is the newest clinical building in NHS England and the first stage of the 3Ts Redevelopment offering state of the art accommodation for 28 outpatient, ward and specialist services across its 11 floors.

This 32 bedded ward cares for a wide range of patients requiring brain and spinal surgery, as well as ENT and Maxillo facial surgery. This post will appeal to you if you enjoy working in a very busy and dynamic environment.

You will have completed a post-registration course in neurosciences and have a several years' recent acute experience in a neuroscience setting.

Applicants must also have a mentorship qualification, Practice Assessor qualification or be working towards this.

You will need to be motivated to develop yourself and other staff within the team.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop leadership and management within an acute setting.

We are proud to be able to offer a variety of flexible working options and contracts. For further information please refer to the Flexible Working for Registered Nurses document which is attached to this advert.

Main duties of the job

To support the ward manager in providing effective clinical leadership that ensures quality patient care; good communication; safe and efficient management of the service/department within allocated resources; facilitates the development of all the staff within the team

  • To act as role model and expert practitioner
  • To undertake delegated responsibility in the absence of the ward manager

Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.

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 abuddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/

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.

Details

Date posted

26 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

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

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

279-7730720-JAN26

Job locations

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • In the absence of the Ward Manager, to be a visible and accessible presence on the ward to whom the staff, patients and their relatives/carers can turn to for assistance.
  • To act as an expert for the care of a specified group of patients, providing effective leadership and acting as a positive role model
  • To acknowledge own clinical limitations and refer issues out of own scope of practice to more experienced colleagues. To seek professional education or training to overcome these deficiencies
  • To undertake appropriate training in venepuncture, cannulation and administration of intravenous therapy and undertake sufficient practice to become an assessor for other staff in the department
  • With the Ward Manager, to take the lead in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient care. To ensure that all patients have a plan of care which is individualized and evidence based and is in line with local policies and procedures. To ensure that the plan of care is regularly updated to reflect any change in the patients condition and that there is evidence of an evaluation of the effectiveness of the care given.
  • Assist the Ward Manager to ensure that there is regular review of documentation practice and that focused action plans are developed when areas of concern are identified.
  • To ensure that admissions, transfers and discharges are planned in accordance with Trust policy, liaising effectively with partner agencies to ensure best outcome for the patient.

Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • In the absence of the Ward Manager, to be a visible and accessible presence on the ward to whom the staff, patients and their relatives/carers can turn to for assistance.
  • To act as an expert for the care of a specified group of patients, providing effective leadership and acting as a positive role model
  • To acknowledge own clinical limitations and refer issues out of own scope of practice to more experienced colleagues. To seek professional education or training to overcome these deficiencies
  • To undertake appropriate training in venepuncture, cannulation and administration of intravenous therapy and undertake sufficient practice to become an assessor for other staff in the department
  • With the Ward Manager, to take the lead in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient care. To ensure that all patients have a plan of care which is individualized and evidence based and is in line with local policies and procedures. To ensure that the plan of care is regularly updated to reflect any change in the patients condition and that there is evidence of an evaluation of the effectiveness of the care given.
  • Assist the Ward Manager to ensure that there is regular review of documentation practice and that focused action plans are developed when areas of concern are identified.
  • To ensure that admissions, transfers and discharges are planned in accordance with Trust policy, liaising effectively with partner agencies to ensure best outcome for the patient.

Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

Person Specification

Experience/ Qualifications

Essential

  • Neurosurgery experience
  • RGN
  • Substantial experience in staff nurse role (Band 5) regularly managing shifts in an area relevant to the specialty
  • Evidence of experience in mentoring student and post registration nurses
  • Evidence of recent professional development
  • Post -registration course relevant to speciality i.e. Care for the Neurological Patient accredited course
  • Working towards or completion of a recognised course leading to qualification in teaching and assessing

Desirable

  • Surgical experience
  • Evidence of participation in recognised leadership /management programme

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.
  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role.
Person Specification

Experience/ Qualifications

Essential

  • Neurosurgery experience
  • RGN
  • Substantial experience in staff nurse role (Band 5) regularly managing shifts in an area relevant to the specialty
  • Evidence of experience in mentoring student and post registration nurses
  • Evidence of recent professional development
  • Post -registration course relevant to speciality i.e. Care for the Neurological Patient accredited course
  • Working towards or completion of a recognised course leading to qualification in teaching and assessing

Desirable

  • Surgical experience
  • Evidence of participation in recognised leadership /management programme

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.
  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role.

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

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE


Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE


Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Ward Manager

Gemma Godden

Gemma.godden@nhs.net

01273696955

Details

Date posted

26 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

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

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

279-7730720-JAN26

Job locations

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE


Supporting documents

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