Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Sister - Dialysis Unit

The closing date is 16 March 2026

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced, highly motivated and compassionate senior sister/ charge nurse to lead the dialysis unit. This role is ideal for a dynamic, highly skilled expert renal nurse with strong leadership skills and deputy sister or specialist nurse experience; with a passion for delivering exceptional patient care in a specialist renal setting.. The renal unit is committed to delivering safe, high quality, patient centred care, so the candidate will need to be able to demonstrate this ability.

This role requires sound clinical judgement, effective communication, ability to manage resources effectively and ensure compliance with clinical governance, infection control and quality standards.

Deliver high quality dialysis care in line with latest evidence based practice, national policies, local policies and professional standards

Promote patient centred care, supporting patients and families with education, emotional support and decision making in order to ensure the patient is at the heart of all you do.

This vacancy has arisen at a very exciting time and the candidate will have the opportunity to drive the unit through imminent refurbishment and be integral in the future plans for the unit.

Main duties of the job

Responsible for the day-to-day co-ordination and running of the dialysis unit.

Provide clinical and professional leadership, ensuring excellent standards of practice, patient safety and service delivery.

Work closely with the MDT and Network professionally with the satellite units, specialist teams and in-patient areas.

Act as a role model to mentor and coach staff, conduct appraisals and identify training needs.

Actively contribute to clinical governance, audit, quality improvement initiatives and incident reporting, giving feedback ton ensure learning from incidents.

About us

At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff.

Our Mission is to work in partnership to provide high quality, compassionate services and to nurture an environment where people can be at their best. Our vision is healthier lives, empowered citizens, thriving communities.

We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.

We understand that some applicants may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in preparing their application materials. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind candidates that all submissions must be truthful and accurately reflect your own experiences and suitability for this role. Personal integrity and authenticity are central to our recruitment process. We value honesty and appreciate applications that are genuine and representative of the individual behind them.

UKVI Sponsorship: This role is eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). We welcome applications from individuals who require sponsorship to work in the UK. Sponsorship will be offered subject to meeting UKVI eligibility criteria.

Details

Date posted

02 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

405-26-NM036DIA

Job locations

Dorset County Hospital

Williams Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Job description

Job responsibilities

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Please contact us at Recruitment@dchft.nhs.uk if you are unable to view or download the attachment.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Please contact us at Recruitment@dchft.nhs.uk if you are unable to view or download the attachment.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.

Person Specification

Education, Qualification and Training

Essential

  • Registered Nurse
  • Educated to Masters level or evidence of working towards
  • Degree level Renal Qualification
  • Evidence of CPD

Desirable

  • Teaching or Mentorship Qualification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Significant post registration experience with dialysis and acute care including 2 years at Band 6
  • Knowledge of kidney failure, renal replacement treatments and related mental and physical health problems
  • Demonstrates significant experience working with haemodialysis patients
  • Experience of developing a service/project
  • Experience of quality improvement initiatives

Desirable

  • Understanding of Professional Nursing Issues

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Evidence of ability to practice as proficient practitioner
  • Evidence of ability to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues patients and visitors
  • Evidence of ability to manage time effectively, prioritise, meet deadlines and work in a pressured environment
  • Demonstrate excellent leadership and and human resource skills to effectively manage a team and and communicate with MDT
  • Evidence of ability to influence evidence-based practice
  • Inspire team members to maintain the highest professional standards

Desirable

  • Understanding of clinical governance and its requirements
  • Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality
  • Experience of multidisciplinary clinical audit and application to patient care.
  • Proactive approach to service development
  • Evidence of managing change
Person Specification

Education, Qualification and Training

Essential

  • Registered Nurse
  • Educated to Masters level or evidence of working towards
  • Degree level Renal Qualification
  • Evidence of CPD

Desirable

  • Teaching or Mentorship Qualification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Significant post registration experience with dialysis and acute care including 2 years at Band 6
  • Knowledge of kidney failure, renal replacement treatments and related mental and physical health problems
  • Demonstrates significant experience working with haemodialysis patients
  • Experience of developing a service/project
  • Experience of quality improvement initiatives

Desirable

  • Understanding of Professional Nursing Issues

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Evidence of ability to practice as proficient practitioner
  • Evidence of ability to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues patients and visitors
  • Evidence of ability to manage time effectively, prioritise, meet deadlines and work in a pressured environment
  • Demonstrate excellent leadership and and human resource skills to effectively manage a team and and communicate with MDT
  • Evidence of ability to influence evidence-based practice
  • Inspire team members to maintain the highest professional standards

Desirable

  • Understanding of clinical governance and its requirements
  • Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality
  • Experience of multidisciplinary clinical audit and application to patient care.
  • Proactive approach to service development
  • Evidence of managing change

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Dorset County Hospital

Williams Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Employer's website

https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Dorset County Hospital

Williams Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Employer's website

https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Sister

Claire Thompson

claire.thompson@dchft.nhs.uk

01305255345

Details

Date posted

02 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

405-26-NM036DIA

Job locations

Dorset County Hospital

Williams Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)