Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse, Neonatal Unit

Transformationunitgm; Ashford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Ashford is looking for a Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse for the Neonatal Unit. This role involves promoting high nursing standards and managing care delivery while leading a team. Candidates must have significant experience in neonatal care and be NMC registered. The position offers a salary between £40,617 - £48,778 pa with various NHS benefits, including a pension scheme and flexible working options. Apply now to join a dedicated workforce aiming for excellence in patient care.

Benefits

Excellent pension scheme

On-site Nurseries

On-site staff cafes

On-site parking

Salary Sacrifice schemes

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience in a Level 2 or 3 neonatal setting.
• Experience as a band 5 in a neonatal Unit and management of people.
• Staff teaching and mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Promote and manage delivery of a quality nursing service in the Neonatal Unit.
• Assess patient care needs and develop care programs.
• Lead a team in operational management and service delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Critical Thinking

Motivation

Prioritisation

Education

NMC registration

NLS certification

Safeguarding Level Stage 3

Job description

Employer Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site St Peters Hospital Town Chertsey Salary £40,617 - £48,778 pa inc. HCAS, pro rata for part time Salary period Yearly Closing 28/12/2025 23:59

Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse, Neonatal Unit

NHS AfC: Band 6

Job overview

• Promote and help to manage delivery of a quality nursing service, setting and monitoring clinical standards in NICU and Transitional Care.
• To be responsible for the assessment of patient care needs, the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care.
• To work as a Shift Leader and Deputise for the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse after completion of unit specific competencies and shadow charging. This is based on working shifts rotating from night and day covering a 7 day week, in accordance with the nursing philosophy of Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust.
• To take responsibility for an area of clinical practice appropriate to the ward environment. This could involve audit, Infection Control, Fire Warden, Manual Handling, Health & Safety and others

The successful candidate will have strong leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills, with a clear commitment to family-centred care. A neonatal qualification (ENB 405/QIS or equivalent) and significant post-qualification experience in a Level 2 or 3 neonatal setting are essential.

Main duties of the job

• To have joint responsibility with other Unit Sisters for the operational management and service delivery processes within the Neonatal and Special Care Unit. This includes line management of all ward staff, managing and monitoring resources within a defined budget and contributing to the corporate agenda.
• To lead and promote a quality service using research and evidence based practice including the setting and monitoring of clinical standards.
• Rotation onto night and day shifts

Working for our organisation

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.

Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.

We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at ASPH. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.

We are expanding our theatres at Ashford Hospital and moving towards this becoming our dedicated elective centre. We want to create a state-of-the-art centre for excellence for planned surgical procedures.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
• On-site Nurseries
• On-site staff cafes
• On-site parking
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including wage stream, lease cars, Cycle to Work schemes and home electronics

Adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice and Professional Leadership Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a safe, high standard of nursing practice and the delivery of evidenced based Patient care in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct, the Trust’s Strategy for Nursing and Trust/Unit Policies and Procedures.
• Lead by example in the demonstration of high standards of clinical care.
• Act as an advocate for the neonate.
• Contribute to the Corporate nursing and patient care agenda.
• Develop and maintain own competence in agreed basic and advanced clinical skills.
• Act as a source of speciality expertise within the Directorate and across the Trust as appropriate.
• To ensure that clinical and housekeeping practice follows policies/procedures designed to prevent Hospital acquired infection.
• Ensure the promotion and provision of health education for patients and their carers.
• Actively promote and implement research and evidence based practice.
• Lead a programme of standard setting and audit to implement change that meets patient requirements and improves standards. Seek feedback from carers.

Management Responsibilities

• Deputise for the Matron in her absence.
• Ensure that complaints and incidents are dealt with proactively in conjunction with Divisional Governance Team.
• To investigate Datix incidents and complaints using Root Cause Analysis as a tool and provide reports as required.
• Develop, implement, monitor and evaluate associated action plans based on reflective practice and review of processes.
• Contribute to the recruitment and selection process.
• Taking a lead in the retention of nursing staff on the Unit.
• Responsible for effective and efficient deployment of staff, planning appropriate skill mix in relation to workload and within the defined budget.
• Manage the ward in accordance with budget and contract requirements and ensure the most effective use of pay and non-pay resources.
• Promote good working relationships and collaborative working with the multi-disciplinary team, both within the Unit and the rest of the Trust.

Education

• Maintain a suitable learning environment for all staff working in the ward
• Liaise with the CPE to provide additional CPE support
• Ensure that registered nurses understand the educational objectives of all staff and students, acting as a mentor, assessing performance as appropriate

Clinical Governance Responsibilities

• In conjunction with the Head of Nursing/Matron, take a lead role in the planning and implementation of quality and risk management initiatives and targets, including CNST, RPST and Controls Assurance requirements
• Actively develop and maintain evidence-based quality standards that are regularly audited, and initiate appropriate changes in practise
• In conjunction with the Head of Nursing/Matron, participate in the agreed programmes of clinical benchmarking

Learning and Development

• Maintain own professional standards and education by attending relevant study sessions, mandatory training and reporting back to team members

Person specification3>

Qualifications

• NMC registered
• NLS
• Safeguarding Level Stage 3

Experience

• experience as a band 5 in a neonatal Unit and consolidation of ITU post QIS
• Management of people
• Staff teaching and mentoring
• Experience as a band 6 in a Neonatal Unit
• Changes in nursing practice to improve patient care

Knowledge

• Professional code of conduct
• NHS constituition
• Trust vision and strategy
• Communication and interpersonal skills

Skills

• Diversity and human rights
• Professional and sensitive
• Prioritisation
• Motivate staff

other

• Flexible to needs of the service
• Calm under pressure
• Able to work various shifts required

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Any of the Band 7 Sisters on NICU via bleep 5268