Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse, NICU
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time, Part-time
- Posted
- 10/09/2026
- Closes
- 22/09/2026
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Role summary
This role involves promoting and managing the delivery of quality nursing services in NICU and Transitional Care, including assessing patient care needs and developing care programmes. The Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse will work as a Shift Leader, deputising for the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse, and will be responsible for operational management and service delivery within the Neonatal and Special Care Unit. The position requires strong leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills, with a commitment to family-centred care. It involves rotating night and day shifts across a 7-day week.
Key responsibilities
- Promote and help to manage delivery of a quality nursing service, setting and monitoring clinical standards in NICU and Transitional Care.
- Be responsible for the assessment of patient care needs, the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care.
- Work as a Shift Leader and Deputise for the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse after completion of unit specific competencies and shadow charging.
- Have joint responsibility with other Unit Sisters for the operational management and service delivery processes within the Neonatal and Special Care Unit.
- Lead and supervise a safe, high standard of nursing practice and the delivery of evidenced based Patient care.
- Deputise for the Sisters in their absence and manage the ward in accordance with budget and contract requirements.
Essential criteria
- NMC registered
- Neonatal qualification
- NLS
- Teaching/mentorship qualification
- Safeguarding Level Stage 3
- experience as a band 5 in a neonatal Unit and consolidation of ITU post QIS
- Management of people
- MDT working
- Staff teaching and mentoring
- Procurement process
- Professional code of conduct
- NHS constituition
- Trust vision and strategy
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Diversity and human rights
- Professional and sensitive
- Prioritisation
- Motivate staff
- Travel between sites
- Flexible to needs of the service
- Calm under pressure
- Able to work various shifts required
Desirable criteria
- Management qualification
- Experience as a band 6 in a Neonatal Unit
- Changes in nursing practice to improve patient care
- effective negotiator
- IT skills
- Presentation skills
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £41,957 – £50,387 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 12d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse, NICU
The closing date is 22 September 2026
Job summary
- +
- 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 a
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