Job summary
Deputy Sister - Band 6 (Fixed Term, 12 Months)

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated, enthusiastic Registered Nurse to join our Inpatient Paediatric team on Ash Ward as a Band 6 Deputy Sister on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

Ash Ward is a busy general paediatric ward providing care to children and young people aged 0-18 years with a wide range of medical, surgical and orthopaedic conditions. The ward also includes a High Dependency Unit (HDU) delivering both Level 1 and Level 2 care, offering a diverse and rewarding clinical environment. We work closely with our Paediatric Specialist Nurses, covering specialties such as Oncology, Diabetes, Respiratory and Epilepsy, who support both patients and staff and contribute to ongoing education.

As Deputy Sister, you will be a positive role model, leading by example in the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, family-centred care. You will support the Ward Manager in maintaining high standards of care, ensuring patient safety, and promoting the development and wellbeing of the ward team. You will provide visible clinical leadership on a shift-by-shift basis and actively encourage professional development, fostering a supportive learning environment in collaboration with our Paediatric Education Team.

If you would like further information, please contact Catherine Medlycott, Ash Ward Manager on catherine.medlycott@nhs.net

Main duties of the job
The main duties of this role are to be:

• Responsible for managing the care provided to our patients on a shift by shift basis, supporting junior members of the team in providing high quality, evidence based care.
• To support the ward manager in providing clinical and managerial responsibility for Ash Ward
• To oversee the development of junior colleagues, completing their appraisals with support from the Ward manager, working closely with the Education Team to ensure that each individual has the opportunity to develop their practice in areas specific to them
• Act as a role model to other members of the multi-professional team, supporting and promoting an environment of learning and development.
• To oversee and actively participate in the development of the ward within teams focusing on areas each team are responsible for.

About us
Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest provider of acute hospital services to Surrey residents, serving a population of 410,00 people and employing approximately 4,800 staff.

Our vision is to provide an outstanding experience and best outcomes for patients and the team. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to deliver our workforce plan.

We are part of a collaborative Group with the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. As part of this partnership, colleagues may occasionally work across both organisations to support shared services, development opportunities and patient care.

St Peter's Hospital delivers complex medical and surgical care, maternity and emergency services. Day and orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmology and outpatient services are delivered at Ashford Hospital. Additional services are delivered at Woking Community Hospital.

Our Values provide us with the behaviours we respect and can commit to. By living our values through our everyday interactions, we can build a stronger, more resilient, and forward-thinking organisation, guiding us to achieve success and make a positive impact on how we deliver our services.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits and discounts.

Please note that adverts may close early, so early application is encouraged.

For more information about a career at ASPH please visit: www.asph-careers.org

Details
Date posted: 03 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £41,957 to £50,387 a year pa inc. HCAS
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: 323-NM7744-JN-C

Job responsibilities
Clinical

• To be clinically able to undertake and direct high quality research based clinical nursing care, sharing expertise with the nursing team
• To use appropriate skill set in the assessment planning implementation and evaluation of care delivery
• To take overall responsibility of the clinical environment when on allocated shift ensuring safety is maintained including appropriate escalation to senior nursing team when support is required
• To have excellent verbal and written communication skills so that professional advice or care guidance and instructions are well understood by patients, their relatives and/or carers and members of the multidisciplinary team.
• To manage clinical situations that may be challenging and distressing for junior staff, ensuring the needs of the child and family are paramount
• To ensure effective discharge planning so that individual patient needs are met with an appropriate plan of action involving the multidisciplinary team as required
• Function as an effective role model in the clinical setting in demonstrating the application of breadth and depth of nursing knowledge and skills, and in advising and supporting members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Facilitate the professional development of other nurses in the appraisal process by guiding the junior nurses to identify their learning needs. Support and mentor junior colleagues
• To work collaboratively with the Ward Manager/Matron to ensure that clinical governance processes at unit level encompass measures to ensure the quality of the fundamental and essential aspects of care are met

Leadership or managerial

• To effectively manage the patient pathway from admission until discharge
• To ensure appropriate patient allocation taking into consideration skill mix and patient acuity
• To promote staff wellbeing by ensuring breaks are managed in a timely way that ensures the nursing service is clinically safe at all times.
• Provide positive effective leadership and act as a role model. Delegates appropriately, and empowers staff to problem solve effectively with their daily clinical workloads
• Facilitates and supports nurses in working collaboratively with all other members of the multi-disciplinary team
• Adopts an appropriate management style in accordance with changing circumstances
• Undertakes annual appraisal for nursing staff as requested by the Ward Manager/Paediatric Matron. Ensuring that they have a Personal Development Plan, and to assist with the appraisal of other staff in liaison with the Ward Manager.
• To participate in nursing research and clinical audit where appropriate and directed by the Paediatric Matron

Educational

• Act as a role model to junior nurses and students rotating to the area
• To ensure that all supervisors, mentors, and/or preceptors of learners provide adequate support and supervision
• To undertake a recognised assessor training and subsequently participate in the formal assessment of learner nurses.
• To plan and maximise opportunities to deliver work-based learning from an agreed educational programme for paediatrics
• To develop education and training programmes in collaboration with the Practice Development Nurse and Paediatric Matron to ensure that knowledge, skills and competencies of the professional and support staff are able to meet patients' and carers' by develop learning outcomes and competency achievements for all staff
• On a monthly basis to undertake a regular teaching/training shift to either deliver education or work clinically with a junior member of the nursing team to gain confidence knowledge and skills in an agreed subject.

General responsibilities

• To support the department and organisation by carrying out any other duties that reasonably fit within the broad scope of a job of this grade and type of work

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse (Child)/ RSCN
• Evidence of further professional development at a minimum of diploma level and working toward degree or prepared to undertake, including Mentorship preparation/Assessor/Supervisor or relevant teaching qualification

Desirable

• EPLS/APLS and/or HDU module or willing to undertake

Attitude, Behaviour & Values
Essential

• Always puts patients first
• Takes personal responsibility, demonstrating a passion for excellence in all aspects of their role and taking pride in their role
• Seeks out and takes opportunities for improving the service, motivating others and supporting the learning and development of self and others

Experience
Essential

• Excellent paediatric clinical skills with relevant skills and abilities for a general paediatric ward with significant recent experience at Band 5 in a paediatric clinical acute environment

Knowledge
Essential

• Must be able to demonstrate that you have knowledge of your professional code of conduct and guidance issued by your professional body and that you adhere to these.

Skills
Essential

• You have knowledge & awareness of diversity and human rights as appropriate to your role demonstrating that you are honest, reliable and trustworthy
• You are able to communicate effectively to ensure high standards of care, treatment, service or support as appropriate to your 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).

Employer details
Employer name: Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: St. Peter's Hospital, Guildford Road, Chertsey, KT16 0PZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact:
Ash Ward Manager, Catherine Medlycott, catherine.medlycott@nhs.net, 01932722714

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