Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Band 6 Junior Sister/Charge Nurse to join the leadership team on Kingfisher Ward at Great Western Hospital.

As a Band 6 Junior Sister/Charge Nurse, you will provide clinical leadership and operational management on a shift-by-shift basis, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centred care. You will support and develop junior staff, coordinate patient care, manage admissions and discharges, and work closely with the multidisciplinary team to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients.

The successful candidate will be a motivated and experienced registered nurse with excellent communication, leadership, and organisational skills. They will be committed to maintaining high clinical standards, promoting patient safety, and supporting the professional development of colleagues.

This is an excellent opportunity for an aspiring or experienced Band 6 nurse to further develop their leadership skills within a supportive and experienced team while contributing to the ongoing development of Kingfisher Ward.

Please note: Part of the ward is currently being utilised by another specialty on a temporary basis while accommodation works are completed elsewhere within the Trust. Future service developments within this area may provide exciting opportunities for the successful candidate to contribute to the growth and development of the ward.

Main duties of the job
Kingfisher Ward is a busy 36-bedded acute medical ward, with an additional two escalation beds that are consistently in use. The ward provides specialist care for patients with acute endocrine conditions, requiring close monitoring, complex clinical assessment, and effective multidisciplinary working. The ward manages a diverse patient cohort within a fast-paced environment and plays an important role in supporting patient flow across the hospital.

The post holder will be responsible for supporting the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in providing effective nursing leadership supporting a team of nurses ensuring the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) code of conduct is at the forefront of the team's nursing care. In addition, the post holder will be required to work closely with the multi-disciplinary team in the provision of a high standard of individualised patient care,thus improving the patient experience. The position supports a clinical role in addition to assisting in the management of operational issues. The post will incorporate the provision of care to patients, their families and carers' in accordance with the philosophy and standards of care within the clinical area; in line with Trust policies and procedures, ensuring that values and beliefs are upheld.

Additionally, you will demonstrate continuing professional development, reflecting individual needs, the needs of the team, and the needs of the organisation.

About us
We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a heath and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

Details
Date posted: 12 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year
per annum, pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 9 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 249-8193534
Job locations: Great Western Hospital, Marlborough Road, Swindon, SN3 6BB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Act as a clinical expert in their area of practice.
• Take charge in absence of Senior Sister/Charge Nurse.
• Participate in the delivery of care to ensure the individual needs of the patients are met.
• Promote the development, implementation and review of standards policies, procedures and clinical guidelines.
• Assist in effectively leading and motivating staff in the provision of care and future service development.
• Promote evidence based clinical practice and assist the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in performance improvement within the unit.
• Act as a Link Nurse resource for a specified clinical area and disseminate information to the rest of the team
• Act as a resource in nursing practice throughout the specialities
• Participate in the development and implementation of multi-disciplinary integrated care pathways for patients.
• Assist in the effective leadership within the clinical area.
• Demonstrate up to date knowledge and understanding of current issues and priorities that effect National, Trust and Directorate wide healthcare, to facilitate clear leadership and direction.
• Participate in the organisational and strategic development of the clinical area.
• Work closely with the Senior Nurse/Charge Nurse in implementing the Trust Clinical Governance and Nursing Strategy.
• Act as a Bleep-holder in accordance with the Directorate and Trust guidelines.
• Attend Sisters meetings and other relevant Trust-wide meetings in the absence of the Senior Sister.
• Ensure monthly 1-1s are maintained with the Senior Sister to ensure accuracy of information.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings as directed by Senior Sister.
• The Junior Sister/Charge Nurse will ensure that audit and research is integral to their role.
• Assist in leading and developing clinical audit and research to promote evidence based practice.
• Assist in the collection and evaluation of data to demonstrate outcomes from nurse led initiatives.
• Participate in initiating changes identified at clinical audit.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• NMC 1st Level registration qualification
• A teaching qualification
• Evidence of post registration development
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Desirable

• Diploma/Degree qualification.
• Leadership qualification

knowledge & Skills
Essential

• Excellent written & verbal communication
• IT literate
• Ability to document accurately and clearly
• Good interpersonal skills, able to deal with difficult/sensitive situations
• An understanding of absence management
• An understanding of performance Management
• An understanding of learning and improvement from incidents/concerns
• Confident completing Staff Appraisal's

Desirable

• Understanding of the structure for the delivery of community and social care services

Experience
Essential

• Significant post registration experience.
• Recent acute medical or surgical experience.
• Experience in leading, supporting and developing a team
• Evidence of managing and improving the patient experience.

Desirable

• An understanding of the structure for the delivery for Community and social care services.

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: Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Great Western Hospital, Marlborough Road, Swindon, SN3 6BB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Ward Manager
Teri Bellinger
t.bellinger@nhs.net
01793605268

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.
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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.