Job summary
This post is only open to internal applicants

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse to join our Critical Care team. This is an exciting opportunity for a dedicated Registered Nurse with a post-registration qualification in Critical Care to play a key role in delivering high-quality, evidence-based patient care within a busy ICU/HDU environment.

Working closely with the Ward/Unit Manager, you will provide clinical and operational leadership to nursing and support staff, helping to ensure the safe and effective day-to-day running of the department. You will be responsible for assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating care for critically ill patients, while supporting the development of clinical practice and driving improvements in patient outcomes.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, with a commitment to clinical excellence, service improvement and staff development. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to advancing critical care practice while supporting and mentoring colleagues within a highly skilled multidisciplinary team.

Essential requirements include:

• Registered Adult Nurse with current NMC registration
• Post-registration qualification in Critical Care
• Mentorship qualification
• Significant acute Critical Care (ICU/HDU) experience
• Proven ability to provide clinical leadership and support service delivery

Main duties of the job

• To provide high standards of evidenced based care for patients and their families
• To provide skilled nursing care and supervision of the nursing team in delivering an effective service
• To continue personal professional development and be responsible for developing others
• To demonstrate sound leadership and managerial skills
• To regular manage the daily activities of the unit on a day to day basis

About us
Please submit your application as soon as possible, as we reserve the right to close adverts once sufficient applications have been received.

We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) brings together Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As a group, we are committed to improving services for our communities through collaboration, modernising care delivery and striving for excellence. Working together enables us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities, and there may be a requirement to work across sites depending on service needs.

Our Excellence Values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Gold Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Candidates who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

Job responsibilities
For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the Shortlisting Criteria section of the document.

Qualifications
Essential

• RGN
• Current Professional Registration with NMC
• Degree in Professional Nursing/Health Studies
• Post Registration qualification in Critical Care

Desirable

• Teaching and Assessing qualification
• Leadership programme or equivalent

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Relevant critical care experience
• Evidence of positive contribution to critical care
• Associate mentor of critical care students

Skills
Essential

• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Evidence of proficient skills in critical care
• Effective IT skills and database awareness
• Proficient communication skills
• Knowledge of evidence-based practice
• Knowledge of audit process.
• Evidence of critical thinking and initiative to solve problems and mange workload
• Understanding of reflective practice and how it can be used
• Able to work in a changing environment and to actively support /promote planned change
• Demonstrate effective team work skills
• Knowledge of current NHS, professional and educational issues

Desirable

• Able to assist with the transfer of critically ill patients

Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes
Essential

• Passionate and committed to bring our Dedicated to Excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality diversity and inclusion of our staff, patients and service users
• Demonstrate good time management skills
• Supportive team member but also able to work independently whilst acknowledging limitations
• Positive role model to team members and to other members of the MDT
• Problem solving
• Awareness of professional limitations

Desirable

• Awareness of change management

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. 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).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).