Job summary
Are you ready to take the next step in your nursing career within a dynamic, fast-paced, and specialised environment? We are looking for a motivated and compassionate Band 6 Deputy Sister to join our vibrant team on our busy orthopaedic complex and acute ward, caring for patients with a wide range of elective and complex orthopaedic needs--including those undergoing treatment for bone and soft tissue sarcomas.

This is an exceptional opportunity to become part of a forward-thinking multidisciplinary team known for high standards, innovation, and strong professional values. Our ward offers a unique blend of acute surgical care, complex post-operative management and specialist rehabilitation, making every day both challenging and rewarding.

As Deputy Sister, you will take a key leadership role in ensuring safe, effective, and compassionate care. You will support the Ward Sister in driving clinical excellence, nurturing team development, and ensuring the smooth running of the ward. You will act as a role model for junior staff, lead by example in promoting best practice, and help shape the future of our service. This role provides an outstanding platform for career progression into leadership.

If you thrive in a fast-moving setting, enjoy leading others, and are passionate about delivering high-quality care to patients with complex and often life-changing conditions, we'd love to welcome you to our team.

Main duties of the job
As a Band 6 Deputy Sister, you will step into an influential leadership role where you will inspire, guide, and support a dedicated team of Band 5 Registered Nurses and Nursing Assistants. You will act as their line manager, providing clinical supervision, pastoral support, and professional development, while ensuring high-quality, compassionate care for your allocated group of patients. You will take overall responsibility for the delivery of safe and effective care throughout each patient's admission, acting as a visible and proactive clinical leader.

You will regularly take charge of clinical shifts, overseeing the smooth and safe running of the ward. This includes coordination of care for all patients, supporting the nursing team, and serving as the senior point of contact during your shift. You work closely with the wider multidisciplinary team and on-call services to ensure seamless and responsive patient care.

Working collaboratively with fellow Band 6 Deputy Sisters and the Clinical Education Team, you will play an active role in nurturing the development, confidence, and competence of staff across the ward.

You will also provide essential support to the Ward Sister, deputising in key areas such as audit and quality improvement activity, incident investigation, and roster planning. This is a role where your leadership will make a tangible difference every day, combining hands-on clinical expertise with strategic ward management.

About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. For more information on OUH please view OUH At a Glance by OUHospitals - Issuu

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

Details
Date posted: 07 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
per annum, pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 321-NOTSS-8123560-B6
Job locations: Ward F (Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre), Level 1, Main Building, Oxford, OX3 7LD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please see the attached document for full person specification and job description. This is a new role for the service, and we are keen that the person who is successful is dynamic and helps the role to evolve and develop.

Person Specification
Essential

• NMC registered
• Acute in-patient ward experience

Desirable

• At least 2-3 years Trauma/Orthopaedic Nursing experience
• Trauma and Orthopaedic PGCert Course or current/ongoing Post Graduate studies

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).

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).