SEHSCT_Clinical Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse Band 6

Ref: 56004620
Branch: Trustwide (SEHSCT)
Location: UH, Main Building
Salary: Band 6 (£38,682 - £46,580)
Contract Type: Permanent
Opening date: 03/11/26
Closes: Tue, 17 November 2026 @ 5:30 PM
Interview Dates: TBC

Notes: If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR.

Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage.

A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026.

Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week.

Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards.

Flexible Working
We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

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Job Summary
The post holder is accountable for their ward/department and will:

• promote and monitor safe and effective practice
• enhance the patient/client experience
• provide effective leadership and management
• contribute to the delivery of the organisation's objectives
• adhere to Trust values

Job Title: Deputy Ward Sister/Deputy Charge Nurse
Band: Band 6
Directorate: Unscheduled Care
Initial Location: Transition Ward and Discharge Lounge, Ulster Hospital
Reports To: Ward Sister/Charge Nurse
Accountable To: Clinical Manager
Flexible Working Provisions Available: Full-time working

Key Duties / Responsibilities
The post holder will focus and lead under the direction of the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse on the following key areas, within the organisation's governance framework:

Clinical/Professional/Specific Managerial Responsibilities
Ensure safe and effective practice

• Adhere to DHSSPS and NMC guidelines for practice requirements and standards, for example, safe handling, administration, storage and custody of medicinal products.
• Adhere to Trust guidelines, policies and procedures.
• Ensure that organisational goals are reflected in own and the nursing teams' objectives and in ward / department plans.
• Contribute to the development of the Trust's policies and strategies, where appropriate.
• Maintain own professional and personal development in accordance with the NMC (2018) The Code: Professional Standards of Practice and Behaviour for Nurses and Midwives.
• Establish and maintain relationships based on mutual respect communicating on a regular basis with the patient / client, relatives and carers in the provision of care and services.
• Adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and Data Protection Act (2018).
• Maintain effective records management ensuring all documentation written or electronic is managed as per HSC Trust and NMC (2009) guidelines.
• Adhere to the Code of Conduct for HSC Managers, as per Human Resource policies and procedures. Ensure risk management arrangements are in place within the ward / department.
• The post holder will develop personal knowledge and skills to level 2 – 4 of the SBNI 'Child Safeguarding Learning and Development Strategy and Framework' (2020 – 2023).

Evidence-based practice

• Act as a role model to promote a culture of research and reflective practice within the ward / department to enhance person-centred care.
• Ensure evidence-based care is provided to agreed standards within the ward / department.
• Assist in developing, implementing and monitoring policies, procedures and protocols.
• Create an environment which supports a culture of learning and reflective practice for all staff.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to ensure that systems and processes are in place to support effective mentoring of relevant staff.

Environment

• Maintain a safe and clean environment for staff, patients / clients and visitors by ensuring compliance with legislation, policies and protocols including health and safety, healthcare associated infection, risk management and critical incident reporting.
• Ensure staff awareness of environmental issues and take appropriate action as per HSC Trust policy.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse with the analysis, assessment and management of actual and potential risks to health and well-being.
• Ensure safe and effective use of equipment as per HSC Trust policy.
• Ensure near misses, incidents, accidents and faulty devices are recorded, reported, investigated and learning disseminated as per HSC Trust policy.

Multi-professional working

• Contribute to the establishment of systems and processes to ensure effective communication and continuity of patient / client care, liaising with multi-disciplinary / multi-agency teams and community services.
• Promote the provision of an integrated quality service by maintaining effective communication with the multi-disciplinary team and community services.
• Assist the Ward Sister/Charge Nurse to promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency.

Enhance the patient / client experience
Person-centred care

• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to maintain and develop person-centred care within the ward / department.
• Promote a caring environment where equality and diversity issues are respected and patients / clients and their carers are enabled to be partners in their care.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to develop strategies for communication between staff, patients / clients, relatives and their carers, showing awareness of barriers to understanding.
• Assist in the communication between all members of the multi-disciplinary / multi-agency team, and across care settings in a manner consistent with the post.
• Demonstrate appropriate care values including: compassion, respect, empathy, treating people with dignity, integrity, courage, responsibility, imagination and adaptability.

Coordination of the patient / client journey

• Ensure the safety and quality of the patient's / client's journey by effective planning and co-ordination of the episode of care, including the smooth transition to other settings.
• Support the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to ensure effective admission / discharge planning with relevant multi-disciplinary and multi-agency teams as required.

Patient / client involvement

• Identify opportunities to the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse for meaningful involvement of patients / clients and carers in relation to the development of care and services.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to ensure effective systems are in place to gain patient / client and carers' feedback on their experience of care.
• Ensure compliments and complaints are managed in line with HSC Trust policy including the dissemination of shared learning.

Provide effective leadership and management
Role model

• Act as a visible leader within the ward / department.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to provide leadership that enables professional decision making and effective team working.
• Empower and enable staff to contribute to the delivery of high quality person-centred care.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse by role modelling evidence-based person-centred care.
• Ensure own personal and professional development in accordance with NMC requirements.

Staff Management and Develop team performance

• Acts up in the absence of the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse as required.
• Promote equality of opportunity for all, in accordance with HSC Trust Equality Opportunity Policy.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse with completion of and participate in annual staff appraisal / development review, ensuring effective implementation of the Knowledge and Skills Framework (DH, 2004).
• Participate in learning needs analysis and facilitate annual personal development plans for the nursing team.
• Participate in orientation and induction programmes for staff within the ward / department.
• Support and develop nursing health care support workers within the ward / department.
• Promote a person-centred culture to facilitate good staff relationships and morale among staff.
• Contribute to the education commissioning process for nursing staff.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to manage poor performance and practice of staff in line with HSC Trust policies.
• Work in partnership with Higher Education Institute staff.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to ensure supervision and mentorship is embedded for pre and post registration students, registered nurses and health care support workers, as appropriate.
• Ensure nurses working in the ward / department are professionally qualified and registered with the NMC.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to ensure processes are in place to manage sickness / absenteeism and take appropriate action in line with HSC Trust policies.
• Promote the health and well-being of staff and observe for any signs of ill health or stress factors in staff assigned to the area and take appropriate action in line with HSC Trust policies and NMC guidelines.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to manage duty rotas / annual leave and study leave to ensure adequate nursing cover and appropriate skill mix.

Manage the ward / department environment

• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to ensure appropriate delegation to nurses, nursing assistants and senior nursing assistants, and monitoring of outcomes for effective care / service delivery.
• Challenge appropriately and confidently where standards of care fall below that which the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse would expect.
• Ensure all documentation is legible, accurate, is written in black ink and clearly signed, timed, and dated in accordance with the NMC guidance.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to ensure best use of resources within the ward / department and ensure services are managed in accordance with yearly financial instructions.
• Participate in multi-professional procurement processes to ensure appropriate selection of products which meet relevant quality and safety standards.

Effective use of resources

• Deliver a safe and effective service within allocated resources, ensuring the resources are used to maximum effect.
• Adhere to HSC Trust systems for effectively managing stock and safeguarding fixed assets.
• Promote the principles of good governance and protect the ward / department from financial risk, particularly in respect of patient / client monies and property and charitable funds.
• Display managerial and organisational skills to ensure that products required for patient / client care / treatment are procured in timely fashion and demonstrate value for money.
• Show a commitment to effectively manage resources and achieve statutory financial targets.
• Utilise ehealth technology as applicable.

Contribute to the delivery of the organisation's objectives
Continuous quality and improvement

• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to promote a culture of continuous quality improvement through the use of audit (including multi-professional audit), patient / client feedback and reflection on practice by self and other members of the team.

Service improvement, development and modernisation

• Work in partnership with a range of clinicians and managers in the planning or development of own service promoting the involvement of patients / clients and carers.
• Contribute to the review of processes / practices including those within the ward to support patients / clients to improve their own health and well-being.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to review processes / practices to ascertain if there are better ways of working within the ward / department to enhance patient / client care, service delivery and deliver required efficiencies.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to maintain professional standards of practice and contribute to continuous quality improvement.
• Participate in uni-professional / multi professional audit and research as required.
• Promote good health and well-being of staff.
• Assist the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse to ensure the provision of an integrated quality service by maintaining effective communication with the multi-disciplinary team and community services.
• Maintain good communication with patients / clients and relatives / carers ensuring that their individual needs are met, and report issues to the line manager as required.

Human Resource Management Responsibilities
The Trust supports and promotes a culture of collective leadership where those who have responsibility for managing other staff:

• Establish and promote a supportive, fair and open culture that encourages and enables all parts of the team to have clearly aligned goals and objectives, to meet the required performance standards and to achieve continuous improvement in the services they deliver.
• Ensure access to skills and personal development through appropriate training and support.
• Promote a culture of openness and honesty to enable shared learning.
• Encourage and empower others in their team to achieve their goals and reach their full potential through regular supportive conversation and shared decision making.
• Adhere to and promote Trust policy and procedure in all staffing matters, participating as appropriate in a way which underpins Trust values.

Raising Concerns - Responsibilities

• The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency.
• The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the Trust's 'Your Right to Raise a Concern (Whistleblowing)' policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

General Requirements
The post holder will be required to:

• Ensure the Organisation's policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.
• Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Organisation's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.
• Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example: Smoke Free policy; IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct; standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour.
• Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.
• Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.
• All employees of the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the [org name] policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.
• Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.
• Represent the Trust's commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within The Organisation's area, as needs of the service demand.

eHealth
The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has invested in eHealth to deliver better, faster, safer care to our community and is committed to supporting staff to utilise associated information systems that directly and indirectly inform care. Trust staff are therefore required to commit sufficient time to ensure that they acquire and/or retain the core technology skills required to support their role.

Personal and Public Involvement (PPI)
Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust's ongoing commitment to Personal and Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information.

Personnel Specification
Job Title and Band: Deputy Sister/Deputy Charge Nurse Band 6
Department / Directorate: Transition Ward, Unscheduled Care, UHD
Salary: Band 6
Hours: 37.5 HPW
Ref No: 56004620 - October 2026

Notes to applicants:

• You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
• Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.
• Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

Essential Criteria
Section 1: The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

• Registered Nurse on Part 1 (Adult) of the live NMC Register
• Have two years' post-registration experience within an acute setting

Shortlisting by Application Form

Section 2: The following are essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage:

• Provide evidence of continuous personal and professional development.
• Be conversant with current professional issues in relation to nursing.
• Provides evidence of leadership skills.
• Provides evidence of high degree of interpersonal skills.

Method of Assessment: Interview

Desirable Criteria
Section 3: These will only be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. Method of Assessment: Shortlisting by Application Form.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for The Organisation to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.
The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust is an equal opportunities employer.