Job summary
Are you an experienced surgical nurse looking to develop your career within a specialist elective head and neck surgery ward?

T14 North is an inpatient elective surgery ward specialising in the care of Head and Neck, ENT and Maxillofacial surgery patients. We are seeking a motivated and experienced Senior Staff Nurse to join our dedicated multidisciplinary team.

The successful candidate will have relevant Band 5 clinical experience and a strong interest in inpatient surgical nursing. You will play a key role in delivering high quality patient care while supporting the day to day running of the ward.

You will be committed to supporting and developing nurses and healthcare assistants, promoting professional standards, and contributing to the teaching and mentorship of junior colleagues and students. The role requires the confidence and capability to take charge of the ward when required, alongside excellent communication and organisational skills.

This role provides opportunities to enhance your clinical knowledge, develop leadership experience and access a range of educational and professional development programmes.

Main duties of the job
The Senior Staff Nurse role is a ward based leadership role involving the provision of high quality nursing care, and assisting in leading and supporting the nursing team. You will have clinical responsibilities including providing care for an allocated group of patients. This will involve all medication administration, nursing assessment and observation, acute care, provision of personal care and assistance with all care needs. Taking charge of the shifts will also be a key aspect of the role alongside providing support, education and leadership to junior staff and student nurses.

About us
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Details
Date posted: 05 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £47,951 to £56,863 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 309-UCLH-8402933
Closing date: 18 November 2026

Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

We have a strong multidisciplinary approach working closely with the therapists, clinical nurse specialists and the surgical teams. Clinical excellence and high standards are at the heart of the care we provide as is teamwork and respect.

This setting offers huge potential to develop your nursing career. The on the job learning is unparalleled thanks to the variety of surgical cases and the guidance and mentoring of our expert team. We have an excellent practice development team within the surgical division who will provide support and development to you and the team.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff. To find out more, visit: Flexible working. To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person Specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse Part 1, 2 or relevant
• Relevant Clinical Skills
• BSc or working towards

Desirable

• Teaching course

Experience
Essential

• Minimum 2 years relevant clinical experience at Band 5
• Competent in care and management of altered airways

Communication
Essential

• Communicates effectively verbally, in writing and in electronic format

Personal and People Development
Essential

• Demonstrates evidence of professional development in line with KSF, maintains updated Portfolio
• Demonstrates an awareness of the role of preceptor/facilitator
• Reflective in Practice
• Demonstrates evidence of ability to educate others

Provision of care to meet health and wellbeing needs
Essential

• Articulates reasons for desire to work in these clinical areas

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. 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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: University College London Hospitals, 235 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Ward Sister Tara Feehilly, tara.feehilly@nhs.net, 02034471487

Applications are considered regardless of background; UCLH is committed to equality of opportunity.