Date posted: 08 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 216-LT-DD8088923
Job locations: Derriford, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom

Job summary
Norfolk Ward is a specialist Gastroenterology ward consisting of 24 beds.We work closely with consultants, dietitians and specialist teamsincluding the IBD Team, Nutrition Team, Psychiatry and the Eating Disorder services.

This role will balance advanced clinical care with leadership, acting as a role model and ensuring safe, effective patient care while supporting team development and ward operations. You will provide clinical supervision and support to Band 5 nurses and HCAs, contribute to rota planning, staffing decisions, and incident management.

Main duties of the job
The ideal candidate must show a commitment to high quality patient care and excellent team work along with a genuine interest in the care of all patients. You will be expected to work internal rotation including evenings, weekends and night shifts and have strong leadership skills, with ability and enthusiasm to continually improve our service while supporting the staff, students, patients and relatives.

We are looking for someone who is an excellent communicator and team worker -flexible and motivated, along with a positive attitude to introducing new initiatives to facilitate the change and taking an active management role which you will be required to demonstrate at interview.

You must have demonstrable experience as a registered nurse with some experience in an acute setting.

As a team we are dedicated to delivering high quality care for our patients and currently have an exciting and ongoing programme for improvement, which allows us to constantly review our practice and pathways. We have a dedicated Clinical Educator who works alongside the teams in practice, ensuring that all staff have the competencies and education required to undertake all the tasks required

About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care.

The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

Job responsibilities

• 1. Continuing responsibility for the assessment of care needs and setting standards by:
  • Assisting in developing the nursing resource within Norfolk Ward
  • Ensuring staff work within national and locally agreed policies and procedures.
  • Working closely with MDT to manage the demand for acute beds
  • Assisting with recruitment and retention of staff, including sickness and absence, appraisals and staff training in line with Trust policies.
  • Planning off-duty rotas to make effective use of staff.
  • Participates in clinical research and audit and contributes to development of knowledge within field of expertise.
  • Supports and advises junior staff who wish to undertake audit and research.
  • Role modelling good behaviours and managing those who fall below expected standards of behaviour

Clinical

• Delivery of Infection Control practice as defined by National recommendations and local policies. Teaching staff to understand their responsibilities e.g. environmental cleanliness, maintenance and use of all equipment within clinical setting
• Ensuring staff understand and implement actions and responsibilities e.g. environmental cleanliness, maintenance and use of all equipment within clinical setting

For further information please see attached job description

Person Specification
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential

• Good organisational and communication skills, written and verbal, with proven ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels
• Effective influencing skills: in general and with senior health care professionals
• Teaching and mentoring skills
• Numerate
• Proven ability to prioritise workload, instruct and direct others, acting as a role model and leading by example.
• Proven ability to analyse and evaluate information
• Advocacy skills
• Counselling skills
• Proven ability to manage conflict
• Proven ability to analyse and evaluate information.

Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse.
• Recognised teaching qualification.
• Leadership course or the willingness to undertake

Desirable

• Second registerable qualification relevant to the clinical area
• Computer literate (ECDL)
• Degree in Health-related subject/or equivalent demonstrable experience

Knowledge & Experience
Essential

• Demonstrable post registration experience in an acute setting
• Recent clinical skills & knowledge

Desirable

• Demonstrable gastroenterology experience

Disposition / Attitude / Motivation
Essential

• Willingness to undertake further training and development
• Able to recognise the professional accountability and responsibility commensurate with the post
• Proven ability to motivate and manage change
• Good communication, influencing and negotiation skills.

Desirable

• Proven ability to demonstrate experience in planning and leading a change process in a clinical setting

Other factors
Essential

• Able to work flexible shifts.

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).