West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Band 6 - Junior Sister/Charge Nurse, Children's Emergency Department
The closing date is 26 November 2026

Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join us in our Children's Emergency Department at Watford General Hospital.

The Children's Emergency Department is a purpose-built environment for children and young people aged 0-15 years and has approximately 20,000 attendances a year across our Children's Emergency and urgent care pathways. It has a dedicated 2 bedded resuscitation area within the department and is part of the major trauma network. CED is co-located with the Paediatric Assessment unit which provides short stay care for children for 24 hours.

There is also an urgent treatment centre where we triage most of the children and young people who present to the hospital.

We are a friendly dedicated team of Paediatric Nurses and Paediatric consultants. The department is committed to continuous improvements in the service and benefits from having a Paediatric Advanced Nurse Practitioner service.

There is also support from the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse band 7s within the department.

There is a vast opportunity of support and development within our service. Our Paediatric Practice Education team are dedicated to aiding your competencies within paediatrics.

We are seeking an experienced paediatric ED nurse who is passionate about improving care and service delivery within the department, meeting the needs of all our patients whilst also meeting the national standards for emergency care.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will have experience with shift management and be able to provide high standards of care to critically unwell children and help promote clinical excellence within our team. Support the management of paediatric patient flow out of CED. The post holder will provide strong clinical leadership within the department, empowering others in the team to deliver evidence-based care, adhering to national standards and local policy.

On a shift-by-shift basis co-ordinate appropriate staffing across Children's Emergency Department and Paediatrics.

Work collaboratively with all nursing and medical teams in the department and paediatric inpatient areas. The post holder should have previous experience of working in a busy and fast paced ED environment, have the ability to communicate with different teams and continually adapt to a changing environment.

Post holder would take on link role responsibility dependant on personal preferences (trauma, bereavement, risk assessment & audit and student mentoring and support).

About us
With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please contact westherts.recruitment@nhs.net If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Details
Date posted: 12 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £41,957 to £50,387 a year pa inc. HCA
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: 360-D-12036
Job locations: Watford General Hospital, Watford, WD18 0HB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
As a Band 6 Junior Sister/Charge Nurse in the Children's Emergency Department (CED), you will deliver high-quality, evidence-based emergency care to acutely unwell and injured children and young people. You will act as a clinical role model, coordinating shifts, managing patient flow, and supporting junior staff and students.

Key responsibilities include assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care, alongside safe triage, resuscitation, and safeguarding procedures. You will maintain accurate clinical documentation, adhere to infection control standards, and escalate clinical or operational risks promptly.

You will work collaboratively with the clinical Band 7s, Emergency Consultants, paediatricians, the wider multidisciplinary team, and families to ensure safe, family-centred care.

Core Hours: Full Time/Part Time working internal rotation across days, nights, weekends, and bank holidays to meet service needs.

Person Specification
Education: Essential - RSCN/RN CHILD registered
Knowledge: Essential - Have undertaken APLS or willingness to undertake within 3 months; Knowledge of Child protection issues
Experience: Essential - Significant experience at Band 5 within a paediatric clinical acute environment; Previous experience in emergency nursing; Demonstrate specialist knowledge of patient group; Experience of shift co-ordination

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.

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

Employer details
Employer name: West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address: Watford General Hospital, Watford, WD18 0HB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Senior Sister/CED Manager, April Faruqui, April.faruqui@nhs.net, 01923217564

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