Junior Sister/Charge Nurse

Job Summary

Are you passionate about Emergency Care? Do you want to work in a Major Trauma Centre nestled between Dartmoor National Park and the sea? If that's you, I'd love to hear from you!

We are looking for experienced ED nurses to join our Band 6 team at Derriford Hospital, UHP NHS Trust.

We are the Major Trauma Centre for the South West Peninsula. 130,000 patients come through our doors yearly, 25,000 of these are children & 700 are major trauma patients. The very distinctive Air Ambulance can be seen flying in & out of Derriford a few times a day, bringing people from all across the region to be treated.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

• To work effectively as a member of the ED Senior Nursing Team, responding with vision and innovation to the demands upon emergency services.
• To provide clinical and managerial expertise in all aspects of emergency care, ensuring patients and their families/carers receive the highest possible standard of care.

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. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details

Date posted

26 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year £38,682 - £46,580 Per Annum, Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

216-LH-DC7767144

Job locations

Emergency Department, Derriford Hospital

Plymouth

PL6 8DH

Job Description

Job responsibilities

Clinical practice

Responsible for accurate assessment of new patients in the clinical area, identifying their physiological, psychological, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs in relation to their disease, injury, illness and proposed treatment.

Ensures patients are treated according to their priority of need for care, according to the correct treatment protocol/guidelines and that the appropriate investigations and treatments are undertaken as required.

Responsible for ensuring a plan of nursing care is developed for individual patients for their time in the emergency department and continuity of care is maintained throughout the patient journey.

Acts as patient advocate, when relevant, providing information and education on all their treatment options, to enable them to make an informed decision.

Negotiate with medical team on their behalf to agree a pathway of care which is suitable for the patient, their family, their condition, and prognosis.

Communicates highly sensitive and emotive condition related information to patients and their relatives, e.g., terminal illness, sudden death.

• Provides support for distressed patients/carers and bereaved relatives

Formulates and organises individualised patient care programmes in conjunction with medical/nursing team/allied professionals.

Independently changes management of nursing care.

• Provides specialised advice, both verbal and written to patients and their carers
  
  

For further details please see the attach JD & PS

Job Description

Job responsibilities

Clinical practice

Responsible for accurate assessment of new patients in the clinical area, identifying their physiological, psychological, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs in relation to their disease, injury, illness and proposed treatment.

Ensures patients are treated according to their priority of need for care, according to the correct treatment protocol/guidelines and that the appropriate investigations and treatments are undertaken as required.

Responsible for ensuring a plan of nursing care is developed for individual patients for their time in the emergency department and continuity of care is maintained throughout the patient journey.

Acts as patient advocate, when relevant, providing information and education on all their treatment options, to enable them to make an informed decision.

Negotiate with medical team on their behalf to agree a pathway of care which is suitable for the patient, their family, their condition, and prognosis.

Communicates highly sensitive and emotive condition related information to patients and their relatives, e.g., terminal illness, sudden death.

• Provides support for distressed patients/carers and bereaved relatives

Formulates and organises individualised patient care programmes in conjunction with medical/nursing team/allied professionals.

Independently changes management of nursing care.

• Provides specialised advice, both verbal and written to patients and their carers
  
  

For further details please see the attach JD & PS

Person Specification

Essential

Knowledge & Experience

• Significant demonstrable experience of skills in all areas of the Emergency Department.
• Current proven knowledge of nursing and emergency care issues, NHS reforms and NSF's
• Demonstrable experience of change management.
  
  

Desirable

• Proven evidence of competency by means of a professional portfolio.
• Competence fulfils FHEN/ RCN outline as Emergency Nurse (Band 5)
  
  

Essential

Qualifications

• NMC Registered
• Proven evidence of continued recent academic and clinical development Intravenous accreditation.

Mentorship/ Assessor/ Supervisor course/qualification

Desirable

• ALS
• APLS/PILS
  
  

Essential

Aptitude and Abilities

• Communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
• Teaching and mentoring skills.
• Ability to prioritise own workload.
  
  

Person Specification

Essential

• Communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
• Teaching and mentoring skills.
• Ability to prioritise own workload.
  
  

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).

Additional information

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Emergency Department, Derriford Hospital

Plymouth

PL6 8DH

Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Emergency Department, Derriford Hospital

Plymouth

PL6 8DH

Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

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