Job Summary
We're seeking an experienced senior nurse for an exciting opportunity in our busy Children’s Emergency Department at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, committed, and able to work well under pressure, with a strong desire to develop their skills.
As part of a clinical team including Band 7 nurses, ED consultants, and the Matron for Children’s Emergency Care, you will share responsibility for the department. You will work clinically alongside nursing staff, providing expertise and support. The role offers the chance to develop management and leadership skills within a diverse and supportive team.
As a Band 7 nurse, you will be responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating care programmes, setting care standards for children and their families in the ED, and leading nursing colleagues. You will also collaborate with the multidisciplinary team.
This clinical position requires you to work shifts, including nights and weekends, and includes management time for completing leadership duties throughout the year.
We're looking for individuals who are ready to make a difference in a dynamic and fast‑paced environment. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you!
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical Practice
* The post holder will provide specialist paediatric knowledge on the clinical care of emergency patients presenting with varying complaints and utilising advanced nursing skills across the children’s emergency care speciality.
* The post holder will, on a shift basis, ensure that all staff are aware of, and meet the needs of patients and relatives in a courteous, helpful and compassionate manner, whilst ensuring returned respect for staff members.
* The post holder will, on a shift basis, maintain effective relationships between the multi‑professional team in the clinical environment.
* The post holder will maintain and develop own clinical expertise and knowledge.
* The postholder will be aware of, and work in line with, our Trust’s Safeguarding Adults and Children procedures.
Service delivery and improvement
* The post holder on a daily basis acts as the shift leader to supervise, co‑ordinate and control the provision of high quality care within the children’s emergency service.
* The post holder will lead on the embedding and implementation of the Patient First Improvement System (PFIS) within the Children’s Emergency Department.
* The post holder will apply this methodology to all service improvement projects ensuring that a culture of continuous improvement is fostered within the department.
* The post holder will lead the regular CED huddles in collaboration with the consultant in charge and the bed coordinator for the RACH, aiming to promote patient safety and experience whilst working to deliver compliance with the 4‑hour standard and the 12‑hour standard through forward planning of emergency admissions, escalation and resolution of staffing issues.
* The post holder will be required to account for the reasons that patients wait for longer than expected within the department, recognising the importance of the emergency care standards. The post holder will lead on subsequent quality improvement projects, PDSA and learning cycles alongside the CED team to ensure that the department gives patients the very best experience and continues to provide safe care.
Learning and Development
* The post holder will work closely with the practice development team and will have a proactive approach towards and be involved in the emergency team development through ongoing education initiatives.
* The post holder will foster an environment that supports and encourages personal and professional development within the multi‑professional ED team.
* The post holder will encourage innovation by all members of the team and will act as a resource for those seeking knowledge and experience relating to emergency care issues.
* The post holder will promote reflective practice in self and others, creating a culture of learning and development within the department that ensures all staff are supported to grow and develop into effective children’s emergency nurses.
* The post holder will participate in the trust appraisal process and will actively strive to meet targets set by individual performance review in order to maintain professional and current expert emergency nursing knowledge.
Communications
* The post holder will be responsible for protecting all confidential information concerning patients and staff obtained in the course of professional practice, adhering to trust and statutory policies.
* The post holder will be able to competently establish and maintain effective communication with patients, their carers and the multi‑professional and multiagency team, identifying any potential barriers and adapting communication style as required.
* The post holder will be a positive role model within children’s emergency nursing, acting with kindness and courtesy at all times.
* The post holder will lead the team within the emergency department on a daily basis to facilitate the care, treatment and safe discharge of all patients, providing specialist nursing advice where appropriate.
* The post holder will provide clear and concise written, verbal and computer entered relevant information regarding the care and wellbeing of patients, maintaining good computer literacy and typing skills and ensuring all staff reportable to them on a shift‑to‑shift basis adhere to this.
Leadership and People Management
* The post holder will act at all times in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and within the individual Scope of Professional Practice.
* The post holder will ensure that the stated professional, legal and statutory requirements are complied with and that agreed trust policies and procedures are implemented.
* The post holder will lead, direct, motivate and support the team on duty during a given shift as an exemplary and professional role model for all members of the staff, ensuring high standards are met and challenging any poor practice.
* The post holder will be responsible for the management of patient care and flow through the emergency department, ensuring timely discharge or onward admission, anticipating and correctly escalating issues that may affect flow and any potential delays to the emergency pathway. The postholder will have a detailed understanding of the implications this will have on patient care and experience.
* The post holder will manage resources, including staffing, equipment and supplies financial governance, to ensure the safe and effective running of the department within a finite budget.
Personal Learning and Development
* Attend mandatory training updates as required.
* Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process.
* Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.
* Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager.
* Participate in the trust’s appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications (Essential)
* NMC registration
* Degree in nursing or related subject
* APLS/EPLS provider
* Teaching and Assessing in Practice / Mentorship module (or equivalent)
* RCN A&E competencies (level 2)
* Evidence of post‑registration study in an area related to paediatrics
Education and Qualifications (Desirable)
* MSc level education – Acute care / emergency care / paediatrics
* APLS/EPLS instructor
* History taking and physical assessment course
* Trauma qualification
* Management experience (including leading a team)
* Experience of supervising and appraising staff
Skills and Experience (Essential)
* Highly effective communication skills (verbal, non‑verbal and written)
* Awareness of equality and diversity
* Ability to motivate a team
* Ability to rapidly determine priorities for patient care
* Excellent management and leadership skills
* Experience working in acute/emergency paediatrics
Skills and Experience (Desirable)
* Awareness of own leadership style
* Experience of policy development
* Quality improvement experience / PFIS
Personal Qualities (Essential)
* Effective role model
* Optimistic outlook – ideas for role development – clear why they want the role
* Enthusiastic
* Team player
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (Essential)
* Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
* Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Additional Information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check – this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) will be required to check for any previous convictions.
UK Registration – Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
Job Details
Details Date posted: 26 November 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: 7
Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Fixed term, 12 months
Working pattern: Full‑time, Part‑time
Reference number: 279‑7607777‑NOV25
Job location: Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, Eastern road, Brighton, BN2 5BE
Candidate Pack
Candidate Pack https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/
Employer Details
Name: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
Address: Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, Eastern road, Brighton, BN2 5BE
Website: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/
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