Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
The closing date is 31 May 2026.
Our Neonatal Unit is looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic individual to join our friendly and well established Neonatal team as a QIS Band 6 Deputy Sister/Deputy Charge Nurse. This post is for a 6‑month secondment.
To apply for this post the applicant must be 1 year post Neonatal QIS qualification.
The post holder will be responsible for the assessment of care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of care required for the sick neonate and their family. In addition the post holder will participate in the day‑to‑day management of the unit, providing support and leadership in the absence of a Clinical Sister.
Job responsibilities
Clinical and Professional Leadership
- Comply with the NMC code and ensure all elements are adhered to, including record keeping and medicines management.
- Provide holistic care for the sick neonate and their family who may require neonatal intensive, high dependency and/or special care.
- Assess care required by the sick neonate in partnership with medical and specialist staff, working with parents/carers to facilitate family integrated care.
- Plan and implement planned programmes of care, ensuring physical, social, psychological and spiritual needs are met, including communicating sensitive information within the multidisciplinary team.
- Ensure safe practice, ability to concentrate for long periods and to deal with distressing and emotional circumstances.
- Provide professional leadership, critically evaluate current practice, develop new ideas to improve effectiveness and maintain high standards of care.
- Act as a professional role model using appropriate language and following Trust standards in care delivery.
- Coordinate care across all professions for the benefit of patient experience and outcome.
- Ensure all staff know how to raise concerns regarding risk.
- Facilitate effective admission and discharge processes including the use of Medway, Maternity Medway and Badger IT systems.
- Ensure staff understand safeguarding processes and escalation.
- Support the Practice Improvement Champions in sharing best practice and embedding change.
- Work alongside the Practice Development Nurse to promote education and training.
- Actively engage in taught programmes including extended induction for nurses and Healthcare Assistants.
- In confidence with the Matron, facilitate and evidence that clinical supervision is in place.
- Act as a practice assessor/supervisor and provide effective feedback to inform learning.
- Identify and develop talent within the team.
- Support development of Assistant Practitioners/Associate Nurses and ensure staff are aware of accountabilities when delegating to this group.
- Ensure mentors are supported in developing students and maintain an effective learning environment.
Improving Quality
- Demonstrate awareness of the Trust’s Quality Strategy including the Patient Safety Campaign.
- Use audit data, incidents and patient experience feedback to inform practice changes.
- Communicate audit outcomes with the team and ensure understanding.
- Address poor performance/competence per Trust policy.
- Maintain ward boards, publish audit outcomes and action plans.
- Conduct patient experience interviews and prompt action on issues.
- Ensure high standards of infection prevention and control.
- Create a questioning culture within the nursing team.
Management
- Support the Senior Sisters/Matron in providing professional and managerial leadership.
- Ensure effective staffing through governance around e‑rostering.
- Participate in recruitment processes.
- Implement Trust Nurse in Charge expectations.
- Develop systems of work organization and discharge processes.
- Develop team and provide performance reviews.
- Improve communication skills to reduce complaints.
- Support delivery of relevant aspects of the Nursing and Midwifery Strategy.
- Safeguard health, safety and welfare of staff.
- Report accidents, incidents and hazards according to procedures.
- Promote effective communication within the Family Health Division and hospital.
- Investigate adverse incidents and manage outcomes to improve safety and experience.
- Support management of attendance and absence.
Statutory and Miscellaneous
- Maintain up‑to‑date Professional Registration.
- Hold a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and be rechecked every three years.
- Maintain own vaccinations/Hepatitis B immunity.
- Safeguard patient confidentiality (Data Protection Act).
- Attend statutory refresher courses as necessary.
- Ensure duties carried out to highest standard, in accordance with quality initiatives and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
- Report incidents and risks to manager.
- Perform any other duties commensurate with the grade.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- NMC Registered Nurse/Child or Adult branch
- Neonatal High Dependency and Intensive Care course (QIS Course)
- Master’s degree or working towards
- Management or leadership qualification
Knowledge/Experience
- Experience as a staff nurse in acute healthcare.
- Experience of development and leadership of change in clinical practice.
- Good knowledge of safeguarding.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Skills
- Develop and maintain communication with people on complex matters.
- Make judgements based on evidence‑based practice.
- Develop a culture that improves quality.
- Work in partnership, develop, evaluate direction, policies and strategies.
- Use data to inform changes and implement them effectively.
Key Competencies / Personal Qualities and Attributes
- Passionate and committed to bring Dedicated to Excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality, diversity and inclusion of staff, patients and service users.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post requires a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service. It is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exempt Order) 1975.
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
6 months
Location
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire
Pay
£39,959 to £48,117 per annum/pro rata
Reference number
264-7974225-FAM
Working pattern
Day and night shifts; flexible working hours required.
Job locations
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire
Address
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire
