Job overview
At York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, patient care is at the centre of all that we do.
The Emergency Department (ED) at York serves as a vital access point for patients requiring urgent and complex medical care across North Yorkshire. With over 100,000 attendances annually, the department delivers multidisciplinary services including major trauma, acute medical emergencies, paediatrics, mental health, and geriatric care.
In the fast-paced and unpredictable environment of an NHS Emergency Department (ED), the role of the Senior Sister is both dynamic and critical. As a Band 7 clinical leader, the Senior Sister ensures the delivery of safe, effective, and compassionate care to patients presenting with a wide range of urgent health needs. This position demands not only advanced clinical expertise but also exceptional leadership, decision-making, and crisis management skills.
The Senior Sister in ED is responsible for overseeing the operational flow of the department, managing patients throughout, and coordinating care across multiple zones such as triage, resuscitation, paediatrics, and rapid assessment areas. They act as the nurse-in-charge during shifts, ensuring that staffing levels are appropriate, resources are optimally deployed, and clinical standards are upheld. Their presence is vital in maintaining calm and order during high-pressure situations, including major incidents and surges in patient volume.
Collaboration is central to the role. Senior Sisters work closely with consultants, advanced clinical practitioners, paramedics, and support staff to facilitate timely assessments and interventions. They are often the first point of contact for escalation, safeguarding concerns, and complex clinical decisions. Their leadership extends to mentoring junior nurses, supporting newly qualified staff through preceptorship, and promoting continuous professional development within the team.
Main duties of the job
Our successful candidate will consistently drive excellent clinical quality standards to a vulnerable patient group by providing visible clinical leadership to the team and support them in the delivery of high quality, effective and evidence based care.
We are a proud team with a strong sense of collaboration across all our healthcare professionals, working together to drive our service forward. Our candidate must be committed to the on-going development of the ward and multi‑disciplinary team working, and have the drive and passion to create an inspirational learning and working environment.
We offer a wide range of opportunities and development as a Band 7 Ward Sister/Charge Nurse. We offer the opportunity to develop your leadership and management skills and we will support you to truly take ownership of your role and ward area. As an organisation we are committed to ensuring you reach your personal and professional objectives.
Working for our organisation
To find out more about what it is like to work for our Trust, please visit:
Our benefits
We offer a range of benefits to support our staff including:
1. Access to the NHS Pension Scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants
2. 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)
3. A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave
4. Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relationship issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme
5. NHS Car Lease scheme and Cycle to Work scheme
6. An extensive range of learning and development opportunities
7. Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping, motoring, cinema and finance from a range of providers
For further information on the fantastic range of benefits we offer please visit the Trust's dedicated Staff Benefits pages.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
A full description of the role is available in the attachment: job description.
Please note that if a high number of applications are received this advert may close early. You are advised to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
Working for the Trust
Across our organisation, people are guided by values that were co-developed with staff: we are kind; we are open; and we pursue excellence.
Our values play into our ambition to develop a more diverse workforce, truly representative of our communities. We welcome applications from everyone, while working with our Staff Networks - including our Race Equality, LGBTQ+, Disability and Carers Networks - to increase the number of applications we receive from different backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to make our application process more accessible to you, please contact:.
As part of seeking to become more inclusive, we will consider requests for flexible working from the start of your employment. It may not be suitable for every role, but we will try and be supportive where we can. We would encourage you to speak to the recruiting manager named within this advert to discuss any requirements you may have.
Armed Forces Friendly Employer
We are holders of the Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers. This means that we have made a statement of intent to support all Defence personnel, including with applications for employment.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
8. Registered Nurse via NMC
9. Recognised teaching/assessing qualification
Desirable criteria
10. Leadership qualification
11. Degree in nursing or related subject
Training
Essential criteria
12. Evidence of continued professional development
13. Willing to undergo training as neccessary
Skills
Essential criteria
14. Ability to organise and prioritise own and others workload
15. Communication skills
16. Understanding of skills and knowledge required to lead and develop team members
Experience
Essential criteria
17. At least 18 months post registration experience at Band 6 or equivalent within an Emergency Department.
18. Experience of audit and standard setting
19. Budget management