Job overview
Deputy Ward Sister/Charge Nurse (Band 6)
Henry Ward - Older persons Unit (OPU)
Acute & General Medicine Directorate
Are you a kind and compassionate, inspirational leader who sets high standards that others aspire to?
Do you have extensive post-registration experience in patient care, particularly medicine?
Are you an enthusiastic nurse who is a great team player and really motivates a team?
Are you that special person who will support your ward Sister as well as those more junior than you, and help get the team together.
Are you already a band 6 Senior Staff Nurse who would like to challenge themselves to a new role or different environment.
If so we would like you to join OPU!
We have a deputy vacancy on Henry Ward
You need to be able to provide strong clinical leadership ensuring a high standard of care is delivered to patients and their families.
You will also take an active role in the development of staff and the service.
Advert closing: 1st September 2025
Interview: 12th September 2025
Main duties of the job
Guys and St Thomas’ Older Persons Unit provides acute and rehabilitation services in each ward Alexandra, Anne and Henry Ward. Each 28-bedded ward underwent refurbishment to provide patients a dementia friendly environment in Central London. We take pride in setting a good standard of care of elderly and ensuring our nursing workforce has the necessary skills to deliver the best care possible.
In Acute & General Medicine we pride ourselves on our expertise in complex patient management and discharge planning.
The Deputy Ward Sister/Charge Nurse’s key responsibility is to ensure that the patient experience is of the highest quality inspiring patient and public confidence. This will be achieved through high visibility, accessibility and surveillance.
The post holder will ensure that all patients are treated with compassion, dignity and respect, also promoting best practice in the prevention of infection through ensuring a clean and safe environment.
What we can offer is a band 6 leadership programme that is designed to grow the band 7's of the future which you would start straightaway and is transferable to any ward-based area.
We are looking forward to welcoming you to join our dynamic and motivated team.
Working for our organisation
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK’s best known hospitals – Guy’s, St Thomas’, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield – as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We are among the UK’s busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.
We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and – as part of King’s Health Partners – we are one of England’s eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research.
We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally.
Organisational Values:
Our values help us to define and develop our culture, what we do and how we do it. It is important that you understand and reflect these values throughout your employment with the Trust.
The post holder will be:
1. Caring - we put our patients first
2. Ambitious - we innovate and strive for excellence
3. Inclusive - we respect each other and work collaboratively
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical Leadership and Managerial
4. Provide strong clinical leadership skills, supporting, energising, inspiring
and empowering others in pursuit of a shared vision to ensure the effective
management of the ward/department.
5. To assist and support the Sister/Charge Nurse in the establishment of an efficient working environment, making the most effective and efficient use of staff, supplies and services.
6. In co-ordinating the day-to-day management of the clinical area, delegates duties and care appropriately, whilst maintaining overall responsibility. Ensures that staffing and skill mix is maintained, at all times, to a level that does not compromise patient safety.
7. Responsible for the assessment and subsequent ordering of bank and
agency staff within the clinical area including being an authorised signatory for temporary staff
8. To be involved in the development, assessment and implementation of
guidelines, protocols and pathways.
9. To deputise for the Sister/Charge Nurse in their absence.
10. To attend and participate in monthly departmental meetings and ward rounds in the absence of the Sister/Charge Nurse. To help to promote new ideas and methods for the delivery of care and assist in their implementation through liaison and co-operation with the multidisciplinary team.
11. To participate in the development of care pathways to promote uniformity
of care.
12. To apply the Directorate and corporate Clinical Governance strategies to
the clinical area.
13. Deal with complaints in a calm and courteous manner, ensuring that
wherever possible complaints are dealt with efficiently and satisfactorily
and resolved locally.
14. Support the Sister/Charge Nurse implement local initiatives within the area.
15. When required to be involved with managing local projects within the area.
16. Understand and participate in the procedure for ordering supplies as required with the agreed budget and to ensure the appropriate use of
resources.
17. Responsible for maintaining stock control controlled drugs.
Person specification
Values & Behaviours
Essential criteria
18. Demonstrates trust values
Knowledge
Essential criteria
19. Mentorship qualification (SSAP) or equivalent
20. Evidence of continued professional development (educational / clinical skills)
Skills
Essential criteria
21. Up to date knowledge of current clinical and professional issues
22. Demonstrate an awareness of clinical governance and risk management and how this effects their role and the department
Experience
Essential criteria
23. Proven experience of managing a ward; including management of rotas managing competencies, resources and staff
24. Experience of teaching/assessing/ supervising others in a clinical setting
Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.