Job overview
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route however sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds (£25000), and any role-specific criteria.
Are you ready to take the next step in your nursing career?
Join our dynamic Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) and Medical Day Case Unit (MDCU) at the Princess Royal Hospital, where every day brings fresh challenges, teamwork, and the chance to make a real impact on patient care.
As a Junior Charge Nurse/Sister, you will lead a skilled and motivated team, ensuring safe, efficient patient flow and excellent care for ambulatory emergency patients. Working closely with the multidisciplinary team, you will help shape services, drive innovation, and deliver “Excellent Care Every Time” – the hallmark of University Hospitals Sussex.
This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced Band 6 or a confident Band 5 ready to step up. You’ll be supported with strong mentorship, professional development, and encouragement to reach your potential.
If you’re passionate about delivering high-quality, evidence-based care and leading by example, we’d love to hear from you. Informal visits are welcomed.
Main duties of the job
As a Junior Charge Nurse/Sister in Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) and the Medical Day Case Unit (MDCU), you will take a key leadership role in delivering high-quality, evidence-based care to patients requiring urgent assessment and treatment on an ambulatory pathway.
You will lead shifts and coordinate daily activity across both units, ensuring safe, efficient and compassionate care. Working closely with the Emergency Department, Acute Medical Unit and wider multidisciplinary teams, you will support patient flow and admission avoidance through timely assessment, treatment and discharge.
You will act as a visible clinical leader and role model, supporting, motivating and developing nursing and support staff to ensure a positive, professional and high-performing team culture. You will foster learning and wellbeing, contribute to the supervision of junior staff and students, and uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.
You will promote innovation and quality improvement, encouraging ideas that enhance patient experience, safety and service delivery. Effective communication and collaboration will be central to your role, alongside maintaining governance and safety standards through audit and reflection.
This is a rewarding leadership role combining hands-on clinical care with opportunities to shape service development, support colleagues and improve patient outcomes.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Why join us?
1. Be part of an innovative, forward-thinking team focused on ambulatory care and admission avoidance.
2. Develop leadership and decision-making skills while supporting staff and learners.
3. Work in a supportive environment that values teamwork, respect, and inclusion.
4. Access excellent learning and development opportunities
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated nurse to take on a leadership role within our Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) and Medical Day Case Unit (MDCU) at Princess Royal Hospital.
As Junior Charge Nurse/Sister, you will provide visible clinical leadership, supporting the safe and effective delivery of patient care while coordinating daily operations within the units. Working closely with the multidisciplinary teams—including the Emergency Department and Acute Medical Unit—you will help maintain patient flow, support admission avoidance pathways, and ensure high standards of evidence-based care.
You will contribute to staff development, wellbeing and service improvement, encouraging innovation and teamwork to enhance the patient and staff experience.
Further details of the role, responsibilities and person specification can be found in the attached Job Description and Person Specification document.
We welcome applications from those who currently hold a UK NMC registration. If you currently hold an overseas nursing qualification and require sponsorship we are not currently direct hiring Internationally Qualified Nurses.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
5. ENB 998/Mentorship qualification (or equivalent)
6. NMC registration with current PIN
7. Edward Jenner programme (or working towards)
8. Educated to Diploma level education in relevant subject or equivalent
Desirable criteria
9. Degree-level study or leadership training
10. Care of the Acutely Ill Module (or equivalent)
11. ILS provider
12. Degree or Masters level post qualification studies
Experience
Essential criteria
13. Demonstrated leadership or shift coordination experience in an acute/emergency care environment
Desirable criteria
14. Degree-level study or leadership training (Edward Jenner, etc.)
Clinical Skills
Essential criteria
15. Evidence of experience in patient assessment and decision-making in acute settings
Desirable criteria
16. Evidence of extended skills (e.g. 12 lead ECG interpretation, USS guided IV access, etc).
Service Improvement and Innovation
Essential criteria
17. Experience or interest in quality improvement, patient flow management, or service redesign
Desirable criteria
18. Experience leading or contributing to service improvement initiatives
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Essential criteria
19. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
20. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications