Sister/Charge Nurse

Job description

Job summary

Sister/Charge Nurse

Department Same Day Emergency Care

Band 6 £39,959 - £48,117 per annum, pro rata

Hours 30 hours per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a junior sister to join the Same Day Emergency Care Unit (SDEC) in Maple Center which has opened in October 2022 to join our dedicated and dynamic team which provides same-day emergency care for patients at our hospital. This means that patients are assessed, treated and can go home the same day without being admitted overnight.

It is a way of providing safe care, designed for the needs of the patient. The service also aims to prevent unnecessary admissions and provide a better experience for patients.

The post holder will be supporting the senior sister to facilitate the daily activities and supporting staff nurses to deliver the highest standards of care in SDEC. The postholder will be closely working with other specialist services such as Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT), Veno-thromboembolism (VTE), Bridging Clinic, Frailty Team and Emergency Surgical Clinic (ESC) and has opportunities to work with Advanced Care Professionals (ACP) and clinical specialist nurses.

If you have a strong focus on improving patient experience and care and you are able to work inter professionally across boundaries, we are keen to hear from you.

Interview 14 October 2026

Main duties of the job

'94% feel that their role makes a difference to patience and service users.' 'NHS Staff Survey 2024'

The post holder will work autonomously, within their scope of practice, leading and coordinating the nursing team within a defined clinical area, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality patient care in line with Trust policies and national standards.

The post holder will act as Nurse in Charge on a regular basis, taking responsibility for the operational management of the ward/department, including staff allocation, patient flow, and escalation of risk. The post holder is accountable for the delivery of care across the clinical area and the performance of the nursing team during shifts for which they are in charge

The role includes leadership, supervision and development of staff, and responsibility for implementing and monitoring standards of care and service improvement initiatives, under the direction of the Senior Sister/Senior Charge Nurse.

About us

Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.

As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.

We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre. We have just opened the Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards.

Further investment is underway, including the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.

Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -

For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To be responsible for the unsupervised assessment of patient care needs, ensuring appropriate assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care, maintaining high standards of evidence-based care.

To provide expert clinical care for a defined group of patients, including those with complex and unpredictable needs.

Operational Management

Act as the Nurse in Charge on a regular basis, coordinating the shift and ensuring safe staffing and skill mix, utilising relevant systems to do so e.g. Healthroster and Safe Care.

Take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the ward/department in the absence of the Senior Sister/Senior Charge Nurse

Professional Responsibilities

To maintain professional registration and fulfil revalidation requirements.

Ensure compliance with Trust policies and practice within the NMC Standards and guidelines.

Leadership, Education and Training Responsible for the day-to-day supervision and direction of Registered and Unregistered Nursing colleagues and Healthcare Assistants on shift.

Monitor standards of performance and escalate concerns appropriately.

Other Duties

The postholder may participate in a departmental/divisional bleep rota as required.

Staff may be temporarily redeployed to other areas of the Trust during times of peak acuity, in accordance with their skills, competence and service needs.

Please refer to the Job Description for further details

Job description
Job responsibilities

Clinical

To be responsible for the unsupervised assessment of patient care needs, ensuring appropriate assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care, maintaining high standards of evidence-based care.

To provide expert clinical care for a defined group of patients, including those with complex and unpredictable needs.

Operational Management

Act as the Nurse in Charge on a regular basis, coordinating the shift and ensuring safe staffing and skill mix, utilising relevant systems to do so e.g. Healthroster and Safe Care.

Take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the ward/department in the absence of the Senior Sister/Senior Charge Nurse

Professional Responsibilities

To maintain professional registration and fulfil revalidation requirements.

Ensure compliance with Trust policies and practice within the NMC Standards and guidelines.

Leadership, Education and Training Responsible for the day-to-day supervision and direction of Registered and Unregistered Nursing colleagues and Healthcare Assistants on shift.

Monitor standards of performance and escalate concerns appropriately.

Other Duties

The postholder may participate in a departmental/divisional bleep rota as required.

Staff may be temporarily redeployed to other areas of the Trust during times of peak acuity, in accordance with their skills, competence and service needs.

Please refer to the Job Description for further details

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

Essential

• Nursing Degree
• Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) PIN
• Evidence of post-registration development
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Knowledge of current professional issues in nursing
• Understanding of use of clinical audit in a clinical setting
• Knowledge of infection control
• Knowledge and understanding of Same-Day Emergency Care Pathways
• Knowledge of patient triage
• Mentorship/practice assessor qualification (or willingness to undertake)

Desirable

• Immediate Life Support (ILS)
• History Taking and Patient Assessment course

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working as part of a team
• Experience working in an acute healthcare environment
• Significant post-registration experience in relevant clinical area
• Experience of acting as Nurse in Charge/coordinating a clinical area or shift
• Experience supervising unqualified staff
• Experience/appreciation of community issues/needs.
• Experience in management of central vascular access devices (CVAD)

Desirable

• Experience supervising qualified staff

Skills

Essential

• Ability to deal with complex and difficult emotional situations
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
• Clinical assessment and decision-making skills
• Diplomacy and negotiation skills
• IT skills
• Ability to manage workload and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.
• Leadership and team management skills
• Ability to undertake audits and support quality improvement.
• Cannulation/ venipuncture
• Understanding and Interpretation of blood results

Desirable

• Teaching and good presentation skills
• Ability to undertake career conversations and appraisals

Personal and people development

Essential

• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Approachable
• Able to work under pressure.
• Able to reflect on own practice
• Willing to learn and improve personal practice

Communication

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Able to communicate effectively with other members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)

Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge

Essential

• Nursing Degree
• Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) PIN
• Evidence of post-registration development
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Knowledge of current professional issues in nursing
• Understanding of use of clinical audit in a clinical setting
• Knowledge of infection control
• Knowledge and understanding of Same-Day Emergency Care Pathways
• Knowledge of patient triage
• Mentorship/practice assessor qualification (or willingness to undertake)

Desirable

• Immediate Life Support (ILS)
• History Taking and Patient Assessment course

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working as part of a team
• Experience working in an acute healthcare environment
• Significant post-registration experience in relevant clinical area
• Experience of acting as Nurse in Charge/coordinating a clinical area or shift
• Experience supervising unqualified staff
• Experience/appreciation of community issues/needs.
• Experience in management of central vascular access devices (CVAD)

Desirable

• Experience supervising qualified staff

Skills

Essential

• Ability to deal with complex and difficult emotional situations
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
• Clinical assessment and decision-making skills
• Diplomacy and negotiation skills
• IT skills
• Ability to manage workload and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.
• Leadership and team management skills
• Ability to undertake audits and support quality improvement.
• Cannulation/ venipuncture
• Understanding and Interpretation of blood results

Desirable

• Teaching and good presentation skills
• Ability to undertake career conversations and appraisals

Personal and people development

Essential

• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Approachable
• Able to work under pressure.
• Able to reflect on own practice
• Willing to learn and improve personal practice

Communication

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Able to communicate effectively with other members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

Employer details

Employer name

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address

SDEC (Dept)

Standing Way

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD

United Kingdom

Employer's website