Job summary
- Main area
- Women's and Children's
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 360-D-12022
- Employer
- West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Watford General Hospital
- Town
- Watford
- Salary
- £51,657 - £58,785 pa inc. HCA
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/11/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Band 7 - Senior Sister/Charge Nurse, Starfish Ward
Band 7
Job overview
Do you love caring for children and families and want to lead a team without stepping away from clinical practice? Join us as Band 7 Senior Sister/Charge Nurse on Starfish Ward at Watford General Hospital.
With 50% management and 50% clinical practice, you’ll have time to lead the ward and work alongside the team. It’s a chance to keep doing the nursing you enjoy, share your skills and stay close to the everyday experiences of children, families and colleagues.
We’re looking for an experienced children’s nurse who is approachable, cares about supporting others and wants to help shape the ward’s next chapter. You’ll work closely with the Paediatric Matron and wider team to make a difference to care on Starfish. If this sounds like your next step, we’d love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
You’ll lead the day-to-day running of Starfish Ward, helping the team deliver safe, child and family centred care. Working with the Paediatric Matron and multidisciplinary team, you’ll oversee staffing, rostering, recruitment, staff development and ward resources.
Your clinical time is an important part of the role: you’ll care for children alongside colleagues, offer hands-on support and coaching, and lead by example. Being part of the team’s daily work will help you build relationships, understand what support is needed and turn ideas for improvement into everyday practice.
We’re looking for strong acute paediatric experience, experience of coordinating shifts and leading a team at Band 6 or equivalent, and clear communication and organisational skills. Above all, you’ll bring a thoughtful, approachable style and a genuine commitment to helping others develop.
Working for our organisation
We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.
Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.
We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking
If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please contact [email protected]
If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You’ll be responsible for nursing standards and the day-to-day management of Starfish Ward, including staffing and skill mix, ward resources and a safe, welcoming environment. You’ll support colleagues through supervision, appraisal and development, encouraging a team culture where people can raise concerns and share ideas.
Working with the Paediatric Matron, medical colleagues, practice development team and wider multidisciplinary team, you’ll support coordinated care, discharge planning, safeguarding and appropriate escalation of concerns. You’ll use audit, feedback from children and families, and learning from incidents and complaints to improve care.
The role is 50% management and 50% clinical practice. Working patterns will reflect ward and service needs; exact hours and rota requirements will be discussed at interview.
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
- Registered Children’s Nurse with current Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration
- Recognised mentorship qualification or preparation as a practice supervisor/assessor, or equivalent teaching and assessment qualification
- Current advanced paediatric life support certification
- PCC Level 2/HDU qualification and competencies
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Comprehensive knowledge of acute general paediatric nursing and the physical, developmental, psychological and social needs of babies, children and young people
Experience
Essential criteria
- Substantial post-registration experience in acute paediatric nursing
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sophie Dudley
- Job title
- Deputy Director of Nursing, Paediatrics
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07779925075
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Watford General Hospital
Vicarage Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0HB
- Telephone
- 01442 365233
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