Ward Sister

Job responsibilities

Clinical Leadership

• Provide clinical leadership and support to nursing staff and healthcare assistants, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and compassionate care to patients in the in-patient unit.
• Lead by example in delivering person-centered care, promoting dignity, respect, and comfort for patients and their families throughout their hospice journey.

Team Management and Development:

• Supervise and mentor nursing staff and healthcare assistants, providing guidance, support, and constructive feedback to promote professional development and enhance performance.
• Facilitate team meetings, clinical debriefs, and educational sessions to promote learning, communication, and continuous improvement within the team.

Patient Care and Advocacy:

• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized care plans for patients, collaborating with the multidisciplinary team to ensure holistic and coordinated care.
• Advocate for patients' needs, preferences, and wishes, ensuring their voices are heard and respected in decision-making regarding their care and treatment.

Clinical Governance and Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with clinical governance frameworks, policies, and procedures, maintaining high standards of care, infection control, and health and safety within the in-patient unit.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, audits, and clinical risk assessments to identify areas for enhancement and implement best practices in patient care.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

• Collaborate effectively with medical staff, allied health professionals, social workers, and volunteers to coordinate and optimise patient care, support, and resources.
• Foster a collaborative and supportive working environment, promoting effective communication, teamwork, and mutual respect among interdisciplinary team members.

Family Support and Communication:

• Provide emotional support, education, and guidance to patients' families and caregivers, facilitating open and honest communication and addressing their concerns and needs.
• Act as a liaison between patients, families, and the interdisciplinary team, ensuring effective communication and coordination of care throughout the hospice journey.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse with current registration with the
• Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
• Significant experience in palliative and end-of-life care,
• including previous leadership or management
• experience in a similar setting.

Desirable

• Post-registration qualification in palliative care or
• relevant specialty (e.g., Palliative Care Nursing,
• Advanced Nurse Practitioner).
• Experience working with SystemOne.
• Experience working with volunteers.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Emotionally intelligent, with the ability to lead with
• empathy, clarity, and resilience in emotionally complex
• situations.
• Passionate about providing dignified, person-centred care,
• in line with Rotherham Hospices mission and values.
• A visible, approachable leader who inspires confidence and
• trust among staff, patients, and families.
• Collaborative and team-focused, with a commitment to
• fostering a supportive and inclusive working environment.
• Calm under pressure, with the ability to prioritise effectively
• and make considered decisions in a dynamic clinical
• setting.
• Reflective and open to feedback, demonstrating a
• commitment to continuous personal and professional
• development.
• Reliable, responsible, and accountable, with high personal
• integrity and a strong work ethic.
• Flexible and adaptable, able to respond positively to
• change and evolving patient needs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the
• ability to engage sensitively and effectively across a range
• of people and situations.
• Passionate about staff wellbeing, with a nurturing and
• compassionate leadership style.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable

• Curious and innovative open to new ideas in clinical
• practice, leadership, and service improvement.
• Naturally optimistic with a can-do mindset and a drive to go
• above and beyond in service of patients and colleagues.
• Strong ambassadorial presence confident representing
• the Hospice in wider networks, forums, and partnerships.
• A reflective thinker who can balance strategic vision with
• day-to-day operational realities.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Strong clinical assessment and decision-making skills,
• with the ability to provide expert clinical support and
• leadership in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and
• interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective
• relationships and collaborate with multidisciplinary
• teams.
• Commitment to upholding the values and mission of
• Rotherham Hospice in providing compassionate and
• dignified care to patients and their families.

Desirable

• Proficiency in Microsoft systems.
• Multilingual proficiency.
• Proficiency in additional languages is highly desirable as it enables
• effective communication and engagement with a diverse range of
• stakeholders, including patients, families, and staff from
• multicultural backgrounds. Being multilingual enhances our ability
• to provide inclusive and culturally sensitive care and support
• services, contributing to Rotherham Hospices mission and aims.

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 NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).