Ward Sister / Charge Nurse

Job summary

Join Our Dynamic Team on Ward 14 - A Leading Orthopaedic Unit

Ward 14 is a vibrant 26-bed elective Orthopaedic ward dedicated to caring for patients undergoing orthopedic surgeries. Managed by a dedicated Ward Manager, our team of nurses collaborates closely with a multidisciplinary team--including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, doctors, and specialist nurses.

We pride ourselves on creating a dementia-friendly environment where teamwork and compassion are at the heart of everything we do. Our commitment is to provide a high standard of care that makes a real difference in our patients' recovery journeys.

In this exciting role, your clinical expertise and autonomy will truly shine. You'll assess and care for patients following the principles of Enhanced Recovery and the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) initiative, ensuring optimal outcomes for every individual.

As a Sister/Charge Nurse, you will be a natural leader--supporting, guiding, and inspiring your team to deliver outstanding, patient-centered care at all times. You'll take charge coordinating and delegating effectively, and ensuring seamless planning and management of nursing care with a sharp focus on patient safety.

You will also have a vital role in supervising and mentoring learners and unregistered staff, providing valuable teaching and acting as a named supervisor. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead, develop, and make a lasting impact in a supportive, forward-thinking environment.

Main duties of the job

In this role, you will:

• Manage a caseload of patientson a shift-by-shift basis, delivering high-quality, patient-centred care
• Take charge in the absence of the Ward Manager, coordinating ward activities and staff
• Coordinate and optimise ward flow, ensuring smooth admissions, discharges, and patient movement
• Foster strong relationshipswith colleagues, patients, relatives, and carers, ensuring effective communication and teamwork
• Build collaborative partnershipswith community colleagues to reduce length of stay and improve patient outcomes
• Recognise patients at risk of deterioration, escalate concerns promptly, and administer appropriate interventions
• Maintain thorough and accurate documentationin line with Trust policies, ensuring safety and compliance
• Oversee staffing rosters and resource managementto ensure balanced workloads, monitor time balances, and manage annual leave within KPI targets
• Support the Ward Managerwith budgetary control and resource planning
• Lead on quality improvement initiativesthat enhance patient safety, experience, and care standards
• Plan and deliver induction programsfor new staff, providing support to meet their individual needs and competency requirements
• Lead, support, and develop staffto ensure safe, effective, and compassionate patient care
• Create a welcoming, safe, and healing environmentfor patients and staff alike

About us

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we're always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.