Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse - Paediatric Day Surgery

The closing date is 12 November 2025

Job summary

Paediatric Day Surgery (PDSU) is a 6-bedded unit situated on Kingfisher ward, caring for children, young people and their families requiring pre and post operative care. The post holder will be one of two senior Band 6 nurses responsible for delivering a high standard of specialist evidence based care to children and their families.

The post holder will be a key member in relation to development of practice in the Paediatric Day Surgery Unit. They will be working independently/autonomously without direct supervision, accountable for own professional actions.

The applicant must have an interest in day surgery, good communication and leadership skills, and experience in managing small teams. You will need to be flexible and able to contribute to the delivery of a high standard family-centred care. We will provide support and encouragement to enable you to develop and achieve your full potential.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be one of two Sisters ensuring a high standard of care in PDSU. This will be demonstrated through infection control compliance, audit, service user feedback, risk management, complaints, staff satisfaction and development.

Support the operational and clinical running of PDSU to ensure the service is run effectively and efficiently. This includes patient flow, environment and equipment.

Strong communication skills- to ensure safe, quality and effective care throughout the CYP surgical pathway. This includes liaising with speciality leads/Anaesthetist to ensure timely review and management of CYP with complex behavioural, medical comorbidities or complex procedures.

Strong knowledge and skills within PDSU and be competent with preoperative assessment and individualised care planning, ensuring adequate support and information is given to prepare CYP and their carers for the perioperative journey.

Role model positive leadership and ensure staff are supported, team work promoted and staff developed including appraisals, competency and training with clear records and workforce planning.

The post holder should be experienced with team leadership and display strong team-working values, which extends to the senior nursing team across family services. Be proactive in establishing positive links, networking and collaboration with all areas and services across the Trust along the paediatric elective surgery journey, paediatric ward and Support Services.

About us

Family Services Division work as a team and there is an expectation of professional / leadership support across the division at all times. This includes providing support and cover during periods of leave. We operate a visible leadership approach with senior staff being accessible and available to the clinical teams.

Family Services has a management team including a Divisional Director and Divisional Manager. Senior posts include Senior Sister, Paediatric Matron, Head of Children's Therapy and Head of Midwifery. There are clinical leads in every department including SCBU, Community, Day Surgery and Child Protection.

We understand that some applicants may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in preparing their application materials. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind candidates that all submissions must be truthful and accurately reflect your own experiences and suitability for this role.Personal integrity and authenticity are central to our recruitment process. We value honesty and appreciate applications that are genuine and representative of the individual behind them.

Details

Date posted

30 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year Pro Rata Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

405-25-NM501PDS

Job locations

Dorset County Hospital

William Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Job description

Job responsibilities

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Please contact us at Recruitment@dchft.nhs.uk if you are unable to view or download the attachment.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Please contact us at Recruitment@dchft.nhs.uk if you are unable to view or download the attachment.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.

Person Specification

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

Essential

  • Registered Childrens Nurse
  • RSCN/RN Child Branch
  • Evidence of teaching in the clinical environment
  • Evidence of CPD, including field specific.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • A minimum of 2 years post registration experience
  • Evidence of working in speciality area
  • Evidence of managing a small team
  • Competent in appraisal process
  • Competent in managing difficult situations.

Desirable

  • Experience at a Band 6 level
  • Supervisor/ Assessor for students
  • Evidence of rota planning

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Essential

  • Evidence of ability to maintain effective positive working relationships with colleagues, patients and visitors.
  • Evidence of ability to practice as an efficient practitioner
  • Evidence of professional attitudes and behaviours
  • Evidence of organisational skills including effective time management
  • Demonstrates effective written and verbal communication skills.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality and required standards for documentation and records management both paper and electronic.
  • Evidence of understanding child protection
  • Drugs and IV administration competency

Desirable

  • Understanding of clinical governance and ability to assist in establishing systems and monitoring effectiveness of care
  • Evidence of ability to develop leadership skills
  • Knowledge of clinical audit / quality improvement
  • Completion of PILS training
Person Specification

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

Essential

  • Registered Childrens Nurse
  • RSCN/RN Child Branch
  • Evidence of teaching in the clinical environment
  • Evidence of CPD, including field specific.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • A minimum of 2 years post registration experience
  • Evidence of working in speciality area
  • Evidence of managing a small team
  • Competent in appraisal process
  • Competent in managing difficult situations.

Desirable

  • Experience at a Band 6 level
  • Supervisor/ Assessor for students
  • Evidence of rota planning

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Essential

  • Evidence of ability to maintain effective positive working relationships with colleagues, patients and visitors.
  • Evidence of ability to practice as an efficient practitioner
  • Evidence of professional attitudes and behaviours
  • Evidence of organisational skills including effective time management
  • Demonstrates effective written and verbal communication skills.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality and required standards for documentation and records management both paper and electronic.
  • Evidence of understanding child protection
  • Drugs and IV administration competency

Desirable

  • Understanding of clinical governance and ability to assist in establishing systems and monitoring effectiveness of care
  • Evidence of ability to develop leadership skills
  • Knowledge of clinical audit / quality improvement
  • Completion of PILS training

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Dorset County Hospital

William Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Employer's website

https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Dorset County Hospital

William Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Employer's website

https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Paediatric Acute Matron

Emma Collins

emma.collins@dchft.nhs.uk

01305255834

Details

Date posted

30 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year Pro Rata Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

405-25-NM501PDS

Job locations

Dorset County Hospital

William Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)