Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse

Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Children's Emergency Department at the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital for an experienced nurse to join our Band 6 team of nurses. Ideally you will have a background of working within a Children's Emergency Department.

You will be working closely with our team of Band 7 nurses and taking lead on shifts with their support.

We can provide various training opportunities to ensure you progress within the role.

We have a team of dedicated practice educators that work closely within the department.

Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.

If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will be a highly experienced, diligent and motivated children's Emergency Department (CED) nurse, with an aptitude to deliver and support junior colleagues evidence based high quality care for children and young people.

The post holder will provide expert clinical care, using critical decision making skills to provide high quality care for children, young people and their families. They will ensure a safe and efficient environment for patients, families and staff, whilst meeting the emergency department clinical quality Indicators, KPI's and national performance targets as appropriate.

They will motivate, support and display overall exemplary professional leadership to the nursing and wider CED team.

About us
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Candidate Pack

Details
Date posted 15 September 2026
Pay scheme Agenda for change
Band Band 6
Salary £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum pro rata
Contract Fixed term
Duration 8 months
Working pattern Full-time, Part-time
Reference number 279-8162835-SEP26
Job locations Royal Alexandra Childrens hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN25BE, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Internal applicants should note that this opportunity will be offered on a secondment basis. Before applying, internal colleagues must discuss the opportunity with their current line manager to confirm whether they can be released from their substantive role if successful. Release to undertake a secondment is not automatic and must be agreed between the colleague, their current line manager, and the recruiting line manager.

Clinical Practice

• The post-holder will ensure that all areas of their practice adhere to all current NMC guidance.
• The post holder will be a clinical expert delivering evidence-based care to Children/young people (CYP) and acting as a clinical role model for colleagues.
• To be confident and highly competent at triaging patients on arrival to CED, utilising a triage tool and appropriately prioritising patients based on urgency and clinical presentation. To utilise and redirect post triage any suitable patients to appropriate GP services which can be accessed directly by CED staff.
• They will be able to undertake a comprehensive physical assessment of children and young people in CED, escalating concerns timely and succinctly.
• They will have knowledge and skills to sensitively assess and communicate with children and young people that present with mental health presentations.
• They will sometimes be the nurse in charge for CED and they will be responsible for and prioritising the safety of patients in the department and timely flow of patients through the department,
• They will utilise critical evaluation and critical decision-making skills to oversee the department to assess and reassess the prioritisation of deteriorating patients, escalating as appropriate.
• Be competent and confident with paediatric advanced life support.
• Along with a member of the medical team, they will attend paediatric trauma calls in the adult ED, providing paediatric nursing assessment/treatment and be an advocate for the child/young person in an adult clinical environment.
• To be fully conversant with emergency procedures regarding major incidents.
• Be familiar with the child death process within the CED and support staff with any child death, signposting to wellbeing and emotional support services as

Please see attached Job Description for full details

Person Specification
Experience/ Qualifications
Essential

• NMC registration as a children's nurse
• First Degree
• Teaching and assessing in clinical practice or equivalent.
• APLS/EPLS provider or equivalent
• Significant recent experience in children's emergency nursing.
• Be proficient in fundamental CED skills

Desirable

• Additional qualifications in teaching or education.
• Children's ED course or equivalent

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Essential

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

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).

Employer details
Employer name University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
Address Royal Alexandra Childrens hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN25BE, United Kingdom
Employer's website (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: CED Matron, Carl Sedge, View email address on meeveem.com, View phone number on meeveem.com

Supporting documents
Privacy notice University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)'s privacy notice (opens in a new tab)