Description
The Deputy Senior Staff Nurse is a senior clinical leadership role responsible for supporting the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in the operational management and clinical leadership of the Neurosurgery Ward.
The post holder will ensure the delivery of high-quality, safe, effective, and patient-centred care for patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures and those with complex neurological and spinal conditions.
Working as an experienced registered nurse, the Deputy Senior Staff Nurse will coordinate the day-to-day running of the ward, providing expert clinical support and leadership to the multidisciplinary team.
The post holder will be accountable for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care for patients with complex neurosurgical needs, ensuring care is delivered in accordance with evidence-based practice, national standards, Trust policies, and the NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
Main duties of the job
The role includes responsibility for clinical shift coordination, patient flow, discharge planning, workforce management, and maintaining high standards of patient safety and quality of care.
The Deputy Senior Staff Nurse will regularly take charge of the ward in the absence of the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse, ensuring effective management of staffing, resources, patient acuity, and operational pressures.
The post holder will act as a visible clinical leader and professional role model, promoting a positive ward culture that supports excellence in patient care, staff wellbeing, and continuous professional development.
They will provide supervision, mentorship, and support to registered nurses, nursing associates, healthcare support workers, and students, fostering a learning environment that encourages professional growth and clinical excellence.
About us
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas.
Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
Benefits
- Agenda for Change pay scheme
- Band 6 salary (£47,951 to £56,863 per annum)
- Full-time permanent contract
Job responsibilities
- Clinical Leadership and Patient Care: Provide expert clinical nursing care to patients with neurosurgical and neurological conditions, ensuring care is safe, effective, evidence-based, and patient-centred.
- Ward Management and Operational Leadership: Deputise for the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse and assume responsibility for the operational management of the ward in their absence.
- Staff Leadership and Development: Provide leadership, support, and supervision to registered nurses, nursing associates, healthcare support workers, and students.
- Communication and Collaborative Working: Develop and maintain effective communication with patients, relatives, carers, and members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Quality Improvement and Clinical Governance: Support the implementation and monitoring of clinical standards, policies, procedures, and care pathways.
- Health, Safety, and Risk Management: Promote and maintain a safe, clean, and therapeutic environment for patients, visitors, and staff.
- Education, Research, and Professional Development: Maintain professional registration and clinical competence in accordance with NMC requirements.
Requirements
- Advanced clinical knowledge in neurosurgical nursing
- Strong leadership and organisational skills
- Excellent communication abilities
- Commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality care
Working conditions
- National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG