About this role
Job summary
The Paediatric Senior Sister plays a pivotal leadership role within our busy Emergency Department, providing expert clinical guidance, visible leadership, and compassionate support to ensure the highest standard of care for children, young people, and their families. As a Band 7, you will lead by example, overseeing the day-to-day delivery of paediatric emergency care, supporting the development of the nursing team, and ensuring safe, effective, and timely patient flow.
You will act as a clinical role model, promoting evidence-based practice, driving quality improvement initiatives, and contributing to the ongoing development of paediatric pathways within the department. Working closely with the multidisciplinary team, you will help shape a positive, collaborative environment where staff feel supported and empowered to deliver excellent care.
This role requires strong leadership, advanced clinical skills, and the ability to remain calm and decisive in a fast paced, unpredictable environment. You will play a key part in service development, staff education, and ensuring that the paediatric area of the Emergency Department continues to deliver safe, responsive, and child centred care.
Main duties of the job
*The post holder will be professionally accountable for the maintenance of standards and professional practice as set by the NMC Code of Professional Standards of practice and behaviour and relevant professional guidelines,
*To carry overall responsibility for the organisation and management of the department, including the supervision of students.
*To provide a clear focus for clinical leadership and to be responsible for ensuring the provision of a high standard of holistic, patient-centred care
*To be accountable for co-ordinating patient care, the management of resources and performance of staff
*Use a range of technique to ensure set and monitor standards of clinical practice, audit, research and teaching to set monitor and continually improve standards of care and patient experience.
*Ensure safe and effective clinical practice.
*Enhance patient experience.
*To lead, manage and develop team performance, promote professionalism and trust.
*Ensure the promotion and implementation of flexible and family friendly working in accordance with trust policies.
*Ensure effective delivery of organisational objectives.
*Ensure efficient and effective use of resources, managing a devolved budget.
*Ensure effective capacity management, including effective discharge planning and the utilisation of the discharge lounge.
*Ensure effective succession planning at all Bands.
*Active promotion the Trusts' visions, values and divisional objectives.
About us
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.
Job description Job responsibilities *Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
*Registered Children's Nurse (RNC) with valid NMC registration *Evidence of ongoing CPD relevant to paediatric acute or emergency care *Safeguarding Children training at Level 3
Desirable
*Post registration qualification in Paediatric Emergency Nursing, Acute/Unscheduled Care, or Advanced Paediatric Assessment *Leadership or management qualification *Teaching/mentorship qualification (Practice Assessor/Practice Supervisor) *Advanced paediatric life support training
Experience Essential
*Significant post registration experience in acute paediatric nursing *Experience working in an Emergency Department or urgent/unscheduled care setting *Experience leading shifts or coordinating care in a high pressure clinical environment *Experience supervising, supporting and developing junior staff and students *Experience managing paediatric emergencies, trauma and high acuity presentations *Experience contributing to audits, quality improvement or service development *Strong understanding of paediatric Knowledge of national guidance and standards (e.g., RCPCH, NICE, NHS England) *Understanding of safeguarding legislation, escalation processes and risk management *Knowledge of clinical governance, incident reporting and quality assurance
Desirable
*Experience leading or implementing service improvement projects *Experience managing complex safeguarding cases *Experience working across paediatrics, ED and community interfaces *Experience using digital systems relevant to emergency care *Awareness of emerging developments in paediatric emergency care *Understanding of patient flow, capacity management and operational pressures in ED
Additional Criteria Essential
*Ability to lead, motivate and support a team in a fast paced environment *Excellent communication skills with children, families and multidisciplinary teams * Strong clinical decision making and prioritisation skills * Ability to remain calm, professional and effective under pressure *Competent in paediatric assessment, escalation and emergency interventions *Ability to manage competing demands and maintain safe, effective care delivery *Compassionate, child centred approach to care *Visible, supportive and approachable leadership style * Commitment to continuous improvement and professional development *Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service *Positive attitude, resilience and adaptability *Willingness to work core shift patterns for the area 7 days a week including Night duties.
Desirable
*Additional paediatric clinical skills (e.g., cannulation, venepuncture, wound care, plastering) *Ability to analyse data, interpret audit findings and contribute to service redesign
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 University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Address Heartlands Hospital
Bordesley Green E
Birmingham
West Midlands
B9 5SS
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.uhb.nhs.uk/jobs.htm (Opens in a new tab)