Sister​/Charge Nurse Critical Care

Job Summary

We have a fantastic career opportunity in forward‑thinking critical care environment.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 6 Sister/Charge nurse position within the Critical Care department at The Kent & Canterbury Hospital.

We pride ourselves on delivering consistently high standards of holistic care. This is reflected in our CQC reports, ICNARC data, performance metrics and feedback from patients, relatives and visitors to our unit.

We have a busy, mixed level unit admitting emergency and elective patients from a variety of specialities.

We are a friendly, supportive and dynamic team with a strong commitment to professional development. Critical Care is fully committed to audit, research and forward‑thinking, providing a dynamic environment conducive to gaining additional knowledge and skills.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, energetic, innovative and self‑motivated sister/charge nurse to join our well‑established and diverse team. You will be expected to act and support our large workforce, to set and maintain the high clinical standards we all aspire to.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience within critical care and have completed the critical‑care course. You will need to demonstrate a proactive and adaptive approach to support the ward managers and staff. A positive mindset, strong communication skills, ability to work under pressure, manage staff and deliver patient‑focused care are essential. Flexibility to meet the varied demands of the role as required is also required.

There are excellent development and educational opportunities. We will offer both classroom‑based learning and bespoke advice to support your journey from your first management role and beyond.

• Critical care course
• Extensive clinical leadership / team management experience
• Expert skills in caring for both Level 2 and Level 3 patients
• A degree or equivalent level of education and experience

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is ‘great healthcare from great people’. Everything we do is guided by our values: ‘People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference’. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called ‘We care’.

It’s about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day‑to‑day. We’re looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

• Date posted: 06 February 2026
• Pay scheme:
  Agenda for change
• Band:
  Band 6
• Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year pro‑rated if applicable
• Contract:
  
  Permanent
• Working pattern:
  Full‑time, Part‑time, Flexible working
• Reference number: 344‑2978
  
  SAC
• Job location:
  
  Kent & Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Rd, Canterbury CT1 3NG
  , Canterbury CT13NG

• Significant experience working in an acute care environment with some experience of leadership
• Clinical assessment skills
• Facilitation skills
• Communication and influencing skills

• Experience working as a clinical leader
• Teaching skills
• Intermediate Life Support provider
• Knowledge of bed management

• Involvement in quality improvement projects within clinical speciality
• Role model trust values at all times

• Registered General Nurse Degree in Nursing or working towards degree or equivalent
• Significant experience at Band 5 or above in a critical care setting
• Adult critical care qualification preparation of mentor or practical assessor
• Preparation of mentors or Practice Assessor

• Master’s degree or working towards the equivalent qualification

• Experience in audit compliance
• Knowledge of current NHS priorities

• Participation in link groups or research trials

• Knowledge of local quality improvement initiatives
• Awareness of and adherence to the organisation's vision, mission and values

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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. Further information is available on the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. Further information can be found on the NHS Careers website.

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Kent & Canterbury Hospital

Ethelbert Rd, Canterbury CT1 3NG
, Canterbury CT13NG

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