Deputy Sister / Charge Nurse Visa Sponsorship UK

Job Description

Band 6 Senior Staff Nurse – AAU / SDEC / MDCU
12-Month Fixed Term (Maternity Cover)

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Band 6 Senior Staff Nurse to join our senior nursing team on a 12-month fixed-term basis. This role offers the opportunity to rotate across three key acute services — the Acute Assessment Unit (AAU), Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC), and the Medical Day Care Unit (MDCU) — playing a vital role in the delivery and development of high-quality front door care.

About the Service

Our modern Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit, which opened in August 2025, provides timely assessment and treatment for patients referred from primary care, hospital wards, outpatient clinics, and the Emergency Department across medical, surgical, and orthopaedic pathways.

Alongside SDEC, the 55-bed Acute Assessment Unit (AAU) and the newly established Medical Day Care Unit (MDCU) support rapid assessment, treatment, and early supported discharge for a wide-ranging medical patient group. Together, these services form a fast-paced and collaborative environment focused on safe, efficient patient flow and positive outcomes.

Your Role

As a Band 6 Senior Staff Nurse, you will provide visible clinical leadership while working across AAU, SDEC, and MDCU. You will help ensure patients receive safe, timely, and compassionate care while supporting teams to deliver consistently high standards in demanding acute settings.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading by example and providing effective day-to-day clinical leadership across all three units
• Supporting safe and efficient patient flow to improve patient experience and outcomes
• Delivering high-quality clinical assessment and nursing care in fast-paced environments
• Acting as a role model by mentoring, supervising, and developing junior nursing staff
• Promoting staff wellbeing, maintaining team morale, and contributing to a positive working culture
• Ensuring care delivery meets governance, policy, and safety standards
• Contributing to service improvement initiatives and the continued development of SDEC and MDCU
• Working closely with multidisciplinary teams to support smooth and coordinated patient journeys

Governance, Quality, and Risk

Working alongside the Unit Sister, you will support the development and review of clinical policies, protocols, and procedures. You will play an active role in risk management, ensuring risks are identified, reported, and controlled in line with Trust policy.

You will also:

• Report and respond to incidents or near misses, undertaking investigations where required
• Participate in Early Learning Reviews and help embed learning into clinical practice
• Support the setting and delivery of objectives aligned with unit and corporate priorities
• Ensure accurate and timely recording of patient activity on the PAS system

Secondment and Visa Information

If you are currently employed by another NHS Trust or UHSussex and wish to apply on a secondment basis, you must secure written approval from your current manager or Trust before applying. Secondment applications cannot be progressed without this agreement. If approval cannot be obtained, you may still apply for the role as a fixed-term appointment.

This position is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas and Immigration Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship is subject to meeting UKVI eligibility requirements, including skill level, role-specific criteria, and the minimum salary threshold of £25,000.

Working with UHSussex

At UHSussex, we value difference and believe diversity strengthens our ability to deliver Excellent Care Everywhere. Our Outstanding CQC rating for Caring reflects our commitment to inclusion, compassion, and respect. You will be supported by a range of staff networks, offered a buddy to help you settle in, and encouraged to thrive in a welcoming and innovative environment. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the main duties of the role. From time to time, you may be asked to undertake additional responsibilities that align with your banding and professional skills, including project work, internal rotation, or covering short-term service needs, in line with service requirements.

If you are passionate about acute nursing, leadership, and service development, this role offers a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful impact across three vital clinical areas.