DSU Nurse-in-Charge | Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

· To anticipate the care needs of patients and actively manage the patient’s journey through the unit, including advanced life support and assessment.

· To manage and deliver patient care pathways for a designated group of patients through surgical assessment unit and day surgery using multi-disciplinary treatment plans/protocols.

· To pro-actively participate in the planning, assessing, implementation and evaluation of patient care as part of the multi-disciplinary team from day case admission to discharge.

· To ensure that patients (and their) relatives are involved in decisions about their treatment and care.

· To support, and work with, the Senior sister to provide effective unit management.

· To supervise junior staff to ensure quality care is delivered to patients.

· To deliver care in accordance with the NMC Code of Practice/Scope of Professional Practice and the Trust’s and surgical policies and protocols.

· To act as an advocate for the patient and family at all times.

· To ensure the safety of patients in accordance with local and national safeguarding procedures.

· To participate in auditing effectiveness and incorporate finding into practice.

Key working relation relationships

· Clinical teams

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· Department of Nursing

· Multidisciplinary team

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· To ensure that all patients have a plan of care, which has been discussed with them. The plan must include a comprehensive assessment of clinical risks, review mechanisms and discharge planning arrangements.

· Work with the multi-disciplinary team to provide assessment and discharge planning services that achieve effective care and treatment and efficient resource use.

· To ensure that treatment, care and practice are evidence based.

· To ensure that treatment and care is documented, including variances.

· To deliver timely and effective nursing care.

· Coordinate the patient pathway from admission, recovery, safe and timely discharge.

Ensure that privacy and dignity is preserved at all times. Ensure the patient and their families receive a high standard of care in accordance with the Trusts patient experience strategy.

Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.

We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible. Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.

We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.

If you haven’t heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probation.Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

Management

· Assist with the management of the nursing team including duty rostering, audit, benchmarking, and practice development under the direction of the Senior Sister.

· To work with the Senior Sister to ensure that feedback mechanisms are used to improve the quality of care and service delivery. This includes responding to, and reporting, concerns, enquiries and complaints from patients, adverse events and clinical incidents.

· To work with the Senior Sister to ensure the most effective use of resources within a defined budget. This includes the effective deployment of staff, in order to provide a safe level of patient care, within a defined budget.

· To participate in recruitment, interviewing, selection, induction and orientation of staff.

· To be aware of and implement all relevant Trust policies and procedures.

· To participate in regular staff meetings and other Trust initiatives.

Professional

· To be competent in nursing skills in acute surgery, including advanced life support and other forms of advanced care.

· To participate in identifying, assessing and minimising risk for the protection of patients and their relatives

· To promote and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and members of the multi-disciplinary team

· In conjunction with the Senior sister identify the clinical competency deficits, education and development needs of the nursing team through participation in the Trust appraisal process

· Identify own clinical competency deficits, education and development needs of the nursing team through participation in the Trust appraisal process

· In conjunction with the Senior Nurse and Senior sister/charge nurse, review and update educational programme for staff

· Contribute to preceptor/mentoring relationships with students/learners and new members of staff

· Keep own skills and knowledge up to date and demonstrate these skills and knowledge in the clinical area

· Be aware of own limitations and able to escalate issues appropriately.

COMMUNICATION

· Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive and inclusive manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move forward.

· Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to the different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions.

This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and his/her manager.

All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure. You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledge level. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member of

This advert closes on Wednesday 22 Apr 2026