Senior Charge Nurse

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The role:

To have overall responsibility for the supervision of the assessment of care needs and the delivery and maintenance of optimal care outcomes, ensuring that the highest standard of personalised nursing care is delivered to patients, in partnership with all members of the multi-disciplinary team.

The post holder will provide clinical and managerial leadership to the department team.

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:

Permanent

Full time 37 hours per week

Shift Pattern - Monday - Sunday 24/7.Early, late, night.

Royal Alexandra Hospital

Key responsibilities: CLINICAL

• Provide clinical leadership, develop innovative approaches to improve care, and set measurable standards.

• Develop expert nursing practice within the ward/department.

• Lead and support clinical or managerial change, encouraging innovation and meeting patient needs.

• Supervise, deploy, and develop staff to ensure effective ward/department management.

• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care programmes based on patient needs.

• Ensure all documentation is clear, accurate, timely, and compliant with NMC standards.

• Maintain effective communication with staff, patients, and relatives, ensuring evidence based practice.

• Develop local protocols and guidelines to support competent nursing practice.

• Act as a role model and mentor for staff.

MANAGERIAL

• Manage resources efficiently, including procurement of non stock items.

• Lead recruitment and selection processes.

• Ensure timely investigation of complaints and implementation of action plans.

• Ensure all nurses comply with the NMC Code and organisational policies.

• Lead HR planning, including conduct management, duty rosters, leave, training, sickness monitoring, and use of Bank/Agency staff.

• Safeguard patients, visitors, and staff, ensuring systems are in place for risk identification and incident reporting.

• Ensure regular 1:1 meetings, PDPs, and appraisals for all nursing staff.

• Participate in Senior Nurse Directorate page holding duties, providing clinical and managerial support.

• Contribute to service development and Directorate projects.

• Ensure safe custody of patient belongings and appropriate procurement processes.

EDUCATION

• Lead development of training schedules to support expanded nursing roles using competency based approaches.

• Ensure ward based development programmes are implemented and staff progress is recorded.

• Maintain up to date nursing knowledge through ongoing education and self development.

• Promote research, audit, and continuous performance improvement.

• Foster an environment that supports staff learning and development.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

• Promote safety for patients, visitors, and staff, ensuring systems exist to identify and report clinical risks.

• Participate in risk identification and ensure risks are recorded and managed appropriately.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:

• Diploma/Degree
• Ist Level Registered Nurse
• Suitable level of experience at Band 6
• Excellent clinical knowledge
• Excellent Leadership skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Multi Disciplinary Team Working
• Good mediation skills
• Good time management
• Good organisational skills.
• Effective decision making and problem solving skills
• Self motivated, articulate and assertive

What we offer:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion, please contact:
Jennifer McFarlane, Lead Nurse

Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process: Information for candidates

This post may close early to the volume of response. Please submit your application form as soon as possible. Due to the volume of applications that we receive, we will not be able to provide shortlisting feedback.

From 1 April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will reduce from 37 hours to 36 hours. Part time working hours will be reduced on a pro rate basis. A corresponding increase in the hourly rate will apply, ensuring that overall pay remains unchanged.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recognises the importance of work life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as "various", we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.

Candidates must provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools or other third-party assistance to generate, draft or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the recruitment process.

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