Senior Staff Nurse - Bear Ward

Overview

Senior Staff Nurse - Bear Ward, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust. The closing date is 02 November 2025.

Are you looking to join a friendly and highly skilled team dedicated to providing the highest levels of care for children and young people? We are looking for NMC-registered nurses to join our Heart and Lung Directorate, working in a well-established team at GOSH.

This role supports the ongoing expansion of our Cardiac Nursing service, including the development of a focused High Dependency Unit to ensure timely discharges and appropriate placement for children requiring cardiac surgery.

Bear and Alligator Ward (28 beds combined, including 8 HDU beds) specialise in Cardiothoracic care involving the heart, lungs and trachea. GOSH is the UK centre for Paediatric Pulmonary Hypertension, providing specialist care for patients up to 18 years old.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 6 nurse, excellent communication skills are required to manage either ward as the nurse in charge. You will liaise with the full MDT - CICU, medics, surgeons, physiotherapists, dietitians and others - to ensure a smooth patient journey, with support from ward managers, the education team and family liaison nurse.

Alligator ward focuses on Level 1 patients, ensuring timely discharges and parental teaching. Cardiac at GOSH is a fast-paced environment requiring flexibility and adaptability. You will be given a preceptor or mentor based on your background and receive ongoing support from the ward-based education team to develop your skills and confidence. There is an opportunity to rotate across all areas and specialties within Heart and Lung after a period of consolidation.

• To be a clinical expert within care of children and young people with a cardiac condition.
• To ensure the provision of excellent, evidence-based nursing care for children and young people with cardiac conditions and their families at all times.
• Ensure each child or young person is assessed, and that care is planned, implemented and evaluated in negotiation with the family, and that this is accurately documented.
• Ensure the provision of appropriate supervision and support to members of the ward team.

About us

GOSH is committed to recruiting the best person for the job based on ability and merit, through a fair, open, consistent process free from bias and discrimination.

We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of unemployment. We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.

We have policies to ensure fair treatment of applicants and employees. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion. We have active staff networks including BAME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions, and Women's networks.

Staff networks are employee-led groups that contribute to a positive and inclusive work environment and are open to all staff.

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.

Person Specification GOSH Culture and Values

• Our Always values
• NMC Registered Nurse (appropriate to clinical specialty)
• Relevant nursing qualification
• Evidence of ongoing professional development related to Cardiology (e.g., HDU Module, Cardiac Module)
• Assessor or practice supervisor qualification/experience

Experience/Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives and related challenges in the workplace
• Understanding of professional and current issues in children's nursing
• Understanding of the importance of research and evidence-based practice
• Demonstrable contribution to advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
• Basic computer skills
• Understanding or evidence of fulfilling requirements for Revalidation
• Understanding of safeguarding issues according to Trust policies and procedures
• Understanding of principles of clinical governance (e.g., risk management, audit, quality)
• Experience of working with acute/chronically sick children with cardiac conditions
• Experience of being the nursing shift lead on a shift
• Previous NHS experience in the relevant specialty
• Knowledge of clinical incidents and complaints and reporting
• Understanding of nursing practice and innovation outside of GOSH

Skills/Abilities

• Ability to plan and prioritise care for patients
• Commitment to family-centred care
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Evidence of HDU competency
• Good time management and teaching skills
• Ability to work well in a team and on own initiative
• Ability to delegate tasks as appropriate
• Administration of IV drugs
• Ventricular Assist Device competency
• Central venous access management

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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

Address

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Salary: £46,419 to £55,046 per year, pro rata per annum inclusive

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern Reference number Job locations

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust