Senior Staff Nurse

Job overview

Squirrel Gastro Ward are looking for a dynamic and passionate nurse to join our team as a Band 6 Senior Staff Nurse.

The ideal candidate will have good time management and decision making skills, along with an ability to work both autonomously and as part of team. Leadership and role modelling are also key aspect for the Band 6 role, being able to support junior staff and support the Ward Sister in the efficient running of the ward.

Squirrel is a busy ward with 10 beds, specialising in gastroenterology medicine, both acute and Long term management. You will have the opportunity to learn complex fluid management, Parental Nutrition and caring for children undergoing investigations of the GI tract, Pre transplant assessment of children that require Bowel or Multi-visceral transplants and caring for children having complex medication regimes for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. We are a national centre for some conditions and care for children for across the country and occasionally abroad.

We offer a mixture of long and short stay patients, catering for a diverse age range of patients from newborn to 18 years.

Substantial experience in Paediatrics is preferred for this role, as well as an interest or knowledge of Gastroenterology.

Main duties of the job

Why we need you:
• To join the team of staff who will work in our world class clinical building to continue to deliver outstanding patient care.
• To bring your individuality – we embrace diversity!
• Live our always values with us
• To enjoy connecting with people of all ages
• Be a team player and a valued member of the GOSH community


To provide clinical leadership to a designated nursing team and ensure the provision of high- quality nursing care to children, young people and families.
To act as a role model and expert clinical practitioner.
To assist in the safe, effective and efficient management of the department within allocated resources.
To promote a progressive attitude to the continual improvement of patient care through research and evidence-based practice.
To undertake delegated responsibility for the department in the absence of the Ward Manager /Team Leader.
To be familiar with and adopt the principles of the NHS Chief Nursing Officers vision for Compassion in Practice (NHS Commissioning Board Dec 2012).

Working for our organisation

We are committed to recruiting the best person for the job through a fair, open and consistent process that is free from bias and discrimination.

We are working towards becoming an anti-racist organisation. This means creating a workplace where every colleague feels seen, heard and valued, and where racism in any form has no place. Our anti-racism commitment is backed by action through our Anti-Racism Statement and action plan, developed in collaboration with our REACH staff network.

We actively challenge discrimination, dismantle barriers and embed equity across all aspects of our workforce, including recruitment, progression and development. All applicants will receive equal consideration regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, health condition or employment history.

We particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, and LGBTQ+ community members. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Business Disability Forum, and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

Our staff networks, including REACH, PRIDE, ENABLED and Women’s Networks, are active and executive supported. These employee-led networks play a vital role in shaping an inclusive culture at GOSH and are open to all colleagues.

Together, we are building a culture where inclusion is not optional - it is essential.

Detailed job description and main 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

Essential criteria

• Gosh Values

Academic/Professional qualification/Training

Essential criteria

• NMC Registered Nurse (Child) Or RN Adult
• Relevant nursing qualification
• Evidence of ongoing professional development relating to clinical speciality

Desirable criteria

• Assessor or practice supervisor qualification/experience

Experience/Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge and understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives
• Experience of having worked with acute/chronically sick children or specialised transferable skills
• Understanding of professional and current issues in children’s nursing
• Understanding of Diversity and Inclusion challenges in the workplace
• Understanding of the importance of research and evidence-based practice
• Demonstrable contribution to advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
• Basic knowledge of computer skills
• Understating or evidence of fulfilling requirements for Revalidation
• Understanding of safeguarding issues according to Trust policies and procedures
• Understanding of principles of clinical governance ( risk management, audit, quality)

Desirable criteria

• Understanding of nursing practice and innovation outside of GOSH
• Knowledge of clinical incidents and complaints and reporting
• Previous experience in the relevant specialty of post (preferably in an NHS setting)

Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• Ability to plan and prioritise care for patients
• Committed to family centred care
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent numeracy skills
• Good time management and teaching skills
• Ability to work well both in a team and on own initiative
• Ability to delegate tasks as appropriate
• Demonstrates Compassion in practice