Job Description

NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area

Surrey Downs Health and Care

Grade

NHS AfC: Band 6

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time Part time Flexible working
37.5 hours per week (Long shifts: 07:30 - 20:30 or 20:00 - 08:00 / Short days: 07:30 - 15:30 / 12:30 - 20:30 over a 7-day week)

Job ref

343-SDH&C-7421454

Site

Dorking Community Hospital

Town

Dorking

Salary

40,617 - 48,778 Pro Rata Per Annum inc Fringe HCAS

Salary period

Yearly

Closing

17/09/2025 23:59

Job overview

Surrey Downs Health & Care

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Senior Staff Nurse to join our dedicated team at Dorking Hospital. In this leadership role, you will oversee and support the daily operations of the ward, providing expert care to patients with frailty and rehabilitation needs while fostering a positive and collaborative environment. As a Senior Staff Nurse, you will manage and supervise ward staff, deliver high-quality patient care, deputise for the Ward Manager, mentor team members to support their professional development, and contribute to service improvement initiatives. If you are an experienced and compassionate nurse ready to take on a leadership role in a dynamic and supportive team, we would love to hear from you.



Please note this post will require the post holder to work shifts inline with the wards patterns which include; long shifts: 07:30 - 20:30 or 20:00 - 08:00 / Short days: 07:30 - 15:30 / 12:30 - 20:30 over a 7-day week. This will include both long shifts day and night as well as short days. Working shifts including nights can help provide experienced clinical leadership, supervision and support for junior staff and students. This role is crucial for maintaining continuity and high standards of care especially at night when more senior management is unavailable.

Main duties of the job

The post holder is responsible with the continuing management of the patients and/or staff within their clinical setting, without supervision alongside their team lead and taking the chain of command in the absence of their team lead.



This includes the assessment of care needs, the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care, the setting and maintaining of standards and the supervision and deployment of staff, if appropriate.



The post holder will undertake facilitation of educational programmes for basic, post basic and in-service training, in close liaison with the Learning and Development Team.



To work closely with the senior team member to facilitate patient focused, innovative research based practice, in line with Surrey Downs Health and Care objectives.

Working for our organisation

Surrey Downs Health and Care deliver care closer to people's own communities through our Primary Care Networks, Community Hospitals, Specialist Services and our innovative partnership of local NHS organisations.



Surrey Downs Health and Care has a track record of providing person centered care that goes beyond organisational boundaries to do what is best for the individual. This partnership includes:


The three GP federations GP Health Partners, Dorking Health Care and Surrey Medical Network representing practices that operate in the Surrey Downs area CSH Surrey Epsom and St Helier's University Hospitals NHS Trust Surrey Council County

Historically, there have been boundary lines between the organisations that provide care to people in their homes, in GP surgeries and in hospitals, but we have always been united in our mission to provide great care to the people who need us.



It's on those grounds that the Surrey Downs Health and Care was formed - we want local people to receive the care that they need in the right environment. By bringing together our expertise, we can improve patient care and enable local people to access the right support, care and treatment more easily than ever before.



In bringing this partnership together, we are working to the same set of values that will translate into better care for our residents.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Work as a role model within the team undertaking lead responsibilities providing skilled nursing care to patients, assessing their immediate and long term needs and that of their family/carers, by informing, preparing and reviewing plans of care. Participate in and promote nursing research and project work within the clinical area to promote the delivery of skilled high quality care within the team and encourage others within the team to diversify their skill set. Maintain own professional and clinical integrity in line with NMC guidelines. Treat all patients as individuals, respecting their privacy and dignity at all times involving, supporting, informing and educating family/carers where appropriate Take every opportunity to promote the health and wellbeing of the patient In the absence of the senior team member, be responsible for planning cover, appropriate staffing and skill mix ensuring adequate cover at all times, deputising as appropriate Ensure continuity of care between all clinical settings through appropriate timely planning and good communication through all available channels Be responsible for individual timely data entry and as well ensuring wider corporate team's data entry is maintained and supporting other team members to complete this as well. Maintain clear and comprehensive, signed and contemporaneous records according to Surrey Downs Health and Care procedures. Ensure up to date knowledge in all aspects of clinical practice, and act as a resource and provide support and guidance for other staff. Be responsible for ensuring that policies and procedures and standards of care, are adhered to at all times Support Surrey Downs Health and Care's process of clinical supervision for self and team member. Carry out monthly one-to-ones with the team including appraisals. Support the team lead where appropriate and assisting with delegated tasks and duties requested to support the service needs. Plan, participate in and evaluate teaching programmes for all levels of staff in liaison with the team lead and liaising with the Learning and Development Team to ensure competencies are maintained. Identify staff training and development needs and facilitate a good clinical learning environment for all members of the nursing team. Act as an assessor and mentor to qualified and unqualified staff. You will be the main support network for all new staff members within your team. Work within the budget allocated and ensure economic use of resources. Identify and monitor consumable levels with the administration team and approve usage of off-formulary requests. Participate in the recruitment and selection process when appropriate. Ensure maximum effectiveness of care by facilitating a multi-disciplinary approach, this includes holding team meeting in the absence of the team lead and responsible for forwarding on minutes to absent team members to ensure they are briefed. Be aware and act upon, when necessary procedures that are in place to protect vulnerable individuals. Liaising with safeguarding team and social services and support other team members in this process. Participate in the Surrey Downs Health and Care Clinical Governance Strategy, facilitating and instigating clinical audit and monitoring of care. Supporting Team Leads with Datix investigations and facilitating and supporting within Rapid Response Reviews (RRR's). Participate in the Surrey Downs Health and Care Risk Management Strategy, ensuring that all processes are adhered to and reporting any identified risks to the team lead or operational manager. Undertake any such other duties as may be required from time to time as are consistent with responsibilities of the post Team members who are employed to work within Surrey Downs Health and Care localities and may be reasonably requested to move base temporarily or on a more permanent basis, as requested by service needs.

Person specification

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Qualifications

Essential criteria

1st level registration Evidence of continued professional development post registration

Desirable criteria

Educated to Level 3 #

Experience and Knowledge

Essential criteria

Evidence of experience of team management and multi-disciplinary working Relevant post registration experience Awareness of the current and wider NHS issues

Desirable criteria

+ Experience of appraisal and clinical supervision
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Skills

Essential criteria

Interpersonal and communication skills both verbal and written Ability to prioritise

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.


This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.