Sister​/Charge Nurse - Pre-Assessment & Elective Care Centre

Sister/Charge Nurse – Pre‑Assessment & Elective Care Centre

Join to apply for the Sister/Charge Nurse – Pre‑Assessment & Elective Care Centre role at Candino CA

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced and motivated Sister / Charge Nurse to lead our Elective Care and Pre‑Operative Assessment service within a Surgical Division recently rated “Good” by external regulators. This exciting leadership opportunity involves managing and developing the nursing team across a multi‑specialty pre‑operative service that includes General Surgery, Orthopaedics and Urology. You will provide visible leadership, promote multidisciplinary working and ensure the delivery of high‑quality, patient‑centred care in line with Trust priorities and the “Every Patient, Every Day” programme.

• Accountable for the delivery of nursing clinical services within the Pre‑operative Assessment Unit and to support the General Manager and Matron with service improvements
• Responsible for the management of the nursing and administration teams which support the service
• In collaboration with the Clinical Lead, ensure that patient care is undertaken within National Guidelines and supported by the Pre‑Operative Association and RCoA
• Work with management teams across specialties to ensure that their capacity demands are met safely
• Ensure the flow of relevant information to and from hospital meetings, forums and the wider healthcare economy for all ward staff
• Provide professional and managerial leadership for nursing, nursing support roles and administration & clerical team, accountable for the safe, efficient delivery of patient care in line with current research and for ensuring a framework of safe practice within the Pre‑operative Assessment Unit and Elective Care Centre
• As a key member of the Division Management Team, facilitate the development, implementation and evaluation of Trust and Government objectives in line with clinical service delivery

We are ESNEFT and provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across East Suffolk and North Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes. We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff. We pride ourselves on supporting our staff, offering a wide range of training and development opportunities, flexible working options, a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments where applicable, 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro‑rated) and access to a range of NHS discounts.

Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offers a variety of services. Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone – across the Trust we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those that cause time delays for staff and patients. We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic.

This digital transformation will bring what is regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

• Date posted: 08 January 2026
• Pay scheme:
  Agenda for change
• Band:
  Band 7
• Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year
• Contract:
  
  Permanent
• Working pattern:
  Full‑time
• Reference number: 432‑HR1122‑25
• Job location:
  
  Colchester Hospital, Turner Road, Colchester, CO4 5JL

• Evidence of an academic pathway equivalent to a degree in Nursing
• Experience recognising highly developed and complex levels
• Demonstration and evidence of personal professional development
• Proven experience at Band 6 / Junior Sister / Charge Nurse level or above in an acute setting
• Proven experience of leading and managing nursing teams, including managing change
• Experience of managing change quickly & effectively
• Providing advice to specialist and non‑specialist staff

• Holistic Assessment and History‑taking qualification / Management qualification
• Experience of service development, redesign, or strategic working
• Experience of interpreting national policies…