Senior Charge Nurse Orthopaedics

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.

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 ward team.

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern

Permanent, Full time

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

Shift Pattern - Monday - Friday

Key responsibilities

CLINICAL

• Provide clinical leadership, driving innovation, efficiency, and quality of care while setting and measuring standards.
• Develop and maintain expert nursing practice within the ward/department.
• Lead and manage clinical and managerial change to meet patient needs.
• Supervise, deploy, and develop staff to ensure effective ward/department management.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care according to individual needs.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant documentation in line with NMC standards.
• Maintain effective multidisciplinary communication and promote evidence-based practice.
• Develop local protocols and guidelines to support safe and competent practice.
• Act as a role model and mentor for staff.

MANAGERIAL

• Manage resources effectively, including procurement of supplies.
• Lead recruitment and selection of staff.
• Ensure timely investigation of complaints and implementation of action plans.
• Ensure staff practice in line with NMC Codes and organisational policies.
• Lead HR planning, including rostering, leave, training, sickness absence, and use of bank/agency staff.
• Ensure systems are in place to manage risk, safeguard patients, visitors, and staff, and report incidents.
• Ensure regular staff 1:1 meetings, PDPs, and TURAS appraisals are completed.
• Participate in senior nurse operational 'in-charge' duties.
• Lead service development projects to support Directorate performance.
• Ensure safe custody of patients' belongings in line with policy.

EDUCATION

• Lead development of competency-based training to expand nursing roles.
• Ensure ward-based development programmes are implemented and recorded.
• Maintain professional knowledge through ongoing education and appraisal.
• Promote research, audit, and continuous performance improvement.
• Foster a culture that supports staff learning and development.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

• Promote safety and ensure compliance with health, safety, and infection control policies.
• Identify, manage, and report risks and incidents using organisational systems.
• Keep up to date with health and safety legislation and inform staff accordingly.

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

Training and/or qualification(s) required

• NMC Registration
• Suitable level of experience at Band 6
• Post Registration Qualification pertinent to Specialty is desirable
• Graduate level of education - desirable
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Excellent clinical knowledge
• Excellent Leadership skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Multidisciplinary 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

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• 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
• 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:

Morag Busby, 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-rata basis. A corresponding increase in the hourly rate will apply, ensuring that overall pay remains unchanged.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) 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.

For application portal or log-in issues, please contact the Jobtrain Support Hub in the first instance.