Deputy Sister / Charge Nurse UK Visa Sponsorship
Job Description
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Department: Medicine for Older People – The Mary Anning Unit
Location: Dorchester
Contract: Fixed term – 12 months (maternity cover)
Hours: Full time or part time, up to 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £39,959 – £48,117 per year
NHS AfC: Band 6
Vacancy Reference: 405-26-NM469DSN
Closing Date: 4 October 2026 at 11:59pm
About the Opportunity
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is looking for an experienced and motivated Band 6 Deputy Sister / Deputy Charge Nurse to join the senior nursing team on The Mary Anning Unit.
This is a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover position offering an opportunity to take on greater clinical leadership responsibilities while continuing to provide high-quality care to older people with acute medical needs.
The successful applicant will work with patients who may have complex physical health conditions as well as varying levels of cognitive impairment. The role provides an opportunity to strengthen your leadership, team-management and clinical decision-making skills within an experienced multidisciplinary environment.
What You Will Be Responsible For
As Deputy Sister / Deputy Charge Nurse, you will help coordinate the day-to-day delivery of safe and effective nursing care across the unit.
Your responsibilities will include:
– Supporting the Senior Sister in leading and coordinating the nursing team.
– Taking an active leadership role when the Senior Sister is unavailable.
– Providing safe, compassionate and person-centred care to older patients.
– Supporting patients with complex physical health and cognitive needs.
– Working closely with doctors, therapists, social care teams and other partner organisations.
– Helping develop appropriate care and discharge plans for individual patients.
– Supporting complex discharge pathways and helping patients move safely between services.
– Maintaining effective communication with patients, relatives and members of the multidisciplinary team.
– Promoting good clinical practice, patient safety and professional standards.
– Contributing to clinical governance and service improvement.
– Supporting colleagues through teaching, supervision and professional development.
The post requires someone who can remain organised and calm while managing competing clinical priorities and changing patient needs.
About The Mary Anning Unit
The Mary Anning Unit provides care for older people who are medically unwell and may require support with a range of physical and cognitive health problems.
The successful candidate will help ensure that vulnerable patients receive appropriate care, dignity and protection throughout their hospital stay. Understanding the needs of older adults, including people living with dementia or other conditions affecting cognition, will be particularly valuable.
A key part of the role will be working beyond the hospital setting. You will collaborate with external health and social care partners to help arrange appropriate support and ensure that discharge plans are safe, realistic and tailored to individual circumstances.
What We Are Looking For
We are seeking a registered nurse who can demonstrate relevant experience in acute elderly care and is ready to take on a senior nursing role.
Essential qualifications and professional development
Applicants should have:
– Registered nurse status, ideally educated to degree level or currently working towards this, or equivalent relevant experience.
– Relevant experience or a specialist qualification.
– Evidence of continuing professional development.
– A teaching or education-related qualification.
Clinical and Leadership Skills
You should be able to demonstrate:
– Competent and confident clinical practice.
– The ability to build positive working relationships with patients, relatives and colleagues.
– Strong organisation and time-management skills.
– An understanding of clinical governance and professional responsibilities.
– The ability to lead and support a nursing team when required.
– A willingness to develop further management and leadership skills.
– A clear understanding of confidentiality.
– An area of clinical or professional interest.
Experience with critical appraisal would be an advantage.
Experience and Knowledge
The successful candidate will ideally have experience in:
– Acute care of older people.
– Managing patients with complex medical needs.
– Understanding the physical and psychological effects of ageing.
– Caring for people with dementia or other conditions that affect cognition.
– Working within multidisciplinary teams.
– Understanding professional nursing responsibilities and standards.
Working at Dorset County Hospital
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust aims to provide outstanding care while creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for its staff.
The Trust’s values are:
Integrity • Respect • Teamwork • Excellence
The organisation works closely with health and social care partners to improve the wellbeing of the communities it serves and is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.
The principles of patient-centred care, respect, dignity, compassion and quality are also reflected in the NHS Constitution for England.
Official NHS guidance:
“NHS Constitution for England – GOV.UK”
NHS Constitution Handbook – GOV.UK:
“Handbook to the NHS Constitution for England”
UKVI Sponsorship
The vacancy information states that this position is eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, subject to the applicant meeting the relevant UK Visas and Immigration requirements.
Applicants who require sponsorship should check the latest government immigration requirements before applying.
Before You Apply
Candidates should carefully review the full job description and person specification and ensure their application clearly demonstrates how their qualifications, experience and skills meet the requirements of the post.
If you need assistance accessing the recruitment documents, the Trust advises applicants to contact its recruitment team.
The Trust also asks applicants to ensure that any application information is truthful and accurately represents their own experience. Where applicants use AI tools, these should not replace their own supporting statement or misrepresent their qualifications, experience or achievements.
Important Application Information
The advertised closing date may be changed, and the vacancy could close earlier if required. Applicants are therefore encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.
Shortlisted candidates will normally be contacted by email, so applicants should check their email account regularly after submitting an application.
The Trust states that if applicants have not been contacted within four weeks of the closing date, they should assume they have not been shortlisted.
For further recruitment enquiries, the Trust can be contacted on 01305 254655.
Vacancy Reference: 405-26-NM469DSN
Closing Date: 4 October 2026, 11:59pm
