Senior Ward Sister Visa Sponsorship Uk

Job Description

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Location: Dorchester, Dorset
Department: Stroke Services
Position: Stroke Unit Manager
NHS AfC Band: 7
Contract: Permanent – secondment opportunities may also be considered
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £49,387 – £56,515 per year
Job Reference: 405-26-NM432SWSS
Closing Date: 9 September 2026 at 11:59 pm

About the Role

Dorset County Hospital is expanding its Stroke Service to support patients across Dorset and Somerset, including the development of a new Hyper-Acute Stroke Unit (HASU).

We are looking for an experienced, motivated and confident nurse leader to manage a recently refurbished 30-bed stroke unit, which includes two dedicated hyper-acute bays.

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior nursing professional with strong clinical leadership, organisational and operational management skills. The successful candidate will help ensure patients receive safe, effective and compassionate care while contributing to the ongoing development of the Stroke Service.

You will be responsible for introducing and maintaining effective systems and processes that support patient safety, service quality and operational efficiency.

Main Responsibilities

The successful candidate will provide professional and operational leadership across the Stroke Service.

Key duties will include:

– Leading and supporting the nursing teams within the stroke unit.
– Managing staff performance, supervision, appraisals, recruitment and professional development.
– Working closely with the multidisciplinary team to coordinate safe and personalised patient care.
– Maintaining effective communication with colleagues across different professional groups and services.
– Supporting smooth patient pathways and escalating concerns appropriately.
– Managing staffing, equipment and other resources efficiently.
– Working within the delegated budget and ensuring resources are used effectively.
– Supporting service development and quality improvement initiatives.
– Promoting high standards of clinical practice, patient safety and professional conduct.
– Helping develop systems that improve the quality and efficiency of stroke care.

Essential Qualifications

Applicants should have:

– Registration as a Nurse.
– Evidence of continuing professional development.
– A recognised teaching qualification.
– A relevant specialist qualification.
– Intermediate Life Support training.
– Competence in cannulation and venepuncture.
– Experience administering medicines intravenously.
– A Master’s degree or equivalent qualification.

Essential Experience

Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

– Previous experience of leading a clinical team.
– Good understanding of professional nursing issues.
– Significant post-registration experience, including recent acute hospital experience.
– Experience working within an acute stroke or medical setting.
– Experience contributing to service or project development.
– Experience of quality improvement programmes.
– Experience of improving and maintaining ward-level quality standards.

Essential Skills and Knowledge

The successful candidate will need:

– Strong specialist knowledge of stroke care and evidence-based clinical practice.
– A good understanding of clinical and corporate governance.
– Knowledge of clinical risk management systems and procedures.
– Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
– Strong people-management and organisational abilities.
– The ability to manage staff and clinical resources effectively.
– The ability to motivate colleagues and promote high professional standards.
– Confidence in addressing performance issues and providing constructive feedback.
– The ability to build effective working relationships with patients, visitors and colleagues.
– Experience managing patient flow and escalating issues appropriately.
– Good critical appraisal and decision-making skills.

Desirable Criteria

The following would be beneficial:

– Evidence of a particular area of professional or clinical interest.
– Experience of developing leadership skills in yourself or others.

About Dorset County Hospital

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing high-quality care while developing a supportive, fair and inclusive workplace.

The Trust works closely with health and social care partners to improve the wellbeing of communities across the region. Staff are encouraged to contribute to service development and help create better experiences and outcomes for patients.

The organisation’s core values are:

Integrity
Respect
Teamwork
Excellence

Dorset County Hospital welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and is committed to creating an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities it serves.

UK Visa Sponsorship

This position is eligible for sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker visa route, subject to the applicant meeting the relevant UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements.

Applicants who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome to apply. Sponsorship will be provided only where all applicable immigration requirements are satisfied.

Important Application Information

Candidates should carefully review the full job description and person specification before applying. Your application should clearly demonstrate how your qualifications, experience and skills meet the requirements of the position.

The Trust recommends submitting applications as early as possible because the vacancy may close before the advertised deadline if required.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by email, so applicants should regularly check their personal email account.

The Trust may not be able to provide individual feedback to every applicant. If you have not been contacted within four weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your application has not been shortlisted.

For further information, applicants can contact the recruitment team on 01305 254655.

AI and Application Guidance

The Trust recognises that AI tools can assist candidates when preparing applications. However, applications should remain personal, genuine and based on the applicant’s own experience.

Any information included in an application must be accurate and truthful. Candidates should not use AI to create content that exaggerates or misrepresents their qualifications, experience or suitability for the role.

For more information about the Trust’s strategic priorities, applicants can visit the Dorset County Hospital Trust Strategy page.