Junior Sister – Band 6
Barts Health NHS Trust – Whipps Cross Hospital
Job Overview
Barts Health NHS Trust is recruiting a highly motivated and dynamic Junior Sister (Band 6) to join Poplar Ward within the Division of Surgery & Cancer at Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, London.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced adult nurse with strong leadership, clinical and organisational skills to take on a key role supporting the Ward Manager and delivering safe, compassionate and high-quality patient care.
Key Job Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Junior Sister |
| NHS Band | Band 6 |
| Employer | Barts Health NHS Trust |
| Department | Division of Surgery & Cancer – Poplar Ward |
| Hospital | Whipps Cross Hospital |
| Location | Leytonstone, London, E11 1NR |
| Salary | £45,953 – £54,254 per annum |
| Contract | Fixed term |
| Duration | 6 months |
| Working Pattern | Full-time |
| Closing Date | 27 August 2026 |
| Reference Number | 259-8110252WXH-A |
| Sponsorship | Skilled Worker sponsorship applications welcome |
About the Role
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Division of Surgery & Cancer for a Band 6 nurse to join Poplar Ward.
The successful applicant will work closely with the Ward Manager to help deliver outstanding care to patients across East London and beyond.
You will be expected to demonstrate:
- Strong clinical expertise
- Effective leadership and management
- Excellent communication
- Ability to lead shifts
- Staff development and mentorship skills
- Effective delegation and resource management
- Commitment to evidence-based practice
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- A compassionate and professional approach to patient care
About Whipps Cross Hospital
Whipps Cross Hospital is part of Barts Health NHS Trust and serves a large and diverse population in East London.
The hospital has one of the busiest A&E departments in the country, with more than 152,000 patient attendances each year, alongside more than 77,000 inpatient stays and 381,000 outpatient appointments.
The redevelopment of Whipps Cross represents a major opportunity to help shape the future of healthcare delivery in the local community.
About Barts Health NHS Trust
Barts Health NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Trust aims to provide safe, compassionate and consistently high-quality care while creating an outstanding working environment for its staff.
Its WeCare values underpin the way staff work together, with a strong commitment to inclusion, belonging and respect for individual differences.
Main Responsibilities
- Providing effective clinical leadership within the ward
- Leading shifts and coordinating patient care
- Supporting junior nursing colleagues
- Mentoring and developing staff
- Teaching and supporting members of the nursing team
- Promoting safe and evidence-based nursing practice
- Supporting clinical supervision
- Participating in competency-based assessments
- Contributing to clinical audits and quality improvement
- Ensuring appropriate delegation of duties
- Supporting effective resource management
- Maintaining high standards of patient safety
- Working effectively with the multidisciplinary team
- Acting as a positive role model for junior colleagues
- Supporting the implementation of current nursing and NHS developments
- Maintaining accurate and professional documentation
Essential Qualifications
Applicants must have:
- Current Registered Nurse status
- Appropriate UK professional registration
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Mentorship qualification or equivalent
- Intermediate Life Support provider qualification or equivalent
- Knowledge of current nursing practice and NHS developments
Desirable Qualifications
- BSc Nursing or currently working towards a BSc
- Specialist course or equivalent level of clinical skill
- Degree-level education or equivalent
- Previous Band 6 experience
Essential Experience
Applicants should have:
- At least one year’s experience within a surgical setting at Band 5 level
- Experience leading shifts
- Experience mentoring staff
- Experience in staff development, teaching and staff support
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Experience in acute ward practice
- Experience with clinical supervision
- Experience with competency-based assessment
- Experience with clinical audit and quality issues
- Knowledge of evidence-based practice
Clinical Knowledge and Skills
- IV drug administration
- Cannulation
- Phlebotomy
- Care of the acutely ill adult
- Quality assurance and standard setting
- Clinical supervision
- Patient safety
- Current NHS developments
- Child protection legislation
- Equal opportunities
- Health and safety
- Data protection
- Customer care
Desirable Clinical Experience
- CRS system
- Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA)
- Epidural infusions
- Artificial feeding
- TPN feeding
- PEG feeding
- Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
- Complex wound healing
- Specialist clinical practice
Leadership and Management Skills
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:
- Effective leadership
- Management skills
- Organisational ability
- Delegation skills
- Resource management
- Clinical decision-making
- Ability to work autonomously
- Ability to work effectively within a team
- Ability to support and develop junior colleagues
- Strong communication skills
- Professional written communication
- Attention to detail
- Computer literacy
Personal Attributes
- Polite and professional manner
- Compassion and commitment to patient care
- Confidence and appropriate assertiveness
- Flexibility
- Positive approach to work
- Enthusiasm and motivation
- Innovation and creativity
- Maturity and self-awareness
- Commitment to continuous improvement
- Commitment to evidence-based practice
UK Professional Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration relevant to the role.
Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship
Applications from candidates who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside other applications.
Sponsorship remains subject to the relevant UK immigration requirements and the employer’s assessment of eligibility.
DBS Check
This position is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check under the applicable legislation.
Salary and Contract
Salary: £45,953 – £54,254 per annum
Band: 6
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 6 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Location
Whipps Cross Hospital
Leytonstone
London
E11 1NR
United Kingdom
Application Deadline
Closing date: 27 August 2026
Job Reference
259-8110252WXH-A
Contact for Further Information
Zurka Iqbal
Senior Nurse – Division for Surgery & Cancer
Email: zurka.iqbal1@nhs.net
How to Apply
Interested candidates should review the full NHS job description and person specification carefully before applying.
Apply through the official NHS Jobs vacancy and ensure your application clearly demonstrates your Band 5 surgical nursing experience, leadership ability, clinical skills, professional registration and relevant qualifications.
Closing date: 27 August 2026
Important Applicant Reminder
Before applying, check that you meet the essential requirements, particularly:
- Current UK professional registration
- Registered Nurse qualification
- Minimum one year’s Band 5 surgical experience
- Shift leadership experience
- Mentorship/staff development experience
- Relevant clinical competencies
- Continuing professional development
- Leadership and management skills