Senior Charge Nurse

Join to apply for the Senior Charge Nurse role at NHS Ayrshire & Arran. NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society. Who We Are NHS Ayrshire and Arran is one of 14 territorial NHS Boards within NHS Scotland. In support of our core purpose of Working together to achieve the healthiest life possible for everyone in Ayrshire and Arran we are committed to a culture that is Caring, Safe, and Respectful. You will be required to work collaboratively in a safe, caring and respectful way. Position An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Charge Nurse based at Woodland View Hospital. What You Will Do Ward 3 is a 15‑beded organic assessment unit dedicated to supporting individuals living with dementia across Ayrshire & Arran. The ward provides comprehensive assessment and management of complex symptoms, including co‑morbid physical health conditions and stress/distress behaviours. Our multidisciplinary team is committed to delivering compassionate, person‑centred care in a safe and therapeutic environment. We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated Registered Nurse (Mental Health) to lead our nursing team as Senior Charge Nurse (Band 7). This is a pivotal leadership role with full clinical, professional, and managerial responsibility for the ward on a 24‑hour basis. You will ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and evidence‑based care in line with local and national guidelines. Central to the role is the promotion of an approach that places patients, carers, and relatives at the heart of care planning, encouraging their active participation. It requires fostering strong collaborative relationships with colleagues across Health and Social Care Services and with external partner agencies to ensure seamless communication and coordination. The position also entails providing clinical support and professional leadership to the nursing team, contributing to both service development and individual practitioner growth. As a change agent, the role demands the advancement of clinically effective practices through the integration of evidence‑based policies, procedures, and protocols. Furthermore, it involves influencing clinical decisions and maintaining high standards of patient care through expert knowledge grounded in theory and experience. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in dementia care, lead a dedicated team, and shape the future of Ward 3. If you’re passionate about improving lives and driving excellence in mental health nursing, we’d love to hear from you. Knowledge, Training And/or Experience Required To Do The Job Lead and manage the nursing team and wider multidisciplinary staff Oversee clinical and staff governance, ensuring high standards of care Promote collaborative working with patients, carers, and multi‑agency partners Drive person‑centred care and therapeutic interventions Support robust discharge planning and care coordination Foster a positive, inclusive, and learning‑focused team culture Key Experience and Attributes Proven experience in dementia care and working with older adults Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills Ability to manage time and priorities effectively Commitment to continuous professional development Willingness to undertake training to enhance therapeutic practice Current NMC registration (Mental Health) Hours 37 hours per week Contact If you would like to find out more about the role, please contact Lynne Murray, Clinical Nurse Manager on 01294 322453. Additional Information For Overseas Candidates To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found within the attached Candidate Information Pack. It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form. The Recruitment Team are unable to answer individual queries at application stage about this, please visit here for further information. Additional Information For All Candidates DO NOT upload a CV as this will not be used for shortlisting purposes. Posts close at midnight on the indicated date. Late applications will not be accepted. For help to complete an application on JobTrain, please follow this link: https://www.careers.nhs.scot/how-to-apply/application-process/ To view our accessibility statement, please follow this link: https://www.eess.nhs.scot/jobtrain-accessibility-statement/ Please note that our correspondence method is by email, therefore please ensure you enter your email address accurately. Please check your email regularly (including junk folders) and also your JobTrain account for updates. Please contact JobTrain Candidate Support Hub: https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home - for advice and support with any system issues. We recommend using the Internet Browser “Google Chrome” or “Microsoft Edge” when using JobTrain. Once you have submitted your application form you will be unable to make any amendments. Some of our vacancies are for internal candidates only. If you are a staff member, please ensure you update your JobTrain profile to reflect that you are employed by NHS Ayrshire and Arran. Please note, for all vacancies where a driving licence is required this must be a full UK/EU/EEA licence. Legal statements NHS Ayrshire and Arran has a legal obligation to ensure that it does not employ any worker who has not been granted the relevant permission to work in the UK. This permission is, without exception, granted by UK Visas and Immigrations. We are required to check the entitlement to work in the UK of all prospective employees, regardless of nationality or job category. Candidates who require a Certificate of Sponsorship can access further information at www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk We are unable to provide sponsorship for bank contracts. #J-18808-Ljbffr