Critical Care Nurse Manager

Job summary

The Critical Care Nurse Manager is responsible for the operational, professional, and clinical leadership of the Critical Care Unit. The post holder will ensure the delivery of safe, effective, high-quality patient care whilst leading service improvement, workforce development, quality governance, and resource management. Working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, the Nurse Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership to achieve Trust objectives, maintain compliance with national standards, and promote a culture of continuous improvement and excellence within critical care services.

Main duties of the job

The band 7 sister / charge nurse is an experienced nurse who must be able to interact at all levels of the nursing and midwifery profession. The individual is expected to represent the department they work supporting the clinical leadership team as well as the clinical team to support in the delivery of high quality, standardised evidenced based care. The post holder will work with a variety of different clinical specialists including. Key working relationships will include: Divisional Director of Nursing Head of Nursing Matrons Ward managers Clinical site management team Ward / department team Wider MDT Specialist discharge team Provide visible clinical leadership across the Critical Care Unit: Act as an accessible and visible clinical leader, setting professional standards and promoting a culture of excellence, safety, and compassionate care. Serve as a role model for professional behaviour, demonstrating Trust values and adherence to the NMC Code. Foster a positive working environment that encourages accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Provide expert advice and support to nursing, medical, and allied health professionals regarding critical care practice.

About us

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave; a national programme thats changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector. This means were working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives. Were a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Details

• Date posted: 25 September 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 7
• Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 001141
• Job locations: The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, Essex, CM20 1QX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Ensure implementation of evidence-based practice and national critical care standards

• Lead the translation of current evidence, national guidelines, and best practice recommendations into clinical care delivery.
• Ensure compliance with national critical care standards, professional frameworks, and local policies.
• Promote the use of research findings and quality improvement methodologies to improve patient outcomes.
• Monitor adherence to clinical protocols and ensure care is delivered consistently across the service.
• Champion innovation and encourage staff participation in evidence-based practice initiatives.

Lead management of complex and deteriorating patients

• Support clinical teams in the assessment, management, and escalation of critically ill patients with complex needs.
• Ensure timely intervention and effective multidisciplinary collaboration during clinical emergencies.
• Provide expert clinical input for patients requiring advanced organ support and specialist interventions.
• Facilitate decision-making regarding patient admission, transfer, escalation, and end-of-life care.
• Support staff in managing ethical, legal, and professional issues associated with critical care delivery.

Promote patient safety initiatives and learning from incidents

• Lead the development and implementation of patient safety strategies within the unit.
• Foster a culture of openness and learning where incidents, near misses, and concerns are reported and addressed effectively.
• Analyse patient safety data and trends to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure dissemination of lessons learned from incidents and implementation of preventive actions.
• Support the development of human factors awareness and safety-focused behaviours amongst staff.

Lead mortality reviews, quality improvement programmes, and implementation of recommendations

• Coordinate and contribute to mortality reviews and multidisciplinary case discussions.
• Lead quality improvement projects designed to enhance patient safety, experience, and outcomes.
• Analyse clinical outcomes and benchmark performance against national standards.
• Develop and implement action plans arising from audits, reviews, and quality assessments.
• Monitor progress against improvement objectives and report outcomes to senior management and governance groups.

Maintain oversight of patient flow, capacity management and escalation processes

• Ensure effective management of critical care capacity and patient throughput.
• Coordinate admission, discharge, and transfer decisions in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
• Monitor bed occupancy, staffing levels, and patient acuity to ensure safe service delivery.
• Escalate capacity pressures and operational risks appropriately through Trust escalation processes.
• Work closely with site management teams to optimise patient flow across the organisation.

Operational Management

Lead the day-to-day operational management of the Critical Care Unit

• Provide overall operational leadership for the unit ensuring safe, effective, and efficient service delivery.
• Coordinate workforce, equipment, and clinical resources to meet service demands.
• Ensure operational objectives and performance targets are achieved.
• Manage competing priorities while maintaining high standards of patient care.
• Support service resilience through effective contingency and business continuity planning.

Full JD attached to vacancy.

This is an outline job description designed to give an overview of the responsibilities of the post. The post holder will be expected to be flexible to respond to change and organisational need. The post holder will also be expected to contribute to the wider corporate and organisational needs of the Trust as appropriate