Senior Sister / Charge Nurse - Pre Operative Assessment


Company:	Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Salary:	£49,387 - £56,515 pa plus HCAS
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	London, SW10 9NH
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	24 Sept 2026
Closing date:	25 Oct 2026

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Summary

A Vacancy at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The main purpose of the role is to provide day to day management and leadership for the Preoperative Assessment Centre team.

Aspects of the role include:

Patients:

 Operate a patient-responsive service so that all patients receive an appropriate and competent preoperative assessment.

 Have specific continuing responsibility for the assessing, planning, implementing and evaluation of programmes of preoperative care for all elective surgical patients.

 Ensure the highest standards of nursing practice are delivered, as reflected by the Trusts Values.

 Participate in setting standards of care within the specialist area of perioperative care. This includes the deployment and supervision of all staff working within the Preoperative Assessment Centre Team.

Staff and Non-Pay Resources:

 Ensure efficient use of all resources by using clinic templates and actively managing staff rotas, annual / study leave coordination and non-pay budget

 Provide ongoing developmental support for the nursing, support workers and administrative staff

 Hold and manage the budget for the POAC area and act as authorised signatory.

The post holder will work closely and collaboratively with the Consultant Anaesthetist POA Matron and all health care professionals involved in the care pathway of the elective and urgent surgical patient including:

 Preoperative Assessment team on a day to day basis

 Clinical and administrative staff within POAC including nursing staff, anaesthetists,

POA assistant practioner and Support workers

 Admissions and scheduling Staff across all surgical directorates

 Ward and Clinical Staff Trust wide

Service Improvement:

 Involve patients and other users of the service to maintain a continuous service improvement cycle. Use Trust resources to develop own improvement skills.

 Involve and motivate the multi-disciplinary team, to develop and promote the POA service and implement nurse led POA for all elective and emergency surgical patients Trust wide.

Performance and Activity:

 Tailor service and clinic templates so that the optimum numbers of patients are seen to meet the Trust capacity plan, whilst promoting and maintaining a high level of service quality.

Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.

We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible. Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.

We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.

Roles and responsibilities

Clinical

1. Use the appropriate level of clinical and non-clinical skills to ensure all surgical patients are optimised prior to surgery within the remit of the Preoperative Assessment Centre

2. Prepare the patient physically, psychologically and socially for surgery and associated anaesthetic

3. Be accountable for assessing planning, implementing and evaluating pathways of care in a manner that reflects the Trusts Values.

4. Manage and participate in the clinical rota for the POAC, ensuring efficient patient flow and clinic templates that reflect demand on the service

5. In conjunction with the Consultant Anaesthetist, take responsibility for the management of complex cases, referring patients to the appropriate health care professional as necessary to ensure maximum preoperative optimisation is achieved

6. Safely perform the clinical interventions required to perform a holistic pre-operative assessment for elective patients

7. Request investigations and take on the associated accountabilities, using the Trust Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system

8. Plan and organize admission arrangements with relevant department to ensure patients safety and to minimise cancellation on the day.

9. Maintain standard of documentation in accordance with the NMC Standard for Records and Record Keeping

10. Act as a clinical role model for all POA team members in the delivery of a high standard of specialist nursing care within the areas designated for Pre-operative Assessment (POA).

Communication

1. Support patients, carers and staff through the information giving process, assessing level of understanding and comprehension, with appropriate attention to the process of informed consent

2. In collaboration with the MDT, develop patient information resources and ensure they are updated and revised in accordance with Trust policy

3. Use and develop negotiation skills both verbal and written

4. Chair POA/ relevant meetings and act as a recorder for meetings

5. Deal with inter-professional conflict and assist Divisional Nurse Lead in negotiating and problem solving

6. Pass on organisational, Directorate and service development updates to the whole POAC team and feedback local team views to senior management

7. Represent the Divisional Nurse Lead at POA meetings/events, when required

Management of People/ Time/ Resources

1.Manage the whole POAC Team on a day-to-day basis, ensuring an efficient elective and emergency POA service for all patients/Trust wide

2. Profile and develop skill mix based on clinical activity in order to ensure the delivery of appropriate care for all patients using the service

3. Organise time to ensure both clinical and management commitments are fulfilled.

4. Take responsibility for the recruitment and retention of new POAC staff and ensure all staff that participate, are trained in good recruitment and selection practice

5. Act as an authorised signatory for the hire of temporary staff under the direction of the DNL

6. Ensure all POAC staff are appraised and receive regular feedback on their progress in accordance with National and Trust Policy, Agenda for Change & Knowledge and Skills Framework. This should include ensuring all appraisers receive appropriate training

7. Lead and evaluate professional development programmes in accordance with Directorate’s development pathway

8. Ensure that the balance between workload and available resources is linked to appropriate levels of training and expertise. Assist with the development and implementation of education and training programme for junior staff

9. Manage the POAC budget and ensure efficient use of resources, with direction as necessary from the Clinical Nurse Lead

10. Delegate as appropriate to ensure that necessary stores and equipment are available and in good working order

11. Under the direction of the DNL participate in service development projects and assist with the setting and implementation of priorities and objectives

12. Promote and participate in POA service improvement and act as a key influencer for effective change management

13. In conjunction with the DNL, develop and maintain effective partnership working with the relevant medical leads; thus ensuring patient responsive practice and service improvement

14. Implement policies and propose changes to practice for preoperative assessment and the perioperative care service in response to patient or service needs.

15. Take responsibility with the DNL for ensuring that all staff are fully conversant with the

Procedures to be used in emergency situations and for their attendance at mandatory ongoing training sessions

Quality Improvement/ Clinical Governance

1. Take responsibility for auditing of clinical outcomes, standard setting and POAC staff involvement in improving quality of service

2. Take responsibility for developing a continuous programme of POAC performance monitoring, in collaboration with key stakeholders and the Information team

3. Take immediate local action to mitigate patient or user dissatisfaction or complaint Investigate any formal patient complaints in accordance with the Trust Complaints Procedure

4. In conjunction with the Divisional Nurse Lead, assist in the accurate and immediate investigation of all incidents and accidents to patients or staff, and instigate appropriate remedial action and risk reduction. Maintain risk register for POAC and take responsibility for departmental health and safety

5. Take local responsibility for the health and safety aspects in the POAC area to ensure a safe working and patient environment

6. Assist with or participate in departmental and Trust initiatives or audits, related to Service Improvement / Clinical Governance

7. Assist in the implementation of statutory guidelines e.g. NICE guidelines, National Service Frameworks

8. Follow the principles within the Clinical Governance and Research Governance Framework using clinical risk team as a resource

9. Act in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct & Scope of Professional Practice and guide others to do the same

10. Practice in accordance with the core principles of the Trust’s Nursing & Midwifery Strategy

11. As agreed by the anaesthetic consultant, appropriate ICPs and models of care that reflect the need for service improvement and ensure a consistent and POA Service, appropriate to patient needs and with equity of access

12. Design service provision to ensure minimal waits and provide walk-in appointments so that all patients ultimately receive a timely POA

Education & Training

1. Co-ordinate and participate in the continuous personal development of the POAC team in collaboration with Divisional Nurse Lead. This will include ensuring all staff receive regular appraisal and have Personal Development Plans as well as induction of new members of the team

2. In collaboration with DNL co-ordinate and evaluate educational initiatives in the POAC and ensure a comprehensive learning environment

3. Maintain records of performance reviews, study days, competency assessments of all staff within the department

4. Facilitate others to develop informal teaching skills

5. Act as a clinical resource role model and advisor

6. In collaboration with Divisional Nurse Lead undertake an annual (April)Training Needs Analysis Assessment for the service taking into account any changes in clinical service delivery or evidence based practice Job title - Job description – Month Year Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 8

7. In collaboration with DNL and Anaesthetic Lead identify and develop appropriate teaching programmes for patients and carers and evaluate effectiveness

8. Actively participate in a periodic performance appraisal, in accordance with the Trust guidelines

9. Attend both personal and professional development activities that enhance the role and the service.

This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and his/her manager.

All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure. You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledge level. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member of staff.

This advert closes on Wednesday 7 Oct 2026

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