We are passionate about our work and committed to continually improving the care we give. Above all else patients, carers and their families are at the heart of everything we do. Their wishes and views are central to how we plan and organise care. We recognise our own professional accountability and the need to be open and honest. We also value being part of a multi-disciplinary team working closely together to provide safe, effective, person-centred care to every patient, every time.
To read more about nursing at STS and what we can offer you - click here.
We also know that as nurses and midwives, we need to retain and strengthen our efforts to ensure that person centred care is always delivered with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect based on shared decision making and personal choice wherever possible.
Our career framework for nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants demonstrate our commitment to professional development and spans from pre-nursing experience to specialist careers with educational, experienced based learning and research opportunities.
We want to be able to support our nurses and midwives to develop themselves, whether they are already in leadership positions or aspire to do so in the future. We encourage all of our senior staff to lead by example and provide visible leadership and mentorship, as well as ensuring professional practice and accountability.
We also want to promote a culture of research and innovation and build research capacity and capability amongst our nursing workforce. A knowledge and understanding of evidence based practice is essential for all registered nurses and midwives, but we want to go further than that by providing support to assist and lead research studies.
Working with us is both challenging and rewarding. We frequently get complimented on our friendly and compassionate approach and outstanding levels of care. Our nursing teams are committed to delivering first class care to all patients as well as supporting you to reach your potential and develop the skills needed to take you wherever you want to be within our organisation. As part of this we can offer:
We work in collaboration with local education providers, such as the University of Sunderland to deliver a range of awareness sessions. We also recognise that leadership and management skills are very important and have developed a talent programme to recognise and support our rising stars. We have a range of specialist nursing roles and advanced practitioners working in adult and paediatric care. Our advanced practice framework supports the skills and clinical competencies required for these roles.
All of our nurses are given access to clarity, an electronic appraisal toolkit. This enables you to develop and electronic portfolio to collect all of the evidence you require to revalidate with the NMC every three years. This toolkit forms part of the annual appraisal and discussions can be had around reflections and feedback.
It is really important to us to make sure that our newly qualified nurses feel supported throughout this important first stage of their career. We have developed a preceptorship programme which is based on the six core skills in the Knowledge and Skills Framework. In addition, the 6Cs nursing values and The Code (NMC 2015) are themes that run throughout the six month programme. Our co-ordinator also provides support to our overseas nurses preparing for OSCE.
Here at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust we are delighted to be working towards Nursing and Midwifery Excellence. We are one of only 14 Trusts nationally to be involved in the programme, which is sponsored by the Chief Nursing Officer for England, Ruth May. The programme aims to empower Nurses and Midwives, giving frontline staff a voice, creating a positive culture through shared decision making and strong leadership at all levels. Find out more here.
Our teams are at the very heart of what we do and play a pivotal role in our success. We recognise the importance of having a healthy and happy team and we are committed to providing you with a number of benefits.
We have a dedicated team that look after your health and wellbeing and offer a range of services, including health screening and MOTs, fast track physiotherapy if you have any injuries or problems. Eye care vouchers are also available should you need to visit an optician.
We are a family friendly employer and understand that balancing work and family responsibilities is not always easy. We have a childcare co-ordinator to support you with any childcare problems. You can also benefit from the following:
You will have access to a range of free personal support services 24/7 including counselling, financial and legal advice.
In partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions, you can lease a brand new car via a salary sacrifice scheme, which includes servicing and MOT.
In partnership with cycle scheme you can take advantage of the Government’s ‘Cycle to Work’ and buy a bicycle for less via our salary sacrifice scheme.
We have a newly refurbished on-site staff fitness centre open 7 days a week with fully equipped gym, aerobic studio, sauna and steam room, shower and changing facilities, coffee lounge and relaxation area. Membership fees are very competitive compared to other local fitness centres.
Famed for its stunning coastline, with beautiful bays and soaring cliffs, the seaside town of South Shields has welcomed more than 1 million people across the finish line of the world’s biggest half-marathon – the Great North Run, since 1981. There’s a year round event programme in the area for all ages. A firm favourite is the summer festival, with a spectacular parade, family fun days and live music, including free open air concerts featuring some of the world’s top names. You can discover the local rich heritage at fabulous attractions such as South Shields Museum, Souter Lighthouse, Jarrow Hall and Arbeia Roman Fort. Newer attractions include The Word – National Centre for the Written Word which has been a bit hit with locals and visitors alike.
A welcoming and bustling city set on the coast and at the mouth of the River Wear. If you are looking for culture, the Sunderland Empire Theatre, National Glass Centre and Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens are a must. The local underground music scene is also considered as one of the most vibrant in the UK. Sunderland benefits from stunning coastal scenery, acres of green spaces and a great selection of shops, bars and restaurants suitable for all tastes and budgets.
Sunderland and South Tyneside are ideal bases to explore the wider region. Within a 20 mile radius you can visit some of the best heritage and cultural attractions in the UK, including the historic city of Durham with its 900 year old cathedral and NewcastleGateshead which regularly tops the world’s ‘best cities to visit’ lists. If shopping is your thing, there is also the Metrocentre in Gateshead – one of the largest shopping centres in Europe. If the countryside appeals to you, we have spectacular coastal and country landscapes in Northumberland, including Hadrian’s Wall, Alnwick Castle and Gardens and Bamburgh Castle as well as the Lake District National Park all within easy reach.
There is no doubt that accommodation in Sunderland and South Tyneside is very affordable. The majority of properties in both areas are houses, but there are also a range of flats and apartments available to buy too, with properties catering for all household sizes and available to rent or buy.
Average house price - £148,000 Average rent (per calendar month) - £500 Average social rent (per week) - £73
Average house price - £113,000 Average rent (per calendar month) - £500 Average social rent (per week) - £75
We also have a small number of Trust owned properties to rent, but these are subject to availability. We have an accommodation team who can help you settle in and find your new home.
South Tyneside and Sunderland is easily accessible from the A1 and A19 and has good bus services that link with most areas around the North East. We have excellent rail links via the North East Coast mainline and the Tyne and Wear Metro service – an easy means of getting around the Tyne and Wear region. Newcastle International Airport is only a 45 minute drive away and is served by a number of airlines, including British Airways, Easyjet, Jet2 and Ryanair with direct links to many worldwide destinations.
