The Band 7 role within the OPAT (Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy) & IV Therapy Service at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) is a senior clinical, operational and leadership position central to the delivery of advanced intravenous therapy, antimicrobial stewardship, and virtual ward-enabled care across the Trust. The service forms a key component of the BOB Integrated Care System's Virtual Ward and Hospital @ Home model and continues to expand in scope, complexity and workforce demand.
The Band 7 post-holder functions as a specialist autonomous practitioner, leading the operational delivery of OPAT/IV pathways, ensuring clinical governance, supporting workforce development, and collaborating with acute, community and specialist teams. The post is instrumental in enabling timely discharge, preventing unnecessary admission, and supporting patients to safely receive complex IV or antimicrobial therapy in outpatient and community settings.
Main duties of the job
The Band 7 OPAT & IV Therapy Nurse Specialist provides advanced clinical expertise, leadership and coordination for all OPAT and Trust-wide IV therapy pathways. They ensure safe, effective care for patients requiring parenteral/ Oral antimicrobials, IV therapies and vascular access support outside the inpatient ward environment.
This role also supports the delivery of the Trust's Virtual Ward/Hospital @ Home model.
The Band 7 acts as a senior decision-maker, service representative and clinical leader.
Responsibilities include:
* Specialist assessment for OPAT suitability
* Coordination of outpatient reviews, home visits and remote monitoring
* Management of complex IV regimens, including monitoring, toxicity screening and step‑down planning
* Senior oversight of remote monitoring data and patient escalation
* Central line assessment, troubleshooting and Trust‑wide in‑reach support (as confirmed in Trac queries)
They also support antimicrobial stewardship decision‑making in partnership with microbiology and pharmacy.
Operational leadership duties include:
* Day‑to‑day running of OPAT/IV services
* Managing caseload allocation, daily huddles, and prioritisation
* Coordination of community capacity, particularly during peaks or staffing gap
* Leading operational decision‑making in absence of the Band 8a lead
* Supporting service continuity planning in line with the revised schedule
* Liaison with Hospital @ Home teams and acute wards to streamline ESD and admission avoidance
About us
What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
* As part of our BHT family, you'll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
* We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.
* We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.
Why work for us?
* We're committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
* As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
* Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
* A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who know the value of employing a service leaver/veteran and their families.
What do we stand for?
* Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
* Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
* Our care values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications & training
* Post registration qualification & relevant experience in OPAT / IV therapy
* Degree / equivalent qualifications or working towards
* Full and current driving driving licence
* Access to a functioning care to perform home visits / cross site working
* Teaching qualification
* Working towards masters or equivalent study
* Non medical prescriber
Experience
* RGN - with at least 5 years post registration experience
* OPAT/ IV therapy and central venous access device (CVAD) experience at a senior level
* Leadership skills & knowledge
* Ability to cannulate & perform venepuncture ( +/- using ultrasound)
* Experience in database creation, filtering data, other IT system management
* Writing concise reports for presentation or dissemination to others via teams or face to face
* Ability to insert mid / PICC lines independently
Skills, Abilities & knowledge
* Excellent interpersonal skills & engage within MDTs. Able to present in a group
* Experience in conducting / investigating RCA/ Incidents
* Knowledge & understanding of NMC/ Professional standards
* Knowledge & understanding of current national standards in OPAT / IV therapy
* IT literate on digital platforms being used in healthcare settings
Special circumstances
* Across site working (including community visits)
* Access to a car and able to drive independently
* Able to work flexible hours if service needs require
BHT values
* Communicates openly, honestly & professionally. Actively promotes team working & building strong relationships
* Patients are always first. Drives service improvements. Strong self awareness with a desire to grow
* treats all with compassion and kindness. Ensures everyone feels valued
* Consults others and listens to their views / opinions. Enables others to take the initiative
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£49,387 to £56,515 a yearper annum (pro rata for part time)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working
#J-18808-Ljbffr