Job overview
The post‑holder will provide direct clinical care to individual patients and groups within their designated area of work. They will be responsible for running clinics efficiently and ensuring patients receive a positive experience within the Outpatient Department (OPD).
While primarily based in Main Outpatients and Cauldwell OPD, the role requires flexibility to rotate across other OPD areas to support different specialties as service needs arise. The post‑holder will be expected to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends. Fixed working days cannot be guaranteed due to the nature of the service.
At all times, the post‑holder is expected to uphold and demonstrate the Trust Values in their practice.
Main duties of the job
This post will be primarily based in Main Outpatients, with rotation to other OPD areas as required. You will join a team of qualified nurses and clinical support workers covering key specialties including medicine, surgery, breast, and colorectal. Strong communication skills and the ability to prioritise workload are essential.
You will be responsible for the day‑to‑day coordination and management of clinics, ensuring patients receive a high‑quality service. Working closely with the department manager and nursing team, you will contribute to the development and promotion of best nursing practice. Duties include preparing clinical areas, supporting team members, and coordinating clinics across Outpatients and other departments such as ENT, cardiology, oral maxillofacial, trauma, and orthopaedics. Competence in decontamination procedures and policies is required.
You will also assist clinicians with sterile procedures, including minor procedure clinics, fine needle biopsies, core biopsies, and nasal endoscopies. In addition, you will take responsibility for the safe and appropriate storage of hazardous substances such as formalin and liquid nitrogen.
**Additional task may be added once in post depending on clinical activity therefore training may be required and will be expected**
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will be expected to demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to prioritise your workload effectively. The role involves day‑to‑day coordination and management of clinics, ensuring patients receive the highest standard of care. Working closely with the department manager and nursing team, you will contribute to the development and promotion of best nursing practice.
Responsibilities include preparing clinical areas for clinics, primarily in Main Outpatients, while also supporting other departments where rotation may be required (e.g., ENT, cardiology, oral maxillofacial, trauma, and orthopaedics). You must maintain competence in decontamination procedures and policies.
You will assist clinicians with sterile procedures, including minor procedure clinics, fine needle biopsies, core biopsies, and nasal endoscopies. In addition, you will take responsibility for the safe and appropriate storage of hazardous substances such as formalin and liquid nitrogen.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. NVQ 1 in care
Desirable criteria
2. Working toward NVQ 2 or 3
Experience
Essential criteria
3. Experience in a care setting
Desirable criteria
4. Experience in an OPD setting
Personal Skills
Essential criteria
5. Professional Attitude
Desirable criteria
6. Flexible work patterns
Qualifications
Essential criteria
7. Evidence of professional development
Desirable criteria
8. NVQ working towards level 3
Experience
Essential criteria
9. Experience in the care profession
Desirable criteria
10. Experience in an OPD setting
personal Skills
Essential criteria
11. Excellent Communication Skills
Desirable criteria
12. Creative and Flexible
Qualifications
Essential criteria
13. relevant Care experience
Desirable criteria
14. transferrable Skills or experience
Experience
Essential criteria
15. Experience with transferrable skills
Desirable criteria
16. experience in a similar setting eg radiology
Personal Skills
Essential criteria
17. Demonstrates sensitivity to patients and family needs
Desirable criteria
18. Enthusiastic and self aware
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.