Job overview
This secondment is for a period of 6 months within the Critical Care Outreach team. The Critical Care Outreach Nurse will work 2-3 long day shifts each week within the Outreach team and deliver a high standard of patient care to the identified outreach patients. 1 long day shift each week will continue within the Intensive Care Unit at Harefield Hospital. The main focus of the role is
1. To avert admissions to Level 3 care (ITU & Recovery) by assessing acutely ill / deteriorating patients on the ward and advise the patient’s team on monitoring, investigations and management plans. The ultimate aim is to stabilise and improve patients at ward level to avoid escalation to Critical Care.
2. To ensure timely referral and admission to a Level 2 and 3 areas for those patients who require a higher level of support than can be provided at ward level.
3. To facilitate discharges from Level 3 to Level 2 (High Dependency areas) and follow up patients, thereby promoting a seamless transition in the patient’s progress.
4. To share critical care skills with ward staff, Nurses, Health Care Assistants (HCAs), medics & Allied Health Professionals (AHPs)
5. Closing date: 11th June 2026
Main duties of the job
The role requires active participation in the ongoing development and objectives of the Critical Care Outreach Service and the Adult Intensive Care Unit. Other main duties include
6. To contribute to innovative practice within Level 1-3 areas
7. To perform physical examination and assessment of the patient to formulate an appropriate care management plan
8. To accept referral of patients, following Critical Care Outreach Referral Criteria
9. To provide daily review of all referred patients until discharge from Outreach management
The post holder will also be required to act as part of the hospital resuscitation team, carrying a cardiac arrest bleep and actively contribute to patient management in arrest scenarios.
Working for our organisation
There has been a Critical Care Outreach Team at Harefield Hospital since 2003 and it has developed considerably over the years. Our team members have extensive experience in Intensive Care and together we provide 24 hour cover 7 days a week.
The Critical Care Outreach Team at Harefield Hospital is a nurse-led service that supports ward nurses and doctors who are caring for acutely ill inpatients. Following ward referral, we will discuss that patients’ condition, situation and other relevant factors with the teams looking after them, and together formulate a plan of care.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See attached job description for full details
Our Band 6 members work long-day shifts on both Outreach and ITU. They spend one third of their shifts caring for patients on a one-to-one basis in ITU or Recovery to ensure clinical skills are maintained, developed and are current.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria
10. Registered Nurse
11. BSc/BA in Nursing
12. ILS course
13. Band 6 ITU experience (has ITU course also)
Desirable criteria
14. Teaching & Assessing Qualification ( Mentorship in practice/SLICE I and II, C&G 7307)
15. ALS
16. CALS
17. Management/leadership course
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria
18. Evidence of teaching/ assessing/ supervision experience
19. Evidence of development of cardiothoracic nursing skills and knowledge
20. Can articulate advanced clinical concepts
21. Experience of ECMO/VADs/IABPs/Impellas
22. Experience caring for cardiology/ cardiothoracic surgical/ transplant L3 patients
Desirable criteria
23. Experience as cardiac arrest bleep holder
24. Experience in change management
25. Experience acting as shift leader in an acute clinical area
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
26. Examples of departmental initiatives/ service developments
27. Verbal communication skills
28. Ability to adapt to changing demands, flexible to change
29. Evidence of continued professional development
30. Ability to clearly, accurately, and concisely produce written reports
31. Able to prioritise and meet deadlines
32. Able to manage difficult situations effectively
33. Demonstrates an awareness of the wider NHS organisation and its service developments
34. Evidence of applying current research to practice/ audit experience
35. Relevant IT skills
Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.