Job overview
East Wing 10 HDU is a state-of-the-art, new and improved 15 bedded unit and we are looking for you!
We are looking for enthusiastic, experienced critical care nurses to join our friendly, welcoming team on this new venture to deliver high quality level 2 patient care. East Wing 10 HDU is an integral part of the large and dynamic Critical Care department at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT), caring for both surgical and medical patients. These are patients who have either been stepped down from Intensive Care, or those requiring a step up in care from ward level and the Emergency Department. These patients often require support of one or more organs, such as with non-invasive ventilation, renal replacement therapy and advanced cardiovascular support, all of which require close monitoring and observation.
The upgraded facilities and enhanced infection control measures will improve our ability to cater for the complex needs of critically ill patients. GSTT is committed to investing in our hospital environments so we can continue to improve care and patient experience. This is one of several capital projects undertaken at GSTT that will improve facilities for patients.
If you enjoy using your initiative and working autonomously but as part of an effective multidisciplinary team, then this job really is for you!
Closing date: 8th February 2026 at Midnight
Interview date: 20th February 2026
Main duties of the job
We can offer you a personalised induction programme with supervision and support from our dedicated practice development team and one to one support from the senior nursing team. You will have the opportunity to develop shift leadership skills as well as have other opportunities to help you to advance your knowledge through ongoing professional development. You will be given the opportunity to develop management skills including team leadership and clinical governance development.
Working for us would give you the opportunity to develop your career further by caring for a wide variety of complex critical care patients including:
1. A wide variety of medical patients including type 2 respiratory patients, diabetes management and renal patients with both acute and chronic needs for renal replacement therapy.
2. General Surgical patients including laparotomies, formation of stomas and oesophagostomies
Please note to be considered for this vacancy you must have completed a critical care course and either have your results or be waiting for your results to be processed. Should you be successful at interview and you are unable to provide the recruiting manger with confirmation of a successfully competed critical care course within 2 months of being interviewed then your offer will be withdrawn
Working for our organisation
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK’s best known hospitals – Guy’s, St Thomas’, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield – as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We are among the UK’s busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.
We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and – as part of King’s Health Partners – we are one of England’s eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research’s biomedical research centres, established with King’s College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.
We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
3. Independently manage a group of patients within the specialty whilst working as part of the multidisciplinary team, delivering individualised and personalised direct patient care.
4. Demonstrate appropriate practice and specialist advice in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care. This includes history taking, physical examination and the requesting of agreed diagnostic procedures/clinical investigations.
5. Responsible for the correct administration of prescribed medication including transfusion of blood and blood products.
6. Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies in the speciality. To interpret information and take appropriate action and to lead others to do the same.
7. Ensure that patients’ receive high quality clinical care and a good patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.
8. To provide leadership, support and guidance to staff in monitoring the planning delivery and evaluation of individualised care.
9. Is wholly accountable for his / her practice in line with the NMC code of professional conduct and takes every reasonable opportunity to sustain and improve his / her knowledge and professional competence.
10. Ensure safe and effective care for complex patients requiring advance clinical skills and responsible for carrying out specialist nursing procedures to area.
11. Ensure that sensitive patient records are stored appropriately.
12. Ensure staff take precautions to minimise the risk of cross infection in relation to the safe disposal of body fluids (including blood).
13. To be an effective communicator with patients/carers/families regarding disease treatment and management.
14. Facilitate a high quality, cost effective specialist service through monitoring and audit and other quality initiatives agreed by the Trust.
15. Identify and intervene where circumstances contribute to an unsafe environment for patients and staff. To bring instances to the attention of the Sister/Charge Nurse for the area.
16. Ensure that the learning environment and specialist training is appropriate for both pre and post registration learners and participate in the development of appropriate programmes.
17. Contribute in the Trust’s clinical supervision programme for staff.
18. To assist the Sister/Charge Nurse in developing a culture that is challenging, stimulating, rewarding and supportive.
19. To act as mentor/assessor to unqualified staff and to provide education, advice and support to a team of nurses.
20. Utilise research findings in the delivery of specialist patient care, developing new ways of working and to disseminate relevant information to staff.
21. Provide a leadership role model and demonstrate specialist knowledge and high standards of clinical practice and provide support or advice when necessary.
22. Maintain accurate records of the clinical service and ensuring that confidentiality of information is adhered to.
23. Organise own work and manage own caseload and practice, identifying and maintaining supportive networks for self and other staff members.
24. Take an active role in risk assessment, supporting implementation of strategies to minimise risk. Ensuring incidents and near misses are reported, through promoting a no blame culture.
25. To create an environment that fosters good communication between patient and health care professionals, that meets individual’s needs.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
26. BSC/1st degree (health related) or equivalent qualification/training and experience
27. Evidence (Certificate/Record) of Mentorship/Teaching Qualification
28. Post registration qualification in Critical Care or High Dependency Nursing
Desirable criteria
29. Leadership qualification
Professional/ Statutory Registration
Essential criteria
30. Registered Adult Nurse on the NMC register
Experience
Essential criteria
31. Evidence of experience and competence in care and management of patients in Critical Care
32. Experience working within a multidisciplinary team
33. Evidence of teaching/assessing/ supervising junior staff/students in a clinical setting
Desirable criteria
34. Experience of co-ordinating a shift
Skills/Knowledge/Ability
Essential criteria
35. Evidence of up-to-date knowledge of current clinical evidence-based practice and professional issues
36. Evidence of being able to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate specialist care delivered to patients/clients and give relevant advice/information to patients and relatives
37. Evidence (Certificate/Record) of leadership skills
38. Good communication skills and ability to deal with sensitive information including dealing with challenging situations
39. Demonstrate an awareness of clinical governance and risk management and how this effects their role and the department
Desirable criteria
40. Able to provide evidence of Computer Skills including ability to use Electronic Patient Records, training completed
41. An understanding of audit and research-based nursing practice
Specific Speciality Criteria
Essential criteria
42. Able to demonstrate competence in the management of patients within critical care/high-dependency area
43. Able to demonstrate experience in Non-Invasive ventilation and renal replacement therapy
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.