Job overview
Multiple Speciality Assessment Unit (MSAU)
MSAU is a Nurse Led 16 bedded Unit comprising of the mental health Crisis Assessment Unit (CAU) and Surgical SDEC. The Unit is the supporting wing of the Emergency Department and is driven by the patient’s pact with a length of stay of one to a maximum of eight (8) hours.
Referrals come directly from the Emergency Department. The MSAU Senior nurses manage the flow through the Unit. Patients who are admitted may require further investigations, procedures and stabilisation before being transferred to the most appropriate ward, hospital or be discharged home.
MSAU is a specialist Unit and will give you the opportunity to care for a diverse range of patients and specialities such as surgical, orthopaedics, ENT, urology, renal, plastics, medical, psychiatry and gynaecology. You will be given the opportunity once capable to do plastering, simple wound closure, and dressings.
Closing date: 8/12/25
Interview date: 16/12/25
Main duties of the job
We are seeking dynamic, hardworking, resilient and highly motivated nurses with strong leadership, who can demonstrate skills in quick and safe patient assessment. You will need to have significant senior band 5 experience and have ample experience of taking charge and an understanding of the referral process. Applicants must be able to support junior staff and have experience managing challenging situations.
MSAU is constantly changing and adapting to new challenges on the Emergency Floor and the Trust as a whole. Applicants must be open to change and demonstrate initiative to build a strong team.
You will work in a fast paced environment. In return we will offer you training and development to enhance your career.
Staff are expected to comply with GSTT trust values, policies and procedures. Effective communication and working well within a team are essential skills required for working within the Unit.
Working for our organisation
Guy’s and St Thomas's 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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical Leadership and Managerial
1. Provide strong clinical leadership skills, supporting, energising, inspiring
and empowering others in pursuit of a shared vision to ensure the effective management of the ward/department.
2. To assist and support the Deputy Sister/Charge Nurse in the establishment of an efficient working environment, making the most effective and efficient use of staff, supplies and services.
3. Coordinating the day-to-day running of the Unit, delegating duties and care appropriately, whilst maintaining overall responsibility. Ensures that staffing and skill mix is maintained, at all times, to a level that does not compromise patient safety.
4. Be able to book bank shifts appropriately for safer staffing
5. To attend huddles for the Emergency Floor flow.
6. Help to promote new ideas and methods for the delivery of care and assist in their implementation through liaison and co-operation with the multidisciplinary team.
7. Deal with complaints in a calm and courteous manner, ensuring that
wherever possible complaints are dealt with efficiently and satisfactorily
and resolved locally.
8. Support the Sister/Charge Nurse implement local initiatives within the area.
9. When required to be involved with managing local projects within the area.
10. Understand budget and cost saving measures implemented on the unit.
Responsible for maintaining stock control controlled drugs.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
11. BSC degree in Nursing or equivalent qualification
12. Relevant Post registration course
13. Supervisor and Assessor qualification /SSAP
Desirable criteria
14. Acutely Unwell Adult/ Work based learning course
15. Leadership course or equivalent
16. Recruitment and selection course
Experience
Essential criteria
17. Relevant post registration experience on MSAU or similar area
18. Experience managing challenging situations and de-escalation
19. Experience of supervising others in a clinical setting
20. Nurse in charge experience
Desirable criteria
21. Previous senior position in an acute medical/surgical setting
Skill, knowledge and ability
Essential criteria
22. Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate specialist care delivered to patients/clients and give relevant advice/information to patients and relatives.
23. Knowledge of evidence-based practice
24. Ability to administer prescribed medication including transfusion of blood
25. Effective communication with the MDT in escalating safety concerns
26. An understanding of audit and research-based nursing practice
Desirable criteria
27. Experience of caring for mental health patients
additional information
Essential criteria
28. Able and willing to work flexible working patterns, internal rotation, including nights, weekends and bank holidays, as the service requires
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.