Job overview
We are looking for experienced band 5 or band 6 nurse to join our team on Esther Ward as a Senior Staff Nurse
You will need to be clinically excellent with a wide skill set relating to the area(s). You must be keen to drive quality on the ward and be a strong leader for education and development.
Esther Ward
Esther Ward is a 24 bedded Surgical Oncology ward, primarily specialising in Head and Neck / ENT and Thoracics. Esther Ward is an excellent place to develop your advanced nursing skills. The ward admits and looks after patients having elective surgery under Head & Neck, ENT as well as emergency admissions from clinic and A&E across Oncology and Haematology.
We care for patients who have had complex head and neck surgery and often have difficult airways. Esther is a great place to learn the skills to care for this patient group and be exposed to comprehensive in house training and education.
Please note: We do not currently deliver chemotherapy on Esther Ward and therefore this is not a learning opportunity we can offer. We do however support patients through their treatment and associated side effects.
Closing date: 7th May 2026
Main duties of the job
Applicants should either be an existing Band 6 or have significant experience as a Band 5 nurse in an acute clinical environment.
We are searching for positive, aspiring leaders who are able to lead and support junior colleagues in a busy, challenging and very rewarding environment that regularly cares for acutely unwell patients.
As a Band 6 Senior Staff Nurse you will be exposed to a variety of leadership challenges and governance practices on the ward that contribute to the provision of a high standard of evidence based care.
There will be opportunities to undertake further study and you will be able to take full advantage of our in house training as well as those provided externally.
Experience in managing patients with altered airways is desirable.
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 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
The successful candidate will be responsible for the assessment, planning and provision of specialist surgical oncology nursing.
You will provide clinical supervision to other staff and junior learners including students and apprentice nursing associates. You will help to coordinate care on the ward and support others in the team to do so, acting as a role model by adhering to the Trust values and holding others to the same standard.
You will take part in ward-based audits, contribute to clinical change and support clinical excellence. You will also contribute to ensuring the safety and well being of services users, by always working in a manner that promotes dignity and human rights through the adoption of person centered care principles.
Equality, diversity and inclusion are core principles at the heart of our work and you will be key in supporting the management team to maintain a just culture of representation and inclusion on the ward for all patients and staff alike.
We are looking for somebody who is kind, compassionate and focused on delivering exceptional quality care to their patients.
Please see attached job description for full details.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Post registration experience within surgical ward environment
2. Mentorship/Teaching Qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
3. Previous post registration experience within the relevant specialty
4. Experience of teaching/assessing/ supervising others in a clinical setting.
5. Experience of coordinating a shift
Desirable criteria
6. knowledge of Oncology patients
7. Experience of Drain management
8. Experience of NGT/NJ and feeding
Skills
Essential criteria
9. Ability to administer prescribed medication including transfusion of blood and blood products
10. Up to date knowledge of current clinical and professional issues. Knowledge of evidence based practice.
11. Ability to organise and plan own time and that of junior staff and learners.
Desirable criteria
12. Tracheostomy and Laryngectomy Competencies
Values and Behaviour
Essential criteria
13. Values and Behaviour
Professional/ Statutory Registration
Essential criteria
14. RN1/ RN2/ RN12/ Registered Nurse on the NMC register. To hold the appropriate level for the area of speciality.
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.