Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced trauma, orthopaedics and plastic surgery nurse with a desire to use their considerable knowledge of nursing care, and teaching experience, to be part of practice development and education at the Royal London Hospital. The post would suit a nurse who has already developed some Practice Development/Practice Facilitation skills.
We have a three in patient wards and a fracture clinic covering secondary and tertiary services including poly trauma, trauma and orthopaedics, plastic surgery and an outpatients fracture clinic. This is a newly created post and the practice development nurse will work alongside the ward and unit managers and work closely with the PDNs within the ECAT division. Support is also offered from the education academy.
This post will enable a self-motivated individual to offer dynamic nursing leadership, working with the senior nurses and ward managers to ensure the learning needs of the teams are met. You will have the opportunity to be a key part of service improvement projects that are on-going as well as identify areas for further growth.
The successful candidate will be motivated, forward thinking, enthusiastic and committed to becoming involved in all aspects of the patient pathway, working in close collaboration with ward and community staff and other clinicians.
Main duties of the job
The Practice Development Nurse (PDN) for Major Trauma, Orthopaedic and Plastic Surgery is responsible for driving excellence in clinical practice, education, and workforce development across these high-acuity specialties within the Major Trauma Centre. The post holder will lead initiatives that promote evidence-based care, professional growth, and a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring that nursing practice aligns with NHSE, CQC, and Major Trauma Network standards.
Working collaboratively with clinical leaders, matrons, educators, and the multidisciplinary team, the PDN will design, deliver, and evaluate education programmes that enhance knowledge, skills, and confidence among staff. The post holder will support professional development through structured induction, competency assessment, supervision, and coaching, while also identifying learning needs in response to changing service demands and patient acuity.
Alongside their educational role, the PDN will contribute to clinical governance, quality improvement, and safety initiatives, translating audit outcomes, incident reviews, and research evidence into practice improvements. The post holder will act as a visible clinical leader and role model, fostering compassionate, patient-centred care, and embedding a culture of learning and accountability that supports both staff wellbeing and excellent patient outcomes.
Working for our organisation
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
1. Experience as a Band 6 in the specialty or an acute setting
2. Evidence of involvement in developing staff in clinical practice
Desirable criteria
3. Evidence of research activity
4. Previous experience as PDN or Clinical Educator
5. Experience in developing or delivering teaching at organisational or multi-professional level.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
6. Up to date-in-depth knowledge of the relevant clinical specialties
7. Knowledge of current professional issues
8. Understanding of NHS changes as they relate to clinical practice
9. Understanding of current educational practices relating to basic and continuing education
10. Knowledge of Quality improvement strategies
11. Understanding of Clinical Governance processes
Qualifications
Essential criteria
12. Registrant with Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
13. Practice assessor
14. Degree in Nursing or related discipline
15. Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable criteria
16. Management training
17. Specialist relevant clinical courses
18. Masters Degree or working towards
19. Formal postgraduate education qualification