Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated practitioner with critical care/ acute clinical and leadership experience to join our Critical Care Outreach Team (CCOT). The successful applicant will join a supportive and dynamic team, leading on delivering high standards of care to acutely unwell patients in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospitals.
CCOT at MTW is a nurse led service; you will have the opportunity to work both as a team member and independently, identifying patients at risk of clinical deterioration or that are deteriorating have their needs prioritised with appropriate assessment, intervention and on-ongoing management. Teaching and delivering education to ward teams is an essential part of the role together with leading on deteriorating patient quality improvement work across sites.
Main duties of the job
1. Collaboratively work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team to providing safe and effective care in clinical areas to ensure appropriate escalation and timely management of critically ill patients.
2. To provide a service which improves recognition and response to deteriorating patients on the wards based on NICE CG50
3. Support the rehabilitation strategy for critically ill patients based on NICE CG83 and the process of step down to ward care of patients with complex care needs
4. Recognise and respond to acutely ill and deteriorating patients ensuring timely interventions by the most appropriate member of the healthcare team particularly out of hours.
5. Respond to clinical emergencies as appropriate.
6. Teach and assess clinical skills in practice as the opportunity arises.
7. Act as a professional role model and a specialist information resource for all staff regarding the care and treatment of critically ill patients where appropriate
Working for our organisation
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
to hear what our staff say.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
8. At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
9. Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
10. Blue Light card eligibility
11. And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We’ve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children). If a role involves regulated activity and requires a DBS check with a barred list check, you cannot apply if you are on the barred list.
All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.
Following your corporate induction you will be expected to attend the Trust’s 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please email if this is problematic) and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
12. NMC Level 1 registration
13. Recognised Acute/Critical Care Course
14. Teaching Qualification or evidence of proficient teaching skills
15. Senior post in acute/critical care settings (band 6 or 7) ideally in Outreach
16. ILS/ALS
17. Degree qualification or working towards a degree
Desirable criteria
18. Degree
19. Previous Outreach experience
20. ALS provider/Instructor
21. ALERT/AIMs instructor
22. MSC
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
23. Senior post in critical/ acute care environment (Band 6 or 7) ideally in Outreach
24. Relevant experience with inserting intravenous devices (or willingness to undertake cannulation) and IV drug administration Experience of nursing patients with central venous devices, tracheostomies, non-invasive ventilation & arterial blood gas analysis
25. Skills in physical assessment
26. Experience of teaching and learning
27. Leadership experience
28. Able to work autonomously and alone
29. Keeps up to date with new practices and developments
30. Has been involved in audit & research data collection
31. Experience of nursing patients with central venous devices, tracheostomies, non-invasive ventilation & arterial blood gas analysis
32. Ability to work within multi-professional team
33. Commitment to working in partnership with patients/ carers
34. Maintains a high standard of nursing/ management of patient care.
35. Capacity to learn new skills
Desirable criteria
36. Experience at ward/department management
37. Can undertake arterial blood gas stabs
38. Leadership qualification; Teaching qualification
39. Led on research/audit/project/change management initiatives
Skills
Essential criteria
40. Proven advanced clinical knowledge and skills in relation to critical care management & assessment.
41. Excellent presentational, communication and interpersonal skills.
42. Ability to work within multi-disciplinary team and to lead, manage and motivate all staff within sphere of responsibility.
43. Good IT skills relating to excel, word and powerpoint
44. Evidence of leading and developing staff
45. Recognises and is confident in resolving conflict
46. Excellent verbal and written skills.
47. Ability to project a professional manner and approach
48. Computer literacy
49. Developed skills in audit
50. Developed interpersonal and influencing skills.
51. Ability to motivate staff.
52. Track record of team building and good working relationships. Team player
53. Compassion, diplomacy and assertiveness
54. Able to think creatively and with innovation
55. Effective leader
Desirable criteria
56. An understanding of organisational management issues
57. Proven track record of achievement in change