Job overview
Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). Nursing vacancies are also open to Student Nurses and Newly Qualified Nurses.
Urgent Care Services West Kent provides rapid two‑hour response for patients experiencing a health crisis at home. The service aims to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and support early discharge from acute settings, ensuring patients receive timely, safe and effective care in their own environment. We also deliver unscheduled out‑of‑hours care for people at the end of life or those with urgent clinical needs, offering treatment that may otherwise require hospital attendance. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the service plays a vital role in supporting the local population and reducing pressure on acute services.
Our nurses use a broad clinical skills base to deliver hospital‑level care at home. This includes IV therapy, end‑of‑life symptom management via syringe drivers, catheterisation, phlebotomy, wound care, risk assessment and general observations. Working in this service means providing highly responsive, person‑centred care to patients with a wide range of urgent and complex needs, ensuring they receive the right intervention at the right time.
Main duties of the job
As a Band 5 Nurse within Urgent Care Services West Kent, you will play a key role in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating holistic care for patients in crisis at home. You will develop integrated care plans in partnership with patients and their families, order essential equipment, and make onward referrals to ensure seamless, coordinated care. You will also support the supervision and development of junior staff, including Healthcare Assistants and students, contributing to a positive learning environment.
Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will deliver a range of competent clinical interventions and respond promptly to any deterioration in a patient’s condition. You will manage a daily caseload of patients with complex needs, using your clinical judgement to prioritise care and ensure safe outcomes. The role also includes supporting duty responsibilities and completing clinical triage to ensure patients receive timely and appropriate responses. This is a dynamic and rewarding position where your skills will make a meaningful impact on patient experience and urgent care delivery.
Working for our organisation
Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’ve got a passion for delivering high standards of patient care and excellent services to improve the health of our communities. To do this we need outstanding people who share our values compassionate Aspirational Responsive Excellent
We know a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion leads to better patient care and a happier workforce. We pride ourselves in being diverse and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences
We ask for information about your protected characteristics on our application forms. This isn’t visible to anyone involved with shortlisting or interviewing you, except when you choose to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme due to disability. Short listers will see two ticks alongside your application to ensure they apply the principles of the scheme to your submission
The data we collect helps us to ensure we are attracting diversity in our applicants, that all our colleagues have equitable access to career opportunities and supports us on our journey to being a Great Place to Work
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want you to be able to work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Talk to us about a flexible working arrangement that won’t involve sacrificing time for personal interests or family commitments. We’ll support you to work flexibly in a way that will suits us both
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Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As a community Trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. Where driving is a requirement of the role, you will be asked to confirm that you hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via kentchft.recruitment@nhs.net, quoting the vacancy reference number, so we can support you further.
The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.
Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.
We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.
At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.
Find out more about the community difference here.
Good luck! We can’t wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. You will have a Level 6 Degree or equivalent qualification, or equivalent knowledge acquired through experience plus a diploma in nursing.
2. You’ll need to have recent experience of healthcare gained through education, work experience or previous employment. This role is ideal for a newly qualified graduate nurse.
3. You will be a registered health care professional with the Nursing and Midwifery Council
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
4. You will have knowledge of up-to-date clinical practice by using up- to- date skills and adhering to evidence-based procedures and clinical effectiveness frameworks. You will fully understand the role and remit of a health care worker.
5. You will need to be able to be able to use IT systems and databases
6. Having an awareness of developments within the NHS would be an advantage.
7. You will understand where to signpost clients and families to alternative services to support behaviour change and improve health.
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
8. A full, valid UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) and the ability to travel independently are essential for this role. Should you require workplace adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to supporting you to meet the mobility requirements of the role wherever possible.
Employer certification / accreditation badges