Nursing Associate
Closing date: 29 April 2026
Urgent Care Services West Kent provides a 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 hospitals, ensuring patients receive timely and effective care in their own environment. We also deliver unscheduled out‑of‑hours support 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.
Nursing Associates within the service use a broad clinical skills base to deliver hospital‑level care at home. This includes catheterisation, phlebotomy, wound care, risk assessment, general observations and fundamental nursing care. Working in this fast‑paced and highly responsive environment offers the opportunity to develop strong clinical decision‑making skills while providing compassionate, person‑centred care to patients with a wide range of urgent and complex needs.
Main duties of the job
As a Band 4 Nursing Associate, you will play an essential role in delivering high‑quality urgent care to patients in their own homes. Your daily work will be varied and clinically engaging, including accurate recording of vital signs such as blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturations and temperature. You will administer medication (oral, topical and via CMH), perform peripheral cannulation and venepuncture, complete GCS assessments, and carry out both male and female catheterisation. You will also administer sub‑cutaneous medication, support symptom management, undertake wound dressings and remove wound closures and drains.
Working closely with Registered Nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to safe, effective and timely care for patients experiencing acute deterioration or requiring urgent intervention. This role offers an excellent opportunity to expand your clinical skills, work autonomously within your scope of practice and make a meaningful difference to patients across West Kent.
Job 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 must hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non‑EU country). If you are unable to drive due to a disability, we are committed to supporting you and will arrange an alternative driving assessment.
Person Specification
Qualifications, training and experience
* A Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) Level 3 – such as an NVQ Level 3 apprenticeship, BTEC or equivalent international qualification in healthcare, or equivalent experience.
* Functional Skills at Level 2 (Literacy and numeracy/ GCSE grade A–C/ 4–9 or equivalent in English and Maths) and registration with the NMC as a Nursing Associate registrant.
* Recent experience of healthcare/working as a health care assistant gained through education, work experience or previous employment.
* A full, valid UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country.
* Possession of the Care Certificate is desirable; if not obtained, you will be supported to achieve it within the first 3 months of starting.
Knowledge and skills
* A customer‑focused approach.
* Ability to provide patients, clients and their families with the best possible experience.
* Ability to use IT systems and databases.
* Up‑to‑date knowledge of clinical practice, evidence‑based procedures and clinical effectiveness frameworks, and comprehensive understanding of the role and remit of a Nursing Associate.
* The ability to signpost clients and families to alternative services to support behaviour change and improve health.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and therefore a Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service is required to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
£27,485 to £30,162 a year (pro rata per annum)
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.
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