Job overview
The POPS Team at GSTT
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a clinical nurse specialist with experience in multi-pathology management to join the POPS team at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT).
The Perioperative medicine for Older People being considered for Surgery (POPS) team is an award-winning service and the first of its kind in the UK. It started in 2003 and has rapidly become an essential surgical support service. It is recognised locally and nationally as being of high quality, innovative and clinically effective. The POPS team look after patients aged 65 years and above and aim to improve their medical health before and after surgery by assessing them before surgery, following their care while in hospital and supporting consultants and ward staff.
The post holder will have contact with the patient at all stages of the patient journey and will be supported by a consultant physician for clinical supervision. They will gain experience in the use of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in the surgical patient, learning how to apply this in the elective and emergency surgical patient group. They will develop skills in the recognition of increased surgical risk and common post-operative complications. The post holder will gain skills in how to manage these issues and its impact on long term health.
Closing date: 20/01/2026
Main duties of the job
Outpatient setting
1. conduct comprehensive geriatric assessments informing perioperative risks and plans
2. Identify pre-operative MDT goals & plans
3. Participate in shared decision making
4. Recognise and conduct advanced care planning
Multidisciplinary team meetings
5. Present patients assessed in outpatient clinic, contributing to management plans and decision making
Inpatient surgical ward areas
6. Review known POPS patients and case find at risk patients
7. Promptly identify and manage medical and multidisciplinary complications
8. Active engagement in ward MDT meetings to improve quality of care for older people and facilitate discharge planning
9. Use expert theoretical and practical knowledge to refer on to other departments/services within or outside the Trust
10. Apply prevention strategies for adverse outcomes such as readmissions and prolonged inpatient stay
Supporting the wider POPS service
Review & triage referrals to POPS, liaising with admissions and surgical colleagues
Support the POPS CNS lead with nurse led follow up service
To be actively engaged in the national agenda relating to older people
Support with teaching for all members of the MDT within GSTT
Support with QIP and service improvement within the POPS team and wider Trust
Welcome and role model best practice to visiting professionals from other hospitals nationally and internationally
Working for our organisation
The POPS team is a multidisciplinary team who are friendly and dynamic working in a busy NHS Trust. The POPS clinical nurse specialist is an integral part of the service, working at an advanced level striving to improve patient experience and outcomes.
Organisational Values:
Our values help us to define and develop our culture, what we do and how we do it. It is important that you understand and reflect these values throughout your employment with the Trust.
The post holder will be:
Caring – we put patients first
Ambitious – we innovate and strive for excellence
Inclusive – we respect each other and work collaboratively
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached documents which outline detailed band 7 POPS CNS job description and person specification
Person specification
Qualification/training and experience
Essential criteria
11. BSC/1st degree (health related) or equivalent qualification/training and experience
12. Post registration qualification in appropriate area of speciality or equivalent post qualification experience
13. Mentorship course
14. Leadership course
15. Physical assessment/examination course
Desirable criteria
16. To have or working towards a masters degree
17. To have or working towards non medical prescribing qualification
Professional Registration
Essential criteria
18. RN1 or RN child registered nurse on the NMC register. To hold to appropriate level for the area of speciality
Previous experience
Essential criteria
19. Extensive experience of working autonomously at an advanced level within the specialist area delivering effective patient focused care.
20. Evidence of management/leadership skills and delivering change
21. Experience of student supervision and clinical education at undergraduate level
22. Experience of audit, research & governance activities
Skills/Knowledge and Ability
Essential criteria
23. Ability to conduct history taking, physical assessment skills and interpret data to direct patient care and formulate plans
24. Proven listening and counselling skills with ability to manage complex situations with the ability to deliver sensitive difficult outcomes
25. Up to date on current clinical practice, professional issues and national agenda relevant to the speciality
26. Time management/organisation skills and proficient in IT skills
Desirable criteria
27. Undertaken clinical & nursing research
28. Experience in the outpatient setting, conducting clinics/letter writing/ongoing case management
Additional information
Essential criteria
29. Diplomatic, flexible and positive approach to work
Desirable criteria
30. Member of relevant external organisation(s) related to the 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.