Job overview
We are looking to recruit a Band 7 Clinical Nurse Specialist in Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant. We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual. You should possess strong leadership skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Knowledge in caring for patients with heart failure, advanced heart failure or post cardiothoracic transplant is essential.
The hours are hours per week, week days only.
The Heart and Lung transplant unit is based at Harefield Hospital.
The transplant unit consists of two wards (Rowan and Fir Tree) and a dedicated outpatient department. Patients may be admitted for heart or lung failure clinical care, transplant assessment or for post-transplant acute care. The CNS in Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant will work with patients/their families, in both the in and out patient setting, working closely with the MDT.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will act as a clinical expert and point of contact for advanced heart failure patients, pre-empting complications and ensuring a smooth journey through the healthcare system.
Key responsibilities include:
Expert Clinical Practice: Conducting routine assessments, history taking, and clinical examinations, while interpreting relevant investigations to plan and evaluate evidence-based care.
Transplant Assessment: Organizing transplant assessments for designated patients and ensuring timely presentation at weekly MDT meetings.
Patient Education & Support: Counselling and educating patients and carers on self-care, symptom relief, and health promotion to maximize quality of life.
Service Coordination: Ensuring the optimal organization of outpatient advanced heart failure clinics and coordinating complex discharge planning to ensure a seamless transition from hospital to community care.
Leadership & Mentorship: Acting as a clinical supervisor and mentor to junior nursing staff, fostering a culture of development and evidence-based practice.
Working for our organisation
Join Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, one of the UK’s busiest and most successful foundation trusts. We are a family of five renowned hospitals—Guy’s, St Thomas’, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Royal Brompton, and Harefield—with a long and proud history of high-quality care, clinical excellence, research, and innovation.
Our values are at the heart of our culture and guide how we work:
1. Caring: We put patients first.
2. Ambitious: We innovate and strive for excellence.
3. Inclusive: We respect each other and work collaboratively.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The CNS role spans clinical, managerial, and research domains to ensure the highest standards of care.
Clinical Leadership and Service Development You will lead in the development of care pathways, protocols, and guidelines for advanced heart failure patients. As a member of the advanced heart failure and transplant clinical group, you will involved in/run specific projects and participate in the Trust’s business planning cycle to identify areas for service growth. You are expected to be a "change agent," actively supporting the introduction of clinical changes and flexible working practices.
Research, Audit, and Quality A core component of this role involves maintaining data quality and clinical effectiveness. You will be responsible for inputting data to NICOR monthly and benchmarking service performance against NICE and NSF guidelines. You will also lead local audits, communicate research findings to the wider nursing team, and work toward peer-reviewed publications.
Professional Standards and Governance The post holder must adhere to NMC and Trust policies, particularly regarding Infection Prevention and Control, Data Protection, and Safeguarding. You will be accountable for your own personal development, maintaining active registration and pursuing further education, such as MSc level studies, to support your expert practice.
For further details, please contact Harefield Hospital – 0330 128 3737 and ask for Alison Thompson on Bleep 6164 or Paula Edwards/Mary Kiernan on Bleep 7044 (CNS’s in Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant), or our direct line 0330 128 4560.
Person specification
Qualifications/ Education
Essential criteria
4. Registered Nurse with active NMC pin number
5. University accredited post registration qualification in heart failure/cardiology
6. Teaching and assessing qualification.
7. ALS/ILS certification
Desirable criteria
8. MSc level education or working towards or equivalent
Qualifications/ Education Previous experience
Essential criteria
9. Extensive post registration experience in cardiology/transplantation
10. Proven Experience at Band 7 in speciality or similar clinical environment
11. Experience of ventricular assist devices and advanced cardiac pacing systems
Desirable criteria
12. Ward manager experience
13. Counselling skills
14. Research and Audit
Skills/Knowledge/ Ability
Essential criteria
15. Managerial, organisational and leadership skills
16. Excellent interpersonal skills
17. Excellent interpersonal skills
18. Excellent communication skills
19. Proven teaching and assessing skills.
20. Ability to inspire and motivate others.
21. Excellent organisation skills
22. Teaching and assessing skills.
23. Ability to be assertive and confident.
24. Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team as well as independently.
25. Can demonstrate application of evidence-based practice.
26. Able to prioritise and meet deadlines.
27. Evidence of leadership skills
28. Evidence of practice innovation and developments
29. Conference presentations and peer reviewed publication
30. IT skills
31. Demonstrate an awareness of wider NHS organisation
Desirable criteria
32. Ability to manage change
Additional Information
Essential criteria
33. Commitment to personal and service development
34. Assertive yet calm demeanour
35. Positive change agent
36. Flexibility Enthusiasm
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.