Guys and St Thomas is among the UKs busiest and most successful NHS foundation trusts. We provide a full range of hospital and community services for people in south London and as well as specialist care for patients from further afield including cancer, renal, orthopaedic, respiratory and cardiovascular services.

Guys is home to the largest dental school in Europe and a £160 million Cancer Centre opened in 2016. As part of our commitment to provide care closer to home, in 2017 we also opened a cancer centre and a kidney treatment centre at Queen Marys Hospital in Sidcup. St Thomas has one of the largest critical care units in the UK and one of the busiest emergency departments in London. It is also home to Evelina London Childrens Hospital.

Evelina London cares for local children in Lambeth and Southwark and provides specialist services across south east England including cardiac, renal and critical care services. We lead a number of specialist service networks aiming to ensure children are treated locally where possible, but have access to specialist expertise when they need it. Our community services include health visiting, school nursing and support for families of children with long-term conditions. 

Our adult community services teams deliver care at the heart of the local communities we serve, working in partnership with GPs, local authorities and other healthcare and voluntary sector organisations. Working with our partners in Lambeth and Southwark, we are focusing on new ways of working to improve care for local patients.

In February 2021 the Royal Brompton and Harefield joined Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, bringing together world-leading expertise in the care and research of heart and lung disease. Our merger provides a once in a generation opportunity to build a lasting, world-renowned heart and lung centre, providing the highest quality care for patients and conducting world-leading research.

We have a reputation for clinical excellence and high quality teaching and research. We are part of Kings Health Partners, one of eight accredited UK academic health sciences centres. In partnership with Kings College London we have dedicated clinical research facilities and a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre.

Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on ensuring the best possible patient experience as well as safe, high quality care. We are proud to have one of the lowest mortality rates in the NHS. Following a comprehensive Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in 2019 we maintained our overall rating of good. Our adult community services achieved a rating of outstanding.

The commitment of our 22,000 staff is key to our success. We are one of the largest local employers and we aim to develop and support all our staff so they are able to deliver high quality, safe and efficient care. The 2019 NHS staff survey results show that we have one of the most engaged and motivated workforces in the NHS. We know this has a positive impact on the care provided to our patients.

We have one of the most ambitious capital investment programmes anywhere in the NHS.

Job overview

If you are looking for a challenge and have an interest in Head and Neck/ENT then look no further!

Blundell Ward is a 22 bedded ward, inclusive of 6 step down monitored beds, within the surgical oncology directorate at Guys Hospital. We specialise in elective and emergency Ear, Nose, Throat and Head and Neck operations in the treatment of both cancer and non-cancer related conditions.

Your development opportunities as a staff nurse on Blundell ward would include (but are not limited to) becoming competent in tracheostomy and laryngectomy airway management and advanced post-operative care including the care of free flaps, drains and caring for patients on the enhanced recovery pathway who are stepped straight onto the ward following major surgery and requiring 1:1 nursing in our step down bay.

Further to this we also currently care for emergency thoracic surgeries, oncology and haematology admissions and therefore a development opportunity to care for chest drains, acsitic drains, end of life care, parenteral nutrition, high flow oxygen therapy and more is available.

If you share our vision to provide gold standard nursing care to our patients and want to make a difference to peoples lives who are affected in a multitude of ways then apply today!

We welcome you to contact us to find out more about the role and would be happy to show you around the ward and answer any questions you may have.

Main duties of the job

As a staff nurse on Blundell ward you will be offered a strong induction programme and an opportunity to learn a vast amount of clinical skills. You will attend a tracheostomy study day and head and neck study day as part of your induction and with the support of the CNS and senior nursing team will have the opportunity to develop competencies to an expert level to support you caring for our complex patients.

Responsible for carrying out clinical practice within designated clinical areas, ensuring that high quality, current evidence-based nursing assessment, care planning, implementation, interventions and evaluations for patients is provided from admission through to discharge.

Will be responsible for the application of knowledge across the range of work procedures and practices, underpinned by theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

To act as advocate for patients within the area, to ensure a patient orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines.

Carry out those activities necessary to conduct a comprehensive assessment of a persons nursing requirements.

Will ensure that all patients will have a discharge plan that is safe and appropriate for their needs.

Carry out nursing procedures and treatments, checking on and maintaining the highest possible standards.

Work alongside the multi-disciplinary team to ascertain treatments and advise on nursing priorities.

Working for our organisation

Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UKs best known hospitals Guys, St Thomas, Evelina London Childrens Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.

We are among the UKs busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.

We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and as part of Kings Health Partners we are one of Englands eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Researchs biomedical research centres, established with Kings College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.

We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  • Responsible for carrying out clinical practice within designated clinical areas, ensuring that high quality, current evidence-based nursing assessment, care planning, implementation, interventions and evaluations for patients is provided from admission through to discharge. 
  • Will be responsible for the application of knowledge across the range of work procedures and practices, underpinned by theoretical knowledge and practical experience. 
  • To act as advocate for patients within the area, to ensure a patient 
    orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines. 
  • To ensure that patients receive high quality clinical care and a good 
    patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines. 
  • Recognize and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individuals. 
  • Will advise on the promotion of health and the prevention of illness. 
    Recognise the significance of observations made, and use them to 
    develop and initiate nursing assessments and devise a plan of care. 
    Carry out those activities necessary to conduct a comprehensive 
    assessment of a persons nursing requirements. 
  • Will ensure that all patients will have a discharge plan that is safe and 
    appropriate for their needs. 
  • Carry out nursing procedures and treatments, checking on and 
    maintaining the highest possible standards. 
  • Work alongside the multi-disciplinary team to ascertain treatments and advise on nursing priorities. 
  • Take a clear and concise history from patients by assessing their health and well being and complete documentation ensuring that all entries are accurate and legible and that all information systems are maintained. 
  • Undertake prescribed physical observations as follows: blood pressure, 
    temperature, respirations, blood sugars, urinalysis, weight and height, and report exceptions appropriates. 
  • Responsible for the correct administration of prescribed medication 
    including transfusion of blood and blood products 
  • Closing Date: 26th June 2022

    Interview Date: 5th July 2022

    Person specification

    Values and behaviour

    Essential criteria

  • Values and behaviours in line with Trust values
  • Experience

    Essential criteria

  • Experience of working on own and in a team
  • Supervision of junior staff
  • Experience of administering intravenous drug therapy
  • Skills

    Essential criteria

  • Able to assess, plan, implement & evaluate programmes of care
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to administer prescribed medication including transfusion of blood and blood products
  • able to manage difficult situations
  • Education/Qualification

    Essential criteria

  • RN1/ RN2/ RN12 or RN Child Registered Nurse on the NMC register. To hold the appropriate level for the area of speciality.
  • Evidence of continuing professional development
  • Guys 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 studys 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.