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 23,500 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

Are you a Registered Nursing Associate looking for a new challenge? If yes, then Guys and St. Thomass NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT) is the Trust for you!

Dorcas Ward is a 28 bedded thoracic surgical ward specialising in patients with respiratory conditions and Lung cancer.
Dorcas Ward provides the highest quality of nursing care to both male and female patients, on emergency and planned admission pathways.

We carryout major lung surgery, requiring cardiac monitoring, intense nursing respiratory skills and high flow oxygen therapy. Our patients often have high acuity levels , this has lead to the development of our new high care area which started in June

Wellbeing of staff is paramount, we have team building days, group study days and excellent social events. We are a strong team and always look after each other and support is always available. 

Closing Date: 17 November 2022

Interview Date: 29 November 2022

Main duties of the job

The role of the Nursing Associate is to work with the multi professional team and the Registered Nurse to provide ongoing assessment (excluding initial assessment), plan, implement and evaluate clinical care in line with service and patient needs, as agreed with supervising clinicians.

The Nursing Associate works independently under the leadership of registered nurses, working within the sphere of nursing care and all aspects of the nursing process. 

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

Manages a delegated caseload, working as a member of a team, responsible for interacting constructively with team members and organising, prioritising and planning their work.

Uses a range of assessment tools to assist in the implementation of appropriate action to meet the specific physical, emotional and psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of individuals and carers.

Provides advice and support to patients to enable them to make informed choices in all areas of health promotion.

Understands when to seek appropriate advice to manage a risk and avoid
compromising quality of care and health outcomes acting in line with local and national organisational frameworks, legislation and regulations to report risks, and implement actions as instructed.

Please see attached job description for full details

Person specification

Previous Experience

Essential criteria

  • Previous experience working as a Registered Nursing Associate
  • Desirable criteria

  • Supervision of Junior Staff
  • Recent experience relevant to specialty
  • Skills/Knowledge/ Ability

    Essential criteria

  • Able to assess, contribute in planning, implement and evaluate clinical care
  • Competent in obtaining and recording baseline patient observations.
  • Able to supervise and teach junior staff
  • Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
  • Knowledge of the individuals responsibility towards health & safety
  • Skills

    Essential criteria

  • The ability to undertake reflective thinking on own practice
  • Aware of limitations
  • Able and willing to work flexible shift patterns, internal rotation
  • Ability to form relationships with others
  • Education/ Qualifications

    Essential criteria

  • RNA Registered Nurse Associate on the NMC register
  • Committed to own personal development
  • Desirable criteria

  • Teaching or Assessing Qualification (including SSSA+P)
  • Values and Behaviour

    Essential criteria

  • Values and Behaviour
  • 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.