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

The older persons assessment unit (OPAU) outpatient department, has a nursing position for a full time, Band 5, staff nurse. If you have been qualified for 18- 24 months onwards, this is an exciting opportunity for you to work in an ambulatory specialist area for patients 65 and above with complex health issues, giving clients a holistic approach in their assessments, care and management.

Working pattern will be Monday- Friday except bank holidays. 

08:30 to 16:30 (flexibility to extend hours is required, when needed).

Closing Date: 16 November 2022

Interview Date; 23 November 2022

Main duties of the job

The frontline of the OPAU service is the nursing team. 

As part of the nursing team, you will be expected to deliver a structured, systematic approach to triaging referrals, assessments and treatments. You will be given an opportunity in coordinating the different clinics with senior support on a daily basis like the TILT, mindfulness, falls, falls and bone health, bladder and bowel, trial without catheter (TWOC), Heart Failure, Memory, Dietetics, comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGA), movement disorder, preoperative medicine for older people undergoing surgery (POPS), geriatric oncology and liaison development (GOLD) .

The unit is a hub for learning and you will play a key role for learners as well as to observers and your teaching skills will evolve. Furthermore, you will have opportunities in assisting our GPs via our telephone advice (TALK) service. Your skills in venipuncture and cannulation will be desirable as well as your ability to access and navigate IT systems independently relevant to the role.

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.

With Guy’s and St Thomas Hospital, you will have great opportunities to work alongside dynamic, specialist, renowned-innovative clinicians, allied health professionals and research nurses giving you a chance to consolidate your knowledge, skills and experience in providing a safe, patient centered care of thinking. The team practices the Trust Values with pride on a daily basis, making our patients the core of our care. 

Furthermore, 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 centers, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Your clinical skills like venipuncture and cannulation will be much desirable alongside your ability to administer prescribed medications via IV therapy, subcutaneous, intramuscular and oral medications.

As a staff nurse your skills to communicate to patients and their family as well as the MDT will be an asset. You will be expected to complete assessments independently using paper forms. Alongside these paper forms, your skills and literacy in IT will be much required as we are transitioning to paperless way of working.

Good attendance record and flexibility to extend your working hours is needed when the service requires.

Please see attached Job description for full details

Person specification

Knowledge and Qualification

Essential criteria

  • Registered Nurse, on NMC Register
  • Evidence of continuing professional development
  • Desirable criteria

  • Mentorship/SSSAP
  • Link Nurse Role
  • Relevant qualifications required to course or area
  • Skills

    Essential criteria

  • Ability to administer prescribed medications including blood and blood products.
  • Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Basic computer skills , Ability to use Microsoft word and Excel and navigate computer programs independently.
  • Desirable criteria

  • Venipuncture and cannulation skills
  • Experience

    Essential criteria

  • Experience in the nurse in charge role/ coordinating shifts
  • Supervision of junior staff
  • Experience of working in the relevant area
  • Desirable criteria

  • Previous experience from other specialties
  • Experience in administering intravenous treatment/therapy.
  • Values and Behaviour

    Essential criteria

  • Values and Behavior
  • Desirable criteria

  • Flexibility to extend hours as the service requires
  • 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.