Job summary
Pre-operative Assessment Unit Staff Nurse
Maternity Cover: 12 months

The Pre-Operative Assessment Nurse is responsible for ensuring patients are safely prepared for elective surgery through comprehensive assessment, risk identification, patient education, and care planning. Working within a multidisciplinary team, the post holder will undertake pre-operative assessments, coordinate investigations, review results, and escalate concerns to support safe and timely surgical admissions.

The role involves managing a defined caseload of patients, obtaining detailed clinical histories, providing information and reassurance to patients and carers, and supporting informed decision-making throughout the surgical pathway. The post holder will work closely with surgeons, anaesthetists, admissions teams, and other healthcare professionals to optimise patients for surgery and minimise avoidable delays or cancellations.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong clinical assessment, communication, and organisational skills, along with a commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care. They will maintain accurate documentation, uphold professional standards, act as a patient advocate, and contribute to continuous service improvement to ensure excellent patient outcomes and experience.

Main duties of the job
The purpose of this role is to provide comprehensive preoperative clinical assessment, as well as detailed advice and counselling for surgical patients and their carers.

The post holder will act as a junior team member, supported by senior colleagues whilst developing skills specific to the preoperative care environment.

The post holder will be:

• Responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation and delivery of care packages for patients undergoing POA for elective surgery
• Responsible for a defined caseload of patients
• The post holder will work closely and collaboratively as part of the Preoperative Assessment Team (POA) and with all health care professionals involved in the care pathway of the elective and urgent surgical patient, including:
• Preoperative assessment team on a day to day basis
• All Clinical and administrative staff that support the surgical patient journey
• Admissions and scheduling staff across all surgical directorates

About us
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.

We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.

The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven't heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.

Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

Details
Date posted: 03 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year plus HCAS
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 289-PC-292-B
Job locations: West Middlesex University Hospital, Twickenham Road, Isleworth, TW7 6AF, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Manage and deliver care in the POA setting for a variety of patients undergoing surgical procedures with reference to senior colleagues.
• Develop skills in interviewing so as to elicit an accurate patient history suitable to form the basis of a comprehensive preparation for surgery
• Undertake clinical interventions, request appropriate investigations and communicate findings as relevant to other members of the MDT with reference to senior colleagues
• Review results of investigations in a timely manner to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays which may jeopardise the agreed date for surgery
• Develop ability to confidently discuss risks and benefits of surgery and anaesthesia with patients, providing a high standard of patient information and further information sources when required
• With the support of senior colleagues, develop expertise in active listening and counselling skills, with the aim of becoming an effective advocate for patients.
• Maintain a high standard of professionalism in behaviour and appearance at all times
• Develop an expert understanding of the surgical patient pathway and the role of POA within it
• Promote effective communication between interested groups. Ensure due and equal regard is given to the customs, values, religious and spiritual beliefs of all patients and colleagues.
• Safeguard and maintain all patient documentation in accordance with the NMC guidelines on documentation. Take responsibility for a patient caseload as appropriate for developing level of competence
• Communicate with patients and relatives in a sensitive manner appropriate to the situation providing information and reassurance
• Protect patient confidentiality and act according to the Data Protection

PLEASE SEE JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR DETAILS OF ROLE

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse
• Teaching and assessing qualification or evidence of competency

Desirable

• Evidence of post registration study
• Relevant Nursing Degree or equivalent

Experience
Essential

• Extensive post registration experience across the perioperative clinical areas and previous pre assessment experience
• Evidence of continuing development

Desirable

• Working within a multi-disciplinary team

Skills and knowledge
Essential

• Working knowledge of current NHS agenda both generally and in relation to POA and perioperative care
• Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions
• Good time management and organisational skills
• Ability to work under pressure and flexibly as part of the team
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to deputise and lead a team

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address: West Middlesex University Hospital, Twickenham Road, Isleworth, TW7 6AF, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Senior Sister Main Theatres, Michelle Hogben, michelle.hogben@nhs.net

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