Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Staff Nurse - Rapid Response
The closing date is 25 November 2026

Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a band 5 staff nurse to join our Rapid Response Nursing Team.

The rapid response team provides multi-professional input for patients living within the Gateshead locality, aiming to support patients at home to prevent deterioration in health and wellbeing and to be as independent as possible, avoiding the need for admission to hospital or long term care and supporting earlier hospital discharge where required. The team also provides out of hours palliative care support.

You will be based at Bensham Hospital and will be required to work as part of a rota to cover the service which operates 24/7.

Ideally you will have experience of working in the community and have experience of managing patients with a range of physical health problems.

You will be required to drive to a number of community locations as part of this role.

We are looking for enthusiastic, well-motivated, innovative individuals to support developments within the service.

Successful applicants will need to have effective communication skills and demonstrate a positive flexible, team working approach.

You will receive regular support to develop your clinical and professional skills and will have opportunities to contribute to the learning and development of other staff/students.

Main duties of the job
As a Staff Nurse you will be part of a community workforce providing interventions to the patients across Gateshead, preventing hospital admissions, enabling individuals to remain in their own homes for longer and prevent premature admissions into long term care facilities.

The post holder will assist individuals and their carers to proactively manage and anticipate their future health needs, support self-care, develop appropriate plans, and work collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team, partner organisations.

• Provide high quality patient care in the community setting under the direction and supervision of a senior nurse/practitioner.
• To support the point of contact ensuring patients receive care at the right time, right place, by staff with the right skills.
• Provide hands on care to patients in a variety of settings within the community.
• Treat specific diseases in accordance with agreed medical protocols, pathways and PGDs under direction of the senior practitioner.
• Assess, plan, provide and evaluate nursing care to meet care needs of individual patients and carers in their own homes.
• Analyse and evaluate personal clinical performance in a reflective manner to ensure continued personal and professional development and the maintenance of an up-to-date knowledge base.
• Work with Trust policies and procedures that ensure patient safety at all times.
• To ensure the development and maintenance of a learning environment.

About us
Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the BAME network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our armed forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

Details
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 297-8125299
Job location: Bensham Hospital, Fontwell Drive, Gateshead, NE8 4YL, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
As a Staff Nurse you will be part of a community-based workforce providing timely interventions to the patients across Gateshead, preventing unnecessary acute hospital admissions, enabling individuals to remain in their own homes for longer and prevent premature admissions into long term care facilities.

The post will be based in Gateshead. The post holder will be expected to travel to patients living within the borough of Gateshead and locally, if the patient is registered with a Gateshead GP.

The post holder will be expected to work flexibly covering a variety of shifts to meet the needs of the service 24/7.

Person Specification
Essential qualifications: Diploma/Degree in Adult Nursing; Full UK Drivers Licence/car available to use for work; Experience of providing palliative care to patients; Current NMC Registration.
Desirable: Teaching qualification or equivalent; Accredited Clinical Skills or equivalent expert knowledge.
Essential experience: Ability to organise workload and work autonomously and within a team; Ability to demonstrate leadership skills; Ability to maintain effective communication verbal and written; Clinical Supervision; MDT working; Working with Frailty.
Desirable experience: Community Experience; Working in Urgent Care, Unscheduled Care, Emergency Care.
Essential skills: Enthusiastic can do attitude; IT skill and knowledge; Trained in moving and handling procedures; Good interpersonal skills.
Physical requirements: Able to move and handle safely; Ability to travel independently.

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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

Employer contact details
Lead for RR Recruitment: Pamela Storey, pamela.storey@nhs.net, 01914458400

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.