The closing date is 27 July 2026

Job summary
Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts, the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Medway Community Healthcare. Nursing vacancies are also open to Student Nurses and Newly Qualified Nurses.

Now is the time to be part of a healthcare transformation. The new NHS 10-Year Plan puts community care at the centre of service delivery--shifting resources closer to where people live and promoting prevention over hospital admission.

As a member of a community-based NHS trust, you'll be at the forefront of this change. Work in integrated neighbourhood teams, delivering joined-up care alongside GPs, mental health professionals, social workers, and voluntary services. Benefit from new roles, clear career pathways, apprenticeships, and personalised development support.

The plan also brings new workforce standards: improved flexible working, mental health support, safe workplaces, and strong protections against discrimination. With greater investment in underserved areas and a focus on reducing health inequalities, your work will have local impact and national importance.

Community trusts are leading the way in digital innovation, using tools like virtual wards to reduce admin and improve patient care.

If you're passionate about making a difference, this is your chance to help deliver a modern, inclusive, and community-focused NHS.

Main duties of the job
Join the Ashford Community Nursing Service and make a real difference supporting housebound patients across East Kent. We provide personalised care to people with complex and long-term conditions, helping them stay safe and independent at home while working closely with multidisciplinary teams within Primary Care Networks.

This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your skills, with access to a wide range of training and development to support you in managing a varied and rewarding caseload.

Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering palliative and end-of-life care, including symptom control and advance care planning
• Administering medication, including IV therapy
• Managing wounds such as leg ulcers and post-operative sites
• Providing bladder and bowel care
• Promoting health and supporting patients to manage long-term conditions

We're looking for a compassionate, motivated Band 5 Nurse with a commitment to high-quality, patient-centred care.

Develop your career, build advanced skills, and be part of a supportive team where your work truly matters.

Additional Working Pattern: Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am and 6pm, with rotational weekends.

About us
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is due to integrate with Medway Community Healthcare on 1 October 2026. Following integration and to align our community services to the new Neighbourhood Model of care delivery, there will be a period of consultation which may result in changes affecting some services, teams or roles. Depending on the area you are applying to work in, this could include potential changes to your role, work base, reporting arrangements, or terms and conditions of employment. Any changes would be subject to consultation and managed sensitively and in line with relevant employment processes. Please do contact the recruiting manager if you have any concerns about this so they can answer any questions you might have.

Rated 'Outstanding' by CQC, we deliver high-quality care that improves the health of our communities. We are looking for people who share our values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Responsive and Excellent.

We are proud to be an inclusive, welcoming organisation and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We use protected characteristic information for monitoring only and it is not seen by recruiting managers, except where applicants choose to be considered under our disability guaranteed interview scheme.

We know life outside work matters. As a flexible working-friendly organisation, we welcome conversations about arrangements that help you thrive while supporting excellent care for our patients.

Explore KCHFTcareer pathways

Job responsibilities
As a community Trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. Where driving is a requirement of the role, you will be asked to confirm that you hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via kentchft.recruitment@nhs.net, quoting the vacancy reference number, so we can support you further.

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.

Find out more about the community difference here.

Good luck! We cant wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.

Person Specification
Qualifications, training and experience
Essential

• You will have a Level 6 Degree or equivalent qualification, or equivalent knowledge acquired through experience plus a diploma in nursing.
• You'll need to have recent experience of healthcare gained through education, work experience or previous employment. This role is ideal for a newly qualified graduate nurse.
• You will be a registered health care professional with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
• A full, valid UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country

Knowledge and skills
Essential

• You will need to have a customer focussed approach
• Provide patients, clients and their families with the best possible experience
• You will understand where to signpost clients and families to alternative services to support behaviour change and improve health.
• You will have knowledge of up-to-date clinical practice by using up- to- date skills and adhering to evidence based procedures and clinical effectiveness frameworks. You will fully understand the role and remit of a health care worker.

Desirable

• Having an awareness of developments within the NHS would be an advantage.
• You will need to be able to be able to use IT systems and databases.

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 (Apply through our 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 (Apply through our website).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer: Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Trinity House, 110-120 Upper Pemberton, Ashford, Kent, TN25 4AZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

For questions about the job, contact:
Admin team lead: Charlotte Durling
Email: charlotte.durling@nhs.net