Job summary
We are launching a new surgical Virtual Ward at NUH, providing acute-level care to patients in their own home, and we are looking for Band 5 nurses to join the team. You will deliver safe, high-quality nursing care across both the hospital and community elements of the pathway, with support and supervision from Band 6 and Band 7 colleagues and active support to develop your surgical nursing skills and confidence.

Main duties of the job
You will deliver holistic, evidence-based nursing care to patients on the Virtual Ward, carrying out assessments, observations, NEWS2 scoring, wound care, and medication administration within your scope of practice.

You will carry out planned visits to patients in their own homes, following agreed care plans, monitoring arrangements, and escalation protocols.

You will recognise deterioration and escalate promptly to Band 6 and Band 7 colleagues, and support Band 3 colleagues in the delivery of care.

About us
Virtual Wards are a significant development in how the NHS delivers acute care, and this post sits within a fully funded new service in Surgery and Associated Services at NUH, launching alongside a dedicated therapies team.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop your surgical and community nursing skills in a supportive, well-led new team, with clear escalation routes and structured development.

You will also benefit from the NHS Pension Scheme, annual leave, and the development opportunities that come with joining a new and growing service.

Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
The Band 5 SAS Virtual Ward Nurse delivers high-quality, safe, and compassionate nursing care to patients on the surgical Virtual Ward pathway, working across both the hospital and community elements of the service under the supervision and guidance of Band 6 and Band 7 colleagues.

Clinical Practice and Patient Care

• Deliver holistic, evidence-based nursing care within defined protocols, clinical pathways, and your scope of practice as a registered nurse.
• Apply surgical nursing knowledge and post-operative care skills, recognising normal recovery and escalating signs of deterioration or complications promptly.
• Undertake nursing assessments including observations, NEWS2 scoring, wound assessment, medication review, and functional and social assessment.
• Deliver community-based care in patients homes, carrying out planned visits in line with the agreed care plan and escalation protocols.
• Administer medications safely in line with NMC standards and the Trusts medicines management policy, and undertake clinical procedures within your competency, including wound care, catheter care, cannulation, and phlebotomy.

Operational Contribution

• Contribute to the day-to-day operational delivery of the service, attending handover, board rounds, and team meetings, and managing your allocated caseload safely.
• Prioritise your workload according to clinical urgency and patient risk, escalating to Band 6 and Band 7 colleagues where required.
• Support Band 3 Support Workers in the delivery of care within your scope of practice.

Governance, Safety and Documentation

• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous clinical records for all patient interactions in line with NMC standards and Trust requirements.
• Work within NMC standards, Trust policies, clinical governance requirements, and Virtual Ward SOPs at all times.
• Identify, manage within scope, and escalate clinical risks, patient safety concerns, and safeguarding concerns, following lone-working and personal safety protocols in the community.

Communication and Teamworking

• Communicate effectively and professionally with patients, carers, and colleagues, adapting your style for those with communication difficulties or reduced understanding.
• Provide clear and timely verbal and written handover to Band 6 and Band 7 colleagues.
• Seek guidance and raise concerns openly and proactively within the team.

General

• Work flexibly across hospital and community settings, including a 7-day or extended-hours model where required.
• Engage in your own professional development, clinical supervision, appraisal, and reflective practice, and maintain NMC registration and revalidation requirements.
• Travel between patients homes and Trust sites; a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (or ability to meet travel requirements by other reasonable means) is required.

This is a summary of the main duties. The full Person Specification and Job Description are available as supporting documents.

Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration.
• Degree-level qualification (or equivalent) in nursing or a health-related subject, or currently working toward this.
• Knowledge of professional codes of conduct, NMC standards, safeguarding, confidentiality, and infection prevention principles.
• Understanding of surgical nursing and post-operative care relevant to the patient group

Desirable

• Post-registration experience or training in a surgical ward, surgical assessment unit, or acute inpatient surgical setting.
• Training or study in clinical assessment, deterioration recognition (e.g. NEWS2), or acute care
• Mentorship, supervision, or practice assessor training, or willingness to work toward this
• Training or experience relevant to Virtual Ward, Hospital at Home, community nursing, or discharge pathways.

Experience
Essential

• Registered nursing experience in an acute, surgical, hospital, or healthcare setting, gained either post-registration or through a final-year placement, return-to-practice programme, or equivalent.
• Experience of delivering direct patient care, including assessment, care planning, and clinical interventions, under appropriate supervision.
• Experience of caring for patients with acute or complex needs, including recognising clinical deterioration and escalating appropriately.
• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team and contributing to coordinated, patient-centred care.

Desirable

• Post-registration experience on a surgical ward, surgical assessment unit, or equivalent acute surgical setting.
• Experience of caring for patients with post-operative needs, including wound care, pain management, post-operative observations, and recognising surgical complications.
• Experience of working in a community, primary care, discharge, or Virtual Ward / Hospital at Home setting
• Experience of working with patients in their own homes or community environments

Communication and Relationship Skills
Essential

• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, carers, families, and colleagues across a range of settings.
• Able to adapt communication style for patients or carers with communication difficulties, cognitive impairment, emotional distress, anxiety, or reduced understanding.
• Able to provide and receive clinical information clearly and accurately, including in verbal handover, written documentation, and digital systems.

Desirable

• Experience of explaining clinical information, care plans, or treatment expectations to patients and carers
• Experience of contributing to MDT meetings, handovers, or case discussions
• Experience of communicating with patients in emotionally complex or distressing circumstances.

Analytical and Judgement Skills
Essential

• Able to undertake clinical assessment within scope of practice, including observations, NEWS2 scoring, and identifying changes in a patient's condition.
• Able to recognise clinical deterioration, red flags, and safeguarding concerns, and escalate promptly and appropriately to Band 6 or Band 7 colleagues.
• Able to make sound clinical judgements within scope of practice and professional accountability, recognising professional limitations and seeking guidance when required
• Able to interpret patient-reported information, clinical findings, and care plan requirements to deliver safe, appropriate, individualised care.

Desirable

• Experience of using clinical assessment tools or escalation frameworks (e.g. NEWS2, SBAR, sepsis screening) in practice.
• Experience of contributing to clinical audit, incident review, or quality improvement activity.
• Ability to reflect on own practice and identify areas for development

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.

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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