Job summary
HORTON EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

We currently have vacancies for qualified nursing staff within our busy Emergency department. Would you like to be part of a team of highly skilled medical and emergency nurses delivering high standards of acute emergency care? The Horton Emergency Department are recruiting for nurses to join their team of skilled practitioners. Ideally qualified applicants would have 6 months post graduate experience in an acute setting, however applications from new graduates will be considered.

The assessment unit has recently undergone a transformation and is now a single front door, acute care setting with the emergency department. Each emergency area will offer the opportunity to expand knowledge and skills across a range of emergency presentations, working as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary teams

Main duties of the job

• Provide exceptional patient care which is underpinned by evidence based practice.
• Involve and work in partnership with the patients' family and friends to be actively involved in the caring process on behalf of the patient where agreed.
• Manage, direct and evaluate the nursing care for a defined caseload of patients.
• Communicate effectively information to patients/relatives/carers/ and all members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Maintain and develop high standards of nursing care, reflecting the beliefs about professional nursing practice and patient care commensurate with The Oxford Model for Exemplary Professional Nursing and Midwifery Practice.
• Develop and maintain specialist knowledge of nursing practice relevant to the clinical area.
• Undertake the responsibilities associated with being a mentor and preceptor reflecting the beliefs about professional nursing practice and patient care commensurate with the Oxford Model for Exemplary Professional and Nursing and Midwifery Practice.
• Conduct oneself in a professional manner and be a role model to less experienced/non registered and new staff at all times.
• Develop skills to provide senior nurse cover for the department in the absence of the Sister or Charge Nurse and Team Leader.
• Work proactively to ensure every hospital visit meets the needs of the patient and that they are discharged in a timely manner ensuring effective communication with the family and/or relevant agencies as agreed.

About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. Find out more here www.ouh.nhs.uk

The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

Details
Date posted: 16 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum/ pro-rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 321-MRC-8299225-B5

Job responsibilities
This job description outlines the core requirements expected of a Band 5 nurse. As such the list below is not exhaustive. Specific requirements related to any specialist area of practice will be outlined with the prospective post holder and included as an addition to these generic descriptors as role specific prior to employment.

Patient Care

• Demonstrate and promote a patient and family centred style of clinical practice.
• Be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care from admission to discharge.
• Accurately document and report to other members of the nursing team and multi disciplinary team information regarding the care given to patients, communicating changes as they occur.
• Respond to emergency situations with composure, maintaining patient safety and seeking immediate support, and supporting the patient, family and other staff as required.
• Identify and discuss patient needs with the team/staff, patients, carers and the multi disciplinary team. Be able to plan own workload.
• Demonstrate a problem solving approach to effectively execute planning, implementation and evaluation of individualised plans of care based on a holistic model of care.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers and other staff, overcoming barriers to understanding and providing support during distressing or emotional events.
• Maintain patient dignity and confidentiality at all times.

Professional Practice

• Ensure clinical practice is evidence based or peer reviewed best practice.
• Develop and maintain clinical skills and knowledge necessary to provide holistic, evidence based nursing care.
• With supervision and assistance, take on increased responsibility (for example being a named nurse), recognising own limitations and seeking help appropriately.
• As negotiated with Sister/Charge Nurse set and maintain standards of practice, conduct and decision making.
• Be competent in the use of all relevant Trust IT systems including the use of electronic patient records (EPR), email and associated professional media ensuring that data is entered in an accurate and timely fashion, in accordance with Trust policy and procedure.
• Engage in and promote a paper light approach to information management.
• Maintain regular use of email and other modes of communication in order to keep abreast of information disseminated across the Trust.
• Adhere to the NMC Code at all times and practice within the NMC Scope of Professional practice, maintaining patient confidentiality at all times.
• Adhere to the Data Protection Act.
• Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of Accountability, Responsibility and Duty of Care and work towards the provision of support and education for less experienced and non-registered staff on the implications for practice.

Leadership and Management

• Undertake the responsibilities associated with being the Team Co-ordinator (in rotation with other staff) to manage allocated resources effectively and efficiently. This includes inputting into electronic patient acuity and dependency and safe staffing tools on a daily basis.
• Ensure that prescribed treatments and plans are in the patients best interests and are carried out as appropriate, and that multidisciplinary team members are informed of changes in the patients condition.
• Ensure compliance with the Health and Social Care Act regulations 2010 by adhering to the Care Quality Commission standards at all times raising concerns to Sister/charge Nurse or an appropriate senior person.
• Contribute toward projects and audits being undertaken in the department, as directed by Ward Manager or deputies.
• Ensure the appropriate management of clinical and general waste and that staffing resources are used appropriately when prescribing and implementing care and treatments.
• Report near misses and untoward incidents, complaints, clinical emergencies, injury or medicine administration errors as detailed in departmental and Trust protocols and procedures, assist the Sister / Charge Nurse Manager in investigating incidents as required. Be proactive in seeking a response to the issues raised in order to disseminate the actions identified and provide own account of events if asked to support an investigation.
• Demonstrate an awareness of and compliance with Health and Safety Regulations that apply to staff and patients. To escalate concerns to senior staff in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Be familiar with the Oxford Model of Exemplary Nursing and Midwifery Practice and ensure that key performance indicators are met.
• Maintain and contribute to the development of standards of practice, conduct or decision making in conjunction with team leaders/ward manager/unit co-ordinator.
• Discuss personal and professional development needs during an annual appraisal, developing, agreeing and documenting action points in the electronic recording and personal development plan.
• Ensure that a smart, professional image that enhances the public perception of the Trust and the professionalism of its staff is portrayed.

Education and Training

• Be actively involved in, and support departmental education programmes.
• Complete or be working towards any local and Trust competency frameworks within a time frame agreed with the Sister/ Charge Nurse and with the support of a named mentor.
• Take all opportunities to contribute to the education and practical training of learners and less experienced staff in order to provide uniformity and promotion of professional standards.
• Develop the skills to supervise, mentor, support and educate less experienced and non registered staff in the clinical practice setting. Undertake all relevant Statutory and Mandatory (SME) training using the Trust E-Learning packages and study opportunities.
• Demonstrate a commitment to research based practice and clinical excellence and play an active part in the introduction of research-based change to improve patient centred care.
• Undertake the responsibilities of a mentor participating in induction and orientation programmes, guiding practice, assessing competence, enabling and supporting learning.
• Comply with PREP (in full) requirements for NMC Revalidation, identifying own learning needs and ensuring own professional development is maintained by keeping up to date with practice developments.
• Demonstrate a commitment to evidence based practice and clinical excellence. Using these skills works collegiately to promote innovation and work within the nursing team in the provision of an excellent standard of patient care in line with Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) values and The Oxford Model of Exemplary Nursing and Midwifery Practice.
• Develop and share own clinical knowledge with other members of the multi-disciplinary team and as relevant with practitioners both locally and nationally.
• Act as a role model for the nursing/midwifery team promoting consistent professional and clinical excellence.
• Provide support to less experienced staff.
• Engage in Clinical Supervision in order to gain an appreciation of its value in clinical practice.
• Identify own development needs, aligning these to service requirements and personal aspirations. Proactively develop and improve own practice using all available resources.
• Understand and contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies/protocols/guidelines relevant to the specialist area.
• Participate in the OUH culture of audit and research in practice.
• Keep up to date with professional issues that influence nursing practice relating to the area of clinical practice, management education and research.
• Promote and practice, evidence based nursing care, embracing new ideas and changes for the benefit of patient care.
• Openly question and challenge nursing practice in a constructive way so that standards of patient care are continually evaluated and improved.

Person Specification
Values and Behaviours

• Essential: Able to deliver a high standard of care for patients and always striving to improve on what you do through change and innovation.
• Essential: Shows pride in the quality of care they provide for patients and learning from successes and setbacks.
• Essential: Able to demonstrate the ability to put patients at the heart of what you do and recognising different needs by encouraging a spirit of support, integrity, respect and teamwork.

Education, training and qualifications

• Essential: Registered Nurse (Part 1, 8, 12 or 15 of register depending on area of practice).
• Essential: UK recognised Degree in Nursing relevant to post.
• Essential: Evidence of ongoing professional development through maintenance of an ongoing NMC revalidation.
• Desirable: Hold a recognised NMC qualification in teaching and mentoring.
• Desirable: Post-graduate qualification related to an area of practice.
• Desirable: Evidence of achievement on a Nursing and Midwifery (NMC) approved Mentorship qualification.

Clinical Practice

• Essential: Articulate and knowledgeable of skills needed to deliver a high standard of care in the area of practice.
• Essential: Able to work under own initiative within boundaries of role.
• Essential: Demonstrates awareness of importance of working as part of a team.
• Essential: Able to document observations, results, decisions and actions etc. effectively in patient's notes and communicate these effectively to appropriate members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Essential: Able to communicate effectively with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Essential: Able to proactively contribute to the education of learners and non-registered and less experienced staff.
• Essential: Demonstrates ability to manage, direct and evaluate the nursing care for a defined caseload of patients.
• Desirable: Competent to administer intravenous medicines.
• Desirable: Competent in central venous access management.

Leadership and Management

• Essential: Excellent communication skills.
• Essential: Able to prioritise own workload and that of others as appropriate.
• Essential: Demonstrates ability to maintain and contribute to the development of standards of practice, conduct or decision making in conjunction with team leaders/ward manager/unit co-ordinator.
• Essential: Acts as a role model and are able to lead by example to ensure the Trust's values and behaviours are reinforced throughout their area of practice.
• Essential: Able to supervise non-registered and less experienced staff to ensure effective care delivery.
• Essential: Able to effectively and appropriately escalate concerns to reduce risk and promote patient safety.
• Desirable: Previous experience of managing clinical incidents and complaints.
• Desirable: Previous experience in the relevant specialty.
• Desirable: Previous management experience of specific clinical area.

Improving Quality and Development

• Essential: Understanding of professional and current issues related to area of practice.
• Essential: Demonstrates ability to keep up to date with professional issues that influence nursing practice relating to the area of clinical practice, management education and research.
• Essential: Able to identify own learning needs and ensure own professional development is maintained by keeping up to date with practice developments.
• Desirable: Able to contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies/protocols/guidelines relevant to area of practice.
• Desirable: Demonstrates ability to question and challenge nursing practice in a constructive way so that standards of patient care are continually evaluated and improved.

Personal Qualities and Physical

• Essential: Motivated and able to articulate reasons for desire to work in the specific practice area.
• Essential: Being self-aware and able to accept constructive criticism.
• Essential: Positive enthusiastic character.
• Essential: Resilient under pressure.

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.

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

Employer details
Employer name: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: The Horton General Hospital, Oxford Road, Banbury, OX16 9AL, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Matron Michelle Brock, michelle.brock@ouh.nhs.uk

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