Job summary
Are you passionate about delivering exceptional patient care and developing specialist skills in wound healing and lymphoedema management? Pioneer is looking for a Band 5 Staff Nurse to join our bank of supportive, patient-focused specialists.

This is an exciting opportunity for newly qualified and experienced nurses to grow their expertise through a structured preceptorship programme, rotations in ambulatory clinics, and access to advanced specialist skills including sharp debridement.

You will become a member of a team who are committed to delivering the highest standards and adding to the expertise of the fields we operate in via research.

You may have an interest in or have experience with treating wounds and lymphoedema. We provide an intensive induction training programme for wound healing, a formal qualification in lymphoedema and are committed to supporting further education at Masters level.

At Pioneer, your growth is a priority. Our progression framework provides:

• Mentorship from emerging and internationally acclaimed specialists in the field
• Preceptorship from Band 6 nurses and the Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA)
• Development of advanced clinical skills in wound healing and lymphoedema management
• Opportunities to mentor junior staff and students
• Involvement in audits, quality improvement projects, and evidence-based initiatives
• A clear route to Band 6 Specialist Tissue Viability Nurse, recognising your clinical competence, leadership, and specialist knowledge

Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities

• Perform holistic wound assessments and deliver patient-centred care following referrals
• Develop, implement, and evaluate care plans for wound healing and lymphoedema
• Support patient care through telemedicine triage and ambulatory clinic rotations
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, including carers and other healthcare professionals
• Educate patients, carers, and colleagues on best practice in wound care
• Participate in clinical audits, service improvement projects, and research initiatives
• Ensure all care is delivered in line with NMC guidance and latest tissue viability guidelines

About us
Pioneer Wound Healing & Lymphoedema Centres are the UKs largest expert wound healing and lymphoedema team and are leaders in the two specialities with many decades of specialist experience between us. Headquartered in Sussex, we have, for the past 25 years been delivering evidence-based wound and lymphoedema treatment and consistently achieve what we believe are the best healing outcomes in the UK for chronic wounds. On behalf of the NHS, we deliver world-class care from our centres across the UK and we also work alongside colleagues in hospitals, hospices, community nursing, Nursing Homes and GP Practices.

Benefits
include:

• Generous Pension
• Income Protection Scheme
• Occupational Health Support
• Private Menopause Support
• Annual Leave aligned to NHS
• Salary aligned to NHS Agenda for Change
• Training, development and progression opportunities
• Mentorship from a Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA)
• Neurodiversity Support
• Be part of a team committed to excellence for our patients and for our staff

Job responsibilities
To work as an integral member of the Tissue Viability Team, providing evidence-based tissue viability services for patients across diverse clinical settings. The post-holder will work collaboratively to implement audit processes and systems within Pioneer for the purpose of promoting clinically effective and continuously improving care.

The role will drive and help to continually embed Pioneers values; putting Patients First, effective Communication, invest in Staff Development, strive for Excellence, and advance practice through Research.

Clinical Care

• Perform complex holistic wound assessments following referrals from healthcare professionals.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate specialist care, including diagnostic tests such as Doppler and full vascular assessments.
• Demonstrate advanced clinical skills, including differential diagnosis and complex care planning.
• Support triaging via telemedicine for appropriate patient care.
• Ensure dignity, respect, and shared decision-making; obtain informed consent prior to interventions.
• Promote a multidisciplinary, patient-centred approach in collaboration with carers, healthcare professionals, and other agencies.
• Work according to NMC Code of Professional Conduct and professional guidelines.

Communication
Convey complex and sensitive information to patients, carers, and staff, using empathy and reassurance as required.

• Act as an advocate for patients and staff, maintaining professional boundaries.
• Educate patients, carers, and colleagues on tissue viability and wound care best practice.
• Communicate effectively internally and externally with, community teams, GP practices, and other health care professionals.

Personal and People Development

• Maintain and develop professional knowledge and skills through CPD, reflection, personal development plans and appraisal processes.
• Contribute to the training, development, and competency assessment of junior staff and colleagues.
• Provide clinical supervision, mentorship, and guidance to students and staff.
• Lead on professional development initiatives for the wider workforce where required.

Health, Safety and Security

• Comply with Pioneer policies on Clinical, Corporate, Health & Safety, Information Governance, and Infection Prevention.
• Participate in risk management, incident reporting, investigations, and improvement action plans.
• Implement clinical governance measures and contribute to service quality assurance initiatives.

Service Improvement & Quality

• Support data collection, audits, and service improvement to meet Pioneer standards
• Contribute to service and quality improvement initiatives, including education and training programs.
• Ensure high standards of clinical practice, record-keeping, and reporting.

Equality and Diversity
Carry out duties and responsibilities in line with the Pioneer Equal Opportunity policy.

Act in ways that acknowledge and recognise peoples expressed beliefs, preferences and choices, respecting diversity and valuing people as individuals in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures.

Information & Technology

• Use electronic patient records (EPR) and other IT systems (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Collect, record, and analyse clinical data accurately and in line with professional standards.

Safeguarding

• Adhere to child and adult protection procedures and local safeguarding policies.
• Ensure all clinical staff understand and fulfil safeguarding responsibilities.
• Maintain accurate records of interventions, consistent with legislation and policy.

Other Responsibilities

• Undertake additional duties as required,
• Uphold Pioneers commitment to equality, diversity, and a smoke-free working environment.
• Successful applicants will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check due to access to vulnerable adults and/or children.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• NMC-registered Adult Nurse - newly qualified welcome.
• Strong communication, organisation, and IT skills
• Commitment to professional development and reflective practice

Desirable

• Awareness of NICE, EPUAP, and latest tissue viability guidelines
• Experience in wound care or lymphoedema management

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.

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

Pioneer Wound Healing & Lymphoedema Centres is an equal opportunities employer.