Job summary
5 North is a 41-bedded ward, on the cutting edge of technology, providing surgical experience for staff caring for patients undergoing pioneering cardiac surgery as well as heart and lung transplantation.

We require an innovative individual with outstanding communication skills who is confident in their decision making and is committed to providing managerial support to the ward managers and clinical leadership to the ward team.

It is an essential criterion that candidates who apply for this role hold a nursing degree or equivalent qualification and are actively registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. We ask that you have previous experience of working in cardiothoracic setting. This should be set out clearly in your application.

Development opportunities at Royal Papworth Hospital are first class, with supportive individualised orientation programme and opportunities to progress in your career.

Working pattern: Part-time, 30 hours per week

Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will be expected to deputise in the absence of the ward managers and will oversee the day-to-day clinical operations of the department providing clear leadership to the nursing team by acting as an expert practitioner and role model assisting junior colleagues to develop advanced knowledge and skills in order to benefit the treatment and care of critically ill patients in our hospital.

To manage nursing care and provide a safe, effective level of patient care, assisting with the assessment of care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care.

The role includes responsibility for systems which ensure the implementation, maintenance and monitoring of quality standards, the delivery of supervision and appraisal and the management of clinical rosters in line with our performance goals.

About us
Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is the UK's leading heart and lung hospital, delivering care to more than 50,000 patients a year in its new state-of-the-art hospital in Cambridge. We perform the most heart and/or lung transplants in the UK and carried out the UK's first successful heart transplant in 1979. It also offers emergency heart attack treatment, sleep centre care and is one of just five centres nationally for those in severe respiratory failure.

Based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus the largest centre of medical research and health science in Europe the Trust is at the heart of treatments of the future. Royal Papworth became the first hospital trust in the country to be rated outstanding in all five areas assessed by the Care Quality Commission - a rating it still holds today. The Trust holds its values of compassion, excellence & collaboration at its core, and all colleagues joining the team are expected to uphold these in their day-to-day roles & interactions. Royal Papworth is proud of its diverse workforce and encourages people to embrace their individuality.

Person Specification
Essential qualifications

• Professional adult nursing qualification and clinical knowledge acquired through training to diploma or degree level.
• PLUS post graduate learning or experience relevant to practice with demonstrable competence OR specialist knowledge across the range of work procedures and practices, underpinned by theoretical knowledge or relevant practical experience.
• Leadership/management training and/or experience.
• Registered with Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Essential experience

• Significant experience in field of own practice.
• Ability to lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team as well as mentor and educate junior staff.
• An understanding of clinical governance frameworks including Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), policy and procedure, audit and quality assurance.
• An understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures, particularly those related to vulnerable patients.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to be able to problem solve, use own initiative and plan, organise and prioritise own and others' workload.
• Evidence of continuous professional development and a willingness to participate in further training and education.
• Competent IT skills.

Essential additional criteria

• As well as being able to demonstrate examples of how they work in a way that is consistent with our values of compassion, excellence and collaboration the successful candidate will be able to clearly demonstrate a commitment to driving culture change through equality, diversity and inclusion.

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.

Closing date: 09 November 2026
Reference number: 175-2627-1973
Contact: Laura Buckingham, Hiring Manager, laura.buckingham3@nhs.net, 01223638814

The Trust values difference and welcomes all applications irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race, religion & belief, sex and sexual orientation. Providing they meet the minimum post criteria, applicants with disabilities will be offered an interview.