Job summary
The Early Health Screening Practitioner is an exciting, new, evolving role. This is a result of new NHS England's best practice guidelines for pre-screening and optimisation of perioperative patients. Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) recommends that NHS organisations should establish Perioperative Care Co-ordination teams, to introduce early preoperative screening, risk stratification and provide an opportunity to optimise patients' health prior to surgery.

The post holder will support the Trust in adhering to national guidance and develop learning for UHB Trust.

This post will include using current and future digital tools, to identify patients requiring optimisation ahead of planned surgical intervention as well as those who may be suitable for triage to a high volume, low complexity site and those patients at risk of deterioration as part of emergency admission avoidance pathways.

The post will work collaboratively and have support from the wider clinical operational and clinical teams to contact patients to gather information, signpost and promote engagement to appropriate services. The post will be embedded within, surgical and pre-operative assessment teams.

The successful applicant will have good communication skills and be able to build rapport and relationships with a diverse population to encourage and support behaviour change.

Training will be provided around pre-op care, use of healthcare specific IT systems and on brief intervention conversations.

Main duties of the job
Accountable for their own practice they will deliver safe, compassionate, and dignified patient centred health care. The Nursing Associate will be expected to plan and prioritise their workload; implement evidence-based care; use relevant guidance, protocols, and policies (local and national); contribute to care planning and patient review. They will be responsible for completing any work based training and associated competency required by the role.

The post holder will coordinate and deliver direct care for a designated group of patients. Recognising and taking responsibility and accountability for the way the care is delivered (as per registered practitioner guidelines). The Nursing Associate will be responsible for delegation of appropriate duties to junior/less experienced staff whilst developing and supervising junior staff/Students and learners.

Responsible for:

• Promoting health and preventing ill health
• Providing and monitoring care and treatment
• Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Improving safety and quality of care
• Contributing to integrated care

Essential Qualifications

• GCSE or equivalent to Level 2 Functional Skills Maths and English.
• Educated to a minimum of Level 5 Foundation degree level specific to nursing associate practice.
• Nursing Associate apprentices must have completed and passed the End Point Assessment.
• NMC Registered Nursing Associate.

Essential Experience

• Evidence of working in a multi-disciplinary team working.
• Demonstrable understanding of being an accountable professional and revalidation requirements; promoting health and preventing ill health; providing monitoring care in the practice setting applied for; improving safety and quality of care; contributing to integrated care.
• Demonstrable knowledge/experience of application of how to apply a variety of communication skills to practice and can relate this to relationship management across health care professionals.
• Experience of managing / prioritising own case load / workload, using initiative.
• Competent in a range of clinical skills and practices relevant to the scope of practice required.
• Experience and demonstrable understanding of responsibilities for delegation and supervision.
• Clear demonstrable understanding of the scope of practice of the role of the registered Nursing Associate in context of the nursing and interdisciplinary team and the organisation.
• Understanding of the principles of safeguarding and Mental Capacity, can relate this to the speciality / role.
• Knowledge of principles of Health and Safety and can apply this to the role / speciality.
• Willingness to take on new skills and develop scope of practice.
• Can articulate an understanding of the importance of following Policy / Procedure, guidelines and care and treatment plans.

Desirable Experience

• Experience of Clinical Audit

Essential Additional Criteria

• Ability to listen, read, write, and speak, receive, and understand instructions in English.
• Ability to organise and prioritise own delegated workload.
• Good IT skills ability to record information electronically.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and nonverbal communication) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team, on a variety of complex and sensitive issues which require persuasive and empathetic skills.
• Ability to work under pressure across competing priorities, and to deal with non-routine and unpredictable nature of workload and individual patient contact.
• Ability to take part and support reflective discussion.
• Ability to support, supervise, assess, and function as a role model to nursing associate students, other learners and health care support workers as needed within the clinical setting.
• Practices in a way which demonstrates Trust values: Kind, Connected, Bold.
• Ability to adapt behaviour to changing circumstances.
• Positive and enthusiastic attitude.
• Caring and approachable.
• Ability to communicate articulately and motivate others.
• Flexible, Dependable and Punctual.
• Willingness to work a range of shift patterns to cover service requirements.

Desirable Additional Criteria

• Willingness to undertake further education and training in relation to the practice setting / speciality as per organisational scope of Practice.

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 contact details
Hiring Manager: Jophy Joseph, jophy.joseph@uhb.nhs.uk, 01214245167

Closing date: 08 November 2026

Apply through our website

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.