Job summary
Are you ready to lead with clinical excellence, compassion, and purpose?
We are inviting applications for an enthusiastic and highly skilled Band 8a Lead Rheumatology Clinical Nurse Specialist to join our friendly and forward-thinking multidisciplinary team on a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover contract. This post is available full-time or part-time and offers a unique opportunity to lead a well-established, innovative specialist nursing service.
As a key member of the team, you will be accountable for coordinating, delivering, and developing our Rheumatology Nursing service. Using advanced clinical skills, you will independently manage a complex caseload, provide expert clinical leadership, and contribute significantly to service evaluation, improvement, and education.
This role is an excellent opportunity for a nurse with strong clinical expertise in Rheumatology and a passion for advanced practice. You will be expected to demonstrate capability across all four pillars of Advanced Clinical Practice: Clinical, Leadership, Education, and Research.
Main duties of the job
As the Band 8a Lead Rheumatology Clinical Nurse Specialist, you will provide expert, autonomous care for patients with diverse rheumatological conditions. You will lead the delivery and development of the Rheumatology nursing service, ensuring timely, evidence-based, and patient-focused care.
Working independently, you will use advanced clinical skills and critical reasoning to assess, plan, and manage care from diagnosis to long-term follow-up. You will act as a key source of specialist knowledge across primary and secondary care settings.
You will manage a complex caseload, conduct thorough assessments, and develop and evaluate treatment plans within a multidisciplinary team. As a specialist resource, you'll bridge primary and secondary care, sharing knowledge and expertise.
You will drive service development alongside consultants, pharmacists, and allied health professionals, promoting seamless, safe, and effective care pathways aligned with current best practice.
Education and leadership are central to the role. You will mentor staff and students, support professional development, and contribute to the Trust's education strategy. You'll also engage in clinical governance through audits, risk assessments, and service improvement.
This role requires a dynamic, forward-thinking clinician with strong leadership and communication skills, dedicated to advancing Rheumatology care and service excellence.
About us
Wye Valley NHS Trust is part of an NHS Foundation Group alongside South Warwickshire University NHS FT, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
Situated on the border with Wales in the shadow of the Black Mountains, we provide acute and community healthcare services across Herefordshire and parts of Powys. We operate Hereford County Hospital as well as community hospitals in Bromyard, Leominster, and Ross-on-Wye.
We are a progressive and forward-looking Trust, with ambitious plans to improve quality and integrate patient pathways through close collaboration with our partners - delivering the kind of care we would want for our own family and friends.
With over 3,000 dedicated staff, we offer a unique blend of the dynamic environment of a district general hospital alongside the benefits of working in the beautiful, unspoiled countryside of Herefordshire.
We can offer a great work-life balance and have a fine tradition of working with staff to help them achieve their full potential.
Russell Hardy, Trust Chairman: "The strength of the Trust is its amazing staff; a great place to work, a great place to develop your career, and a great place to reach your potential."
Our values - Care, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence - are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To view role requirements and role responsibilities in full, please view supporting documents linked to this vacancy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To view role requirements and role responsibilities in full, please view supporting documents linked to this vacancy.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse with active NMC registration
- Post registration qualification within Rheumatology or equivalent with proven experience within Rheumatology
- Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations, IR(ME)R Training & Certificate
Desirable
- Non-Medical Prescribing qualification and registration
- Teaching training/qualification
- Supervisory skills / clinical supervision
Skills, knowledge and abilities
Essential
- Understanding of the issues affecting Rheumatology Nursing
- Knowledge of strategic and national issues pertinent to Rheumatology and Rheumatology Nursing
- Proven expertise and ability to clinically assess a Rheumatology patient
- Leadership, motivation and influencing skills
Desirable
- Teaching experience in clinical practice
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrate experience at a senior nursing level
- Proven experience within Rheumatology services and working with Rheumatological conditions
- Experience of leading change, delivering tangible and sustained improvements
- Clinical experience of designing, establishing, or managing services and/or care pathways
Personal Atributes
Essential
- Ability to act independently and delegate appropriately
- Flexible and adaptable to the changing working environment, demands and needs of the service
- Approachable and supportive in peer group and patient groups
Other factors
Essential
- Able to meet moving and handling requirements of the job
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse with active NMC registration
- Post registration qualification within Rheumatology or equivalent with proven experience within Rheumatology
- Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations, IR(ME)R Training & Certificate
Desirable
- Non-Medical Prescribing qualification and registration
- Teaching training/qualification
- Supervisory skills / clinical supervision
Skills, knowledge and abilities
Essential
- Understanding of the issues affecting Rheumatology Nursing
- Knowledge of strategic and national issues pertinent to Rheumatology and Rheumatology Nursing
- Proven expertise and ability to clinically assess a Rheumatology patient
- Leadership, motivation and influencing skills
Desirable
- Teaching experience in clinical practice
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrate experience at a senior nursing level
- Proven experience within Rheumatology services and working with Rheumatological conditions
- Experience of leading change, delivering tangible and sustained improvements
- Clinical experience of designing, establishing, or managing services and/or care pathways
Personal Atributes
Essential
- Ability to act independently and delegate appropriately
- Flexible and adaptable to the changing working environment, demands and needs of the service
- Approachable and supportive in peer group and patient groups
Other factors
Essential
- Able to meet moving and handling requirements of the job
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
