West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Band 7 - Sepsis Clinical Nurse Specialist, Deteriorating Patient Team

The closing date is 05 August 2025

Job summary

We are pleased to announce our expansion of our Sepsis team and are looking for someone who is passionate about promoting and delivering best practice for this group of patients.

This is a great opportunity to work with the wider deteriorating patient team to deliver meaningful improvements in the recognition and management of septic patients.

The post is full time Monday-Friday and will involve cross-site responsibilities.

You will work with all staff groups across the Trust and deliver training tailored to their varying knowledge and skill levels, providing you the chance to offer education in exciting and dynamic ways.

As one of the Trust Link Specialists for sepsis you will be responsible for auditing the level of care provided to septic patients in relation to the sepsis care bundles and feeding back to relevant clinical groups where necessary.

You will utilise this data to extrapolate common themes and address any gaps in practice providing assurance that the Trust are delivering high quality care.

This role is an opportunity to utilise a range of skills to deliver a meaningful impact on patient outcomes.

Main duties of the job

The main objectives of this post are to ensure compliance with the required standards for the recognition and management of sepsis.

Your main duties will involve:

Leading on auditing the level of care provided to septic patients in relation to the sepsis care bundles.

Continuously reviewing and assisting in the development of the service.

Delivering on relevant Quality Improvement projects.

Providing education for all medical, nursing and AHP staff across the Trust in relation to understanding and implementing sepsis 6 and the sepsis care bundles.

Strong communication, organizational, and IT skills are essential for this role.

About us

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contact westherts.recruitment@nhs.net If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Details

Date posted

22 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£50,008 to £56,908 a year inc. HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

360-B-10326

Job locations

Cross Site

Watford

WD18 0HB


Job description

Job responsibilities

You will work closely with the Sepsis team (Sepsis CNS and Sepsis Clinical Lead), Deteriorating Patient team, QI team, Education team, EPR team and wider clinical teams to deliver on the following:

Providing clinical and non-clinical advice as requested to patients, families, and other health care professionals in relation to sepsis care and management of the deteriorating patient.

Inputting complex clinical data relating to patient activity, ensuring accuracy, validity, and timely processing of data for inclusion in relevant audits.

Developing and maintaining an environment which facilitates and promotes a clinical governance and data quality culture, continuously reviewing and assisting in the development of the service.

Supporting the Trust Quality Improvement Lead to identify areas for improvement and develop and implement agreed action plans.

Identification of educational requirement and developing appropriate teaching strategies for all medical and nursing staff across the Trust in relation to understanding and implementing sepsis 6 and the sepsis care bundles and management of the deteriorating patient.

To act as the Trust Link Nurse for sepsis, attending appropriate meetings and workshops in conjunction with the Trust Clinical Lead for Sepsis, ensuring appropriate training and feedback is provided to relevant staff.

To review sepsis data collection processes within the Trust, to ensure efficient systems are in place to reduce time spent by nursing staff in collecting information, providing recommendations for changes.

Complete monthly audits of patients identified as having a sepsis diagnosis, extrapolate common themes and submit a written report to the Patient Safety Group and the Deteriorating Patient/Sepsis Group.

Effectively communicate any issues or obstacles to achieving the Sepsis CQUIN (or equivalent) to the Clinical Lead for Sepsis in a timely manner.

Utilise problem solving skills to identify solutions to highlighted knowledge/skills gaps, assist with recommended action plans and re-evaluate care delivery.

Support vascular access service with the insertion of PICC lines and development of best practice in relation to ANTT.

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will work closely with the Sepsis team (Sepsis CNS and Sepsis Clinical Lead), Deteriorating Patient team, QI team, Education team, EPR team and wider clinical teams to deliver on the following:

Providing clinical and non-clinical advice as requested to patients, families, and other health care professionals in relation to sepsis care and management of the deteriorating patient.

Inputting complex clinical data relating to patient activity, ensuring accuracy, validity, and timely processing of data for inclusion in relevant audits.

Developing and maintaining an environment which facilitates and promotes a clinical governance and data quality culture, continuously reviewing and assisting in the development of the service.

Supporting the Trust Quality Improvement Lead to identify areas for improvement and develop and implement agreed action plans.

Identification of educational requirement and developing appropriate teaching strategies for all medical and nursing staff across the Trust in relation to understanding and implementing sepsis 6 and the sepsis care bundles and management of the deteriorating patient.

To act as the Trust Link Nurse for sepsis, attending appropriate meetings and workshops in conjunction with the Trust Clinical Lead for Sepsis, ensuring appropriate training and feedback is provided to relevant staff.

To review sepsis data collection processes within the Trust, to ensure efficient systems are in place to reduce time spent by nursing staff in collecting information, providing recommendations for changes.

Complete monthly audits of patients identified as having a sepsis diagnosis, extrapolate common themes and submit a written report to the Patient Safety Group and the Deteriorating Patient/Sepsis Group.

Effectively communicate any issues or obstacles to achieving the Sepsis CQUIN (or equivalent) to the Clinical Lead for Sepsis in a timely manner.

Utilise problem solving skills to identify solutions to highlighted knowledge/skills gaps, assist with recommended action plans and re-evaluate care delivery.

Support vascular access service with the insertion of PICC lines and development of best practice in relation to ANTT.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Registered General Nurse Graduate in Nursing or related discipline.

Desirable

  • Appropriate qualification in management of acutely unwell / deteriorating patients

Knowledge

Essential

  • Fully conversant with NICE guidelines on Sepsis
  • Knowledge of the recognition and management of patients with sepsis and deteriorating patients.
  • Good IT skills.
  • Experience in participating in/undertaking audits Teaching / Presentation experience in the clinical setting.

Desirable

  • Current knowledge of issues affecting the provision of Health Services in the evolving Health Care Environment.

Experience

Essential

  • Post-registration experience working in relevant field of practice

Desirable

  • ITU, critical care outreach or sepsis nurse experience.
Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Registered General Nurse Graduate in Nursing or related discipline.

Desirable

  • Appropriate qualification in management of acutely unwell / deteriorating patients

Knowledge

Essential

  • Fully conversant with NICE guidelines on Sepsis
  • Knowledge of the recognition and management of patients with sepsis and deteriorating patients.
  • Good IT skills.
  • Experience in participating in/undertaking audits Teaching / Presentation experience in the clinical setting.

Desirable

  • Current knowledge of issues affecting the provision of Health Services in the evolving Health Care Environment.

Experience

Essential

  • Post-registration experience working in relevant field of practice

Desirable

  • ITU, critical care outreach or sepsis nurse experience.

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 (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.

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 (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).

Employer details

Employer name

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Cross Site

Watford

WD18 0HB


Employer's website

http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Cross Site

Watford

WD18 0HB


Employer's website

http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

AD of Nursing for The Deteriorating Patient

Lucy Halpin

Lucy.halpin1@nhs.net

07974495268

Details

Date posted

22 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£50,008 to £56,908 a year inc. HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

360-B-10326

Job locations

Cross Site

Watford

WD18 0HB


Supporting documents

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