Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Band 4 Nurse Associate - Ward 20

The closing date is 09 April 2026

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for a Band 4 Nurse Associate to join the team on Ward 20, supporting the care of Head and Neck Surgical, and Vascular patients.

Ward 20 provides specialist care for patients undergoing head and neck , surgical, and vascular procedures, as well as those requiring ongoing surgical management and recovery. The Nurse Associate will support the admission, care and discharge of patients in line with their treatment plans coordinating with the nurse in charge of the shift. Staff will work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality patient care.

We are looking for a motivated team player with initiative and enthusiasm for the role. The successful candidate will be committed to delivering safe, compassionate and patient-centred care, ensuring patient receives excellent support throughout their surgical pathway management

Main duties of the job

The Nurse Associate will support with the care of Head and Neck, Surgical, and Vascular patients, ensuring safe, effective and compassionate care throughout their admission .

Responsibilities include:

  • providing and monitoring patient care in collaboration with multidisciplinary team.
  • recognising changes in patient condition and escalating concerns appropriately
  • supporting the implementation of treatment plans and care interventions.
  • assisting with safe admission, transfer and discharge of patients.
  • maintaining accurate and timely documentation of care.
  • communicating effectively with patients, relatives and health care team.
  • supporting patient's physical, emotional and psychological needs
  • contributing to a positive ward, environment and high standards of care
  • demonstrating compassion, professionalism and respect in all interactions
  • Provide and monitor care
  • Demonstrate the ability to recognise changing priorities seeking advice and guidance from the Registered Nurse or other registered care professionals as appropriate
  • Assist in the implementation of appropriate action to meet the specific physical, emotional and psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of individuals and carers
  • Implement and evaluate individual care/treatment plans. Ensure care is documented accurately and in a timely manner
  • Demonstrate inter-personal skills that promote clarity, compassion, empathy, respect and trust

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job

Details

Date posted

30 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year pa, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-NU68164-JB

Job locations

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Lewsey Road

Luton

LU4 0DZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

See attached Job Description for full list.

  • Develop understanding of all elements of the nursing process and be able to assist the registered nurse in the on-going assessment, planning, management and evaluation of care
  • Provide and monitor care
  • Demonstrate the ability to recognise changing priorities seeking advice and guidance from the Registered Nurse or other registered care professionals as appropriate
  • Assist in the implementation of appropriate action to meet the specific physical, emotional and psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of individuals and carers
  • Assist in the delivery of complex care as prescribed by the registered nurse
  • Develop understanding of caring for individuals with particular conditions for example dementia, mental illness, learning disabilities
  • Implement and evaluate individual care/treatment plans. Ensure care is documented accurately and in a timely manner
  • Coordinate and undertake the safe admission, transfer and discharge of patients in accordance with the Organisations standards, protocols and policies.
  • Develop and improve practical and theoretical knowledge, competence and skills throughout the Nursing Associate Role and maintain all evidence required
  • Contribute towards developing a culture of learning and innovation, developing high quality learning environments
  • Communicate effectively across a wide range of channels and with a wide range of individuals, the public, health and social care professionals, maintaining the focus of communication on delivering and improving health and care services
  • Demonstrate inter-personal skills that promote clarity, compassion, empathy, respect and trust

Job description

Job responsibilities

See attached Job Description for full list.

  • Develop understanding of all elements of the nursing process and be able to assist the registered nurse in the on-going assessment, planning, management and evaluation of care
  • Provide and monitor care
  • Demonstrate the ability to recognise changing priorities seeking advice and guidance from the Registered Nurse or other registered care professionals as appropriate
  • Assist in the implementation of appropriate action to meet the specific physical, emotional and psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs of individuals and carers
  • Assist in the delivery of complex care as prescribed by the registered nurse
  • Develop understanding of caring for individuals with particular conditions for example dementia, mental illness, learning disabilities
  • Implement and evaluate individual care/treatment plans. Ensure care is documented accurately and in a timely manner
  • Coordinate and undertake the safe admission, transfer and discharge of patients in accordance with the Organisations standards, protocols and policies.
  • Develop and improve practical and theoretical knowledge, competence and skills throughout the Nursing Associate Role and maintain all evidence required
  • Contribute towards developing a culture of learning and innovation, developing high quality learning environments
  • Communicate effectively across a wide range of channels and with a wide range of individuals, the public, health and social care professionals, maintaining the focus of communication on delivering and improving health and care services
  • Demonstrate inter-personal skills that promote clarity, compassion, empathy, respect and trust

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Foundation Level Degree: Nursing Associate Qualification
  • GCSE Grade A-C including English and Maths or Level 2 in Maths and English
  • When English is spoken as a second language, must have an IELTS score of 7.0

Desirable

  • Level 3 Health related qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with the public demonstrating good customer care skills
  • Good experience of working in a teams

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working within an Acute health / care setting
  • Venepuncture and Cannulation

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understanding of the scope of the role of the Nursing Associate in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development
  • Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and wellbeing (Making Every Contact Count)
  • Knowledge of when to seek advice and refer to a registered care professional
  • Understanding of basic physiology, e.g. normal vital signs, fluid balance, nutritional requirements etc.

Desirable

  • Understanding of evidence based practice
  • Evidence of involvement in support / development of less experienced staff

Personal Skills

Essential

  • Able to communicate clearly and effectively, both written and verbal.
  • Positive, enthusiastic and caring attitude
  • Good use of initiative
  • Passionate about delivering safe care
  • Good team player

Desirable

  • Reliable, trustworthy and adaptable
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Foundation Level Degree: Nursing Associate Qualification
  • GCSE Grade A-C including English and Maths or Level 2 in Maths and English
  • When English is spoken as a second language, must have an IELTS score of 7.0

Desirable

  • Level 3 Health related qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with the public demonstrating good customer care skills
  • Good experience of working in a teams

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working within an Acute health / care setting
  • Venepuncture and Cannulation

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understanding of the scope of the role of the Nursing Associate in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development
  • Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and wellbeing (Making Every Contact Count)
  • Knowledge of when to seek advice and refer to a registered care professional
  • Understanding of basic physiology, e.g. normal vital signs, fluid balance, nutritional requirements etc.

Desirable

  • Understanding of evidence based practice
  • Evidence of involvement in support / development of less experienced staff

Personal Skills

Essential

  • Able to communicate clearly and effectively, both written and verbal.
  • Positive, enthusiastic and caring attitude
  • Good use of initiative
  • Passionate about delivering safe care
  • Good team player

Desirable

  • Reliable, trustworthy and adaptable

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

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Lewsey Road

Luton

LU4 0DZ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Lewsey Road

Luton

LU4 0DZ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Ward Manager

Cheryl Hill

cheryl.hill2@bedsft.nhs.uk

07943170321

Details

Date posted

30 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year pa, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-NU68164-JB

Job locations

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Lewsey Road

Luton

LU4 0DZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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