Band 5 Staff Nurse | Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Southend University Hospital NHS Trust; Basildon; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare institution in the UK is seeking Band 5 nurses with acute experience to join their critical care team for a 12-month fixed contract. Ideal candidates should be motivated team players committed to high standards of patient care. The role includes advocating for patients, planning individual care, and fulfilling responsibilities in line with NMC guidelines. The institution offers extensive support and training for new staff, ensuring a comprehensive onboarding experience.

Benefits

6 weeks protected supernumerary period

Induction programme

Psychological Support Team access

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with NMC registration.
• Experience in critical or acute care preferred.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for patients and ensure relevant information and support.
• Plan and evaluate care programmes for individual patients.
• Practice in accordance with NMC Code of Conduct.

Skills

Communication

Analytical skills

Teamwork

Clinical skills

Patient care

Education

Registered Nurse qualification

Job description

Do you have a strong interest in caring for critically ill patients? Then you might be the one we are looking for.

We are currently seeking to recruit Band 5 nurses, preferably with acute experience who are not only interested in critical care but also dynamic, highly motivated, hardworking and a good team player to join our expanding critical care team. This will be a fixed term contract of 12 months.

Benefits and Support

• 6 weeks protected supernumerary period during which you will work with a buddy clinically and receive various training.
• An induction programme under our dedicated Education team who will ensure your learning and development objectives are met.
• Senior Clinical staff who will provide guidance and support as you commence your post.
• Psychological Support Team led by our In‑house Psychological Nurse Specialist and Specialist Counsellor whose services are offered to staff and patients.

Responsibilities

1 Communication

• Act as an advocate for patients ensuring appropriate information and support services and actively involve education of patients and families.
• Establish and maintain good communication with ward/department administrative, housekeeping and domestic staff.
• Maintain and protect the safety and confidentiality of patients and families.
• Ensure patients, relatives/carers are kept fully informed of treatment, progress and discharge plans and after care.
• Demonstrate appropriate assertiveness and ability to challenge when rights may be infringed.
• Promote interdisciplinary working with outcomes aimed at best interests of patients and cohesive service delivery.
• Generate and sustain relationships that promote dignity, rights and responsibilities.
• Obtain, organise and record accurate information.
• Attend ward meetings, read minutes and memos to keep updated.

2 Analytical and Planning

• Plan, assess, implement and evaluate programmes of care for individual patients assisting other staff in this activity if required.
• Promote/develop and maintain a culture within the ward/department in collaboration with the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse challenging practice and promoting quality of thinking.
• Support the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse to maintain/improve high standards of patient care with privacy, dignity and respect.
• Assist the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in implementing initiatives outlined within the Trust’s nursing strategy.
• Ensure nursing practice reflects current clinical developments, evidence based guidance and sound auditing and research opportunities.
• Embrace the Essence of Care Framework and actively participate in its local implementation.

3 Clinical Duties

• Practice in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and Trust policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Maintain personal professional status by complying with NMC periodic registration requirements.
• Develop and maintain clinical skills and knowledge necessary for holistic, evidence based nursing care.
• Demonstrate competence in medication administration and undertake relevant training to comply with National and Trust guidelines.
• Prioritise and organise own workload to promote quality.
• Ensure nursing procedures are implemented in line with department and Trust policies.
• Consistently organise and deliver individualised patient care, meeting physical, social and psychological needs.
• Communicate effectively in partnership with patients, relatives/carers, nursing colleagues and multidisciplinary team to deliver accurate and efficient care.
• Support Nurse Led Discharge within area of responsibility and actively participate in discharging/transferring medically fit patients.
• Support the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in maintaining high standards of cleanliness in own clinical area.
• Report all accidents, hazards, incidents and complaints in accordance with Trust policies and assist investigation as required.
• Actively involve in all audits undertaken within ward/department.
• Act as role model in embedding the Code of Practice for Prevention & Control of Healthcare‑Associated Infections.
• Keep up to date with research and advances in nursing and implement individualised care.

4 Policy and Service Development

• Actively participate in developmental opportunities.
• Work creatively to develop practice and new ways of working in collaboration with Senior Sister/Charge Nurse.
• Participate in ward audits, clinical governance programmes and other research and development as necessary to the role.
• Maintain knowledge of current trends in healthcare and the profession; participate as required in patient dependency studies and quality assurance programmes; assist with nursing research projects as required.
• Attend courses, seminars and conferences as recommended and approved through the Manager and participate in professional development programmes.

5 Financial and Physical Resources

• Work with the ward team to improve cost improvement schemes within the unit.
• Ensure the building fabric and equipment are maintained and issues reported timely.
• Support the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse in managing resources effectively.
• Ensure safe care and custody of patient’s property and valuables in line with agreed procedure.

6 Staff Management

• Establish and maintain good communication with ward/department administrative, housekeeping and domestic staff.
• Participate in annual appraisal process and contribute to personal performance/development plan.
• Participate in a programme of clinical supervision as appropriate.
• Assist with providing an environment conducive to education of all staff, supervise other nursing team members as appropriate and participate in induction of new staff.
• Assist in monitoring and development of junior staff ensuring safe standards and quality of care.
• Undertake Trust approved programme for supervising and assessing students in practice; act as Practice Supervisor and assist preregistration students on placement in Critical Care Unit.
• Accountable for own practice and delegation of care to junior colleagues, support workers and students.
• Contribute to high staff morale and good working relationships with all multidisciplinary team.
• Keep up to date with changing policies and procedures.

7 Information Resources

• Undertake relevant training for electronic information systems in place & under development.
• Have an active e‑mail account.
• Use resources available to all employees by having access to hospital intranet and local policies adhering to evidence based practice.
• Be aware that the hospital library is also available for research and study requirements and support.

This advert closes on Wednesday 31 Dec 2025.