Clinical Nurse Lead Hospital at Night

NHS; Bedford; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits a dynamic individual to lead the 'Hospital at Night' service at Bedford Hospital. This role offers the chance to provide visible leadership and advanced clinical support during out-of-hours periods, ensuring optimal patient care. As part of a dedicated team, you will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, manage staffing levels, and oversee the triaging system. Join a high-performing Trust committed to staff wellbeing and continuous professional development, where your contributions will directly impact patient care and service delivery. If you're ready to take on this fast-paced role with significant responsibilities, we want to hear from you!

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with experience at Band 7 in an acute setting.
• Degree in nursing or health management or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and clinical support during out of hours.
• Co-ordinate the Hospital at Night triaging system for optimal care.
• Ensure safe staffing levels and manage clinical governance.

Skills

Leadership Skills

Clinical Skills

Problem Solving

Operational Management

Digital Systems Knowledge

Education

Registered Nurse with NMC Registration

Degree in Nursing or Health Management

Tools

Nerve Centre

Job description

Job summary

An exciting new opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, highly motivated individual with extensive clinical and operational experience to lead our 'Hospital at Night', out of Hour's service at Bedford Hospital.

The role will provide visible and accessible leadership for the out of hour's period offering a broad spectrum of experience, knowledge and advanced nursing skills.

The role will require you to work clinically in partnership with the Site Operations and multidisciplinary teams to ensure the safe delivery of care out of hours.

This is a fast paced role that will require strong leadership skills, a flair for problem solving and able to work creatively under pressure.

The out of hour's service runs overnight and 24 hours over the weekend therefore the post holder will predominately work out of hour's covering nights and long days at weekends.

Main duties of the job

To provide visible and accessible leadership for the out of hours period ensuring optimal acute patient care is delivered

To provide professional, advanced clinical support and advice to medical, nursing staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team working out of hours

Co-ordinate the Hospital at Night triaging system utilising teams capabilities to appropriately allocate jobs accordingly, maintaining fairness, safety, and efficiency

Be a single point of access for all Hospital at Night clinical tasks, ensuring optimal, safe, and effective patient care is delivered efficiently out of hours

To ensure appropriate escalation and timely management of deteriorating patients

Identifying patients at risk of clinical deterioration, prioritising their needs with appropriate assessment, intervention and on-ongoing management

Use of advanced clinical skills to assist with clinical interventions within scope of practice

Attend out of hours emergency team calls including cardiac arrest, fire and security calls

Oversee workforce provision across the Trust to ensure effective and safe staffing levels are maintained out of hours

To ensure the safe and effective use of resources to ensure the provision of high quality patient care and experience

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.

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.

Date posted

02 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-NUR6005-MR

Job locations

Bedford Hospital

South Wing, Kempston Road, Bedford

Bedford

MK42 9DJ

Job description Job responsibilities

• To work collaboratively with the Site Operations Team, supporting the management of capacity and flow through the Trust
• Take a Lead role for Site Operations Operationally on site as required
• To co-ordinate the H@N team rota to ensure adequate provision provided for the service in conjunction with the Site Operations Lead
• Work collaboratively with the out of hours teams including Critical Care Outreach, medical and surgical out of hours on call teams
• To act as an expert resource, providing advice on nursing issues in relation to clinical interventions, policies, protocols, service delivery and service development
• To assist with redesign initiatives and improvements for the Hospital at Night Service in conjunction with the Lead Nurse for Operations
• Develop and improve the out of hours handover processes within the Hospital at night teams
• Oversee staffing of the Hospital at Night team in conjunction with the Site Operations Lead Nurse
• To assist with management of appraisals and sickness management
• To support the ongoing digital developments with the introduction of Nerve Centre functionalities e.g. extending the Alerts and escalation functions
• Support education and training for ward teams on escalation of the deteriorating patient quality improvement work
• To ensure appropriate policies and standard operating procedures are in place in relation to the Hospital at Night service are in place and operational
• Investigate complaints and clinical incidents arising within or associated with the service and ensure that remedial action and learning takes place as a result of complaints and incidents.
• To work within locally agreed advanced clinical practice scope of practice, competence and capability being responsible and accountable for their decisions, actions and omissions at this level of practice
• To support the development of, and promote, the Trust's mission, values aims and objectives
• To respond to patient, relative and public complaints in line with the Trust complaints policy referring to Matrons, PALS/Complaints staff as appropriate
• To assist with redesign initiatives and improvements for the Hospital at Night service
• Ensure systems for clinical governance are in place across the service area
• Ensure systems are in place for the collection and analysis of information required to manage workload patient activity and resources
• Ensure that acquiring competencies and skills for role/self-development are undertaken in a timely and appropriate manner.
• To maintain current awareness of all relevant trust policies especially those relating to the transfer of patients, local and national targets and pathways of care.
• Ensure systems are in place for the collection and analysis of information to monitor performance of the service
• Produce accurate, timely and high quality reports for the Trust
• Communicate sensitive information to a variety of audiences
• To assist in achieving corporate priorities and key national performance targets

Job description Job responsibilities

• To work collaboratively with the Site Operations Team, supporting the management of capacity and flow through the Trust
• Take a Lead role for Site Operations Operationally on site as required
• To co-ordinate the H@N team rota to ensure adequate provision provided for the service in conjunction with the Site Operations Lead
• Work collaboratively with the out of hours teams including Critical Care Outreach, medical and surgical out of hours on call teams
• To act as an expert resource, providing advice on nursing issues in relation to clinical interventions, policies, protocols, service delivery and service development
• To assist with redesign initiatives and improvements for the Hospital at Night Service in conjunction with the Lead Nurse for Operations
• Develop and improve the out of hours handover processes within the Hospital at night teams
• Oversee staffing of the Hospital at Night team in conjunction with the Site Operations Lead Nurse
• To assist with management of appraisals and sickness management
• To support the ongoing digital developments with the introduction of Nerve Centre functionalities e.g. extending the Alerts and escalation functions
• Support education and training for ward teams on escalation of the deteriorating patient quality improvement work
• To ensure appropriate policies and standard operating procedures are in place in relation to the Hospital at Night service are in place and operational
• Investigate complaints and clinical incidents arising within or associated with the service and ensure that remedial action and learning takes place as a result of complaints and incidents.
• To work within locally agreed advanced clinical practice scope of practice, competence and capability being responsible and accountable for their decisions, actions and omissions at this level of practice
• To support the development of, and promote, the Trust's mission, values aims and objectives
• To respond to patient, relative and public complaints in line with the Trust complaints policy referring to Matrons, PALS/Complaints staff as appropriate
• To assist with redesign initiatives and improvements for the Hospital at Night service
• Ensure systems for clinical governance are in place across the service area
• Ensure systems are in place for the collection and analysis of information required to manage workload patient activity and resources
• Ensure that acquiring competencies and skills for role/self-development are undertaken in a timely and appropriate manner.
• To maintain current awareness of all relevant trust policies especially those relating to the transfer of patients, local and national targets and pathways of care.
• Ensure systems are in place for the collection and analysis of information to monitor performance of the service
• Produce accurate, timely and high quality reports for the Trust
• Communicate sensitive information to a variety of audiences
• To assist in achieving corporate priorities and key national performance targets

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• oRegistered Nurse with current NMC registration
• oDegree in nursing, health or management related studies or evidence of equivalent knowledge and experience

Desirable

• oManagement or Leadership qualification or relevant experience

Experience Essential

• oPost registration experience at Band 7 within an acute setting
• oExperience of Operational management for capacity and flow
• oUnderstanding and ability to use digital systems in relation to hospital at night

Desirable

• oExperience and engagement in use and development digital systems (e.g. related groups, subject matter expert as project link, Digital champion).

Knowledge Essential

• oSelf-motivated and able to work under own initiative and prioritise workload appropriately to meet tight deadlines
• oAbility to perform effectively under pressure while delivering high quality outcomes

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• oRegistered Nurse with current NMC registration
• oDegree in nursing, health or management related studies or evidence of equivalent knowledge and experience

Desirable

• oManagement or Leadership qualification or relevant experience

Experience Essential

• oPost registration experience at Band 7 within an acute setting
• oExperience of Operational management for capacity and flow
• oUnderstanding and ability to use digital systems in relation to hospital at night

Desirable

• oExperience and engagement in use and development digital systems (e.g. related groups, subject matter expert as project link, Digital champion).

Knowledge Essential

• oSelf-motivated and able to work under own initiative and prioritise workload appropriately to meet tight deadlines
• oAbility to perform effectively under pressure while delivering high quality outcomes

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

Bedford Hospital

South Wing, Kempston Road, Bedford

Bedford

MK42 9DJ

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

Bedford Hospital

South Wing, Kempston Road, Bedford

Bedford

MK42 9DJ

Employer's website

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