Community Non Doctor Island Nurse - Fair Isle

NHS National Services Scotland; Lerwick; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

A public health organization in Scotland is seeking a District Nurse/Nurse Practitioner to serve the island community of Fair Isle. This role involves delivering person-centered care and managing emergencies. The position offers a salary range of £41,608 - £50,702 per annum plus benefits, including relocation assistance and a unique living experience amidst stunning natural beauty. Ideal candidates will possess advanced assessment skills and a full UK driving license.

Benefits

Distant Island Allowance of £2,482 per annum

Relocation Assistance of up to £8000

Traditional stone build house available for rent

Qualifications

• Experience delivering person-centered care within a community.
• Ability to manage emergency situations effectively.
• Skills to work in remote areas with limited resources.

Responsibilities

• Provide nursing service for the island community.
• Act as the first point of contact for health emergencies.
• Contribute to service redesign to support 24/7 healthcare needs.

Skills

Advanced Clinical Assessment Skills

Non-medical prescriber status

General IM&T skills

Ability to work independently

UK driving license

Education

Nursing qualification

Experience as District Nurse or Nurse Practitioner

Job description

District Nurse/Nurse Practitioner – Fair Isle (Ref: 221726)

Substantive Post

Full Time – 37.0 hours per week

Band 6 - Salary Range £41,608 - £50,702 per annum plus

Distant Island Allowance of £2,482 per annum

Relocation Assistance of up to £8000 is available

Would you like to be part of a remote and rural island community, where you can deliver truly person-centered care and support to individuals across the life span? This is the opportunity you are looking for:

Fair Isle is the southernmost island of Shetland lying half way between the Shetland Mainland and Orkney and since 1954 has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland. An island three miles long by one and half miles wide, well known for its outstanding, unspoiled natural beauty, amazing resident and migratory birdlife, dramatic landscapes and equally dramatic weather, as well as world famous knitwear. Fair Isle has a truly welcoming atmosphere and resilient community, with a current resident population of approx. 60. You will provide a nursing service for both the island community as well as the many visitors that are drawn to the isle over the long summer months of seemingly endless days, whether for work, bird watching or tourism.

This is a unique opportunity to become a truly integral part of a forward-thinking, determined, resilient and hardworking remote island community, with a thriving primary school and transport links to and from the Shetland Mainland by ferry or by plane, (both weather dependent). You will be responsible for providing care in both planned and emergency situations, acting as first point of contact, providing effective nursing assessment and treatment during an emergency in liaison with the General Practitioners based in Levenwick on mainland Shetland or in collaboration with the Scottish Ambulance Service.

The post holder may also be expected to provide personal care for islanders, as required, in the absence of on-island based social care provision. There is a small clinic in the centre of the island, and a car for the use of the post holder and visiting healthcare professionals. A full UK driving license is an essential requirement for this post.

You will be an experienced District Nurse or Nurse Practitioner and utilise your Advanced Clinical Assessment Skills and Non-medical prescriber status to “see and treat” individuals with a minor illness/minor ailment independently without regular recourse to a medical practitioner.

Clinical support and supervision is available via the wider Community Nursing team and GPs based at Levenwick. A high degree of personal resilience is required to undertake this remote island post.

General IM&T skills, including the ability to record, retrieve and update on clinical systems as well as use Near Me to support clinical consultations are required. The post holder may also be required to undertake work remotely for other practice areas throughout Shetland based on their clinical expertise. This will be through technology enabled systems such as Ask My GP, Near Me, and will be subject to effective telecommunications in order to facilitate this.

The post holder is expected to work a 5-day working week, flexibly over the 7-day period in order to meet the health and care needs of the islanders. The standard working week will predominantly be a Monday to Friday, daytime service 9am-5pm. Support and access to healthcare in the out of hour’s periods will be via NHS24. Service redesign work is currently ongoing with the community to develop a service model which can best support the needs of islanders across the 24/7 time period, this includes looking at increasing overall community resilience. The Post Holder is expected to actively contribute and support this service model.

There is a 2 bedroomed traditional stone build house available for the post holder to rent on the island.

Rise to the challenge and enjoy the opportunity – Fair Isle is a wonderful place to live and work, offering low pollution, low crime, excellent schools, great leisure facilities, unique wildlife and amazing scenery, whilst still only a short flight away from the UK mainland. To find out more about living and working in Shetland go to www.shetland.org and/or https://www.shetland.org/life

For further information on the post please contact Jayne Stopher-Walker (Clinical Team Leader) on 07584618098

Further information on Fair Isle can be found at www.fairisle.org.uk or https://www.shetland.org/visit/plan/areas/fair-isle. or for an informal discussion on island life in general please contact Eileen Thomson on 07765 602683

Closing date : 31/08/2025

Interview Dates – Week beginning 11/09/2025

If you require assistance or encounter any technical issues with your application, please e-mail support at [e-mail] including the vacancy reference number and “NHS Shetland” in the subject line.

In promoting equal opportunities, we welcome applications from all sections of the community.