Deteriorating Patient Lead Practitioner

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Hartford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A major healthcare Trust in the United Kingdom is seeking a Deteriorating Patient Lead to provide strategic leadership in recognizing and managing acutely ill patients. The role focuses on improving patient safety through education and evidence-based practices. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership and clinical skills, a commitment to service improvement, and knowledge of patient safety standards. This is an opportunity to make a significant impact in a supportive and collaborative healthcare environment.

Benefits

Access to excellent facilities

Support for career development

Qualifications

• Advanced clinical assessment and decision-making skills for acutely ill patients.
• Strong leadership and change management capability.
• Experience in service improvement and implementing evidence-based practice.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to design and deliver education and training programmes.
• Knowledge of national patient safety standards and escalation protocols.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for deteriorating patients across the Trust.
• Implement evidence-based policies and improvement strategies.
• Lead education and training programmes for staff.
• Act as a clinical expert for multidisciplinary teams.
• Drive quality improvement initiatives for patient outcomes.
• Collaborate with teams to embed best practices.

Skills

Advanced clinical assessment

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Change management

Training programme design

Knowledge of patient safety standards

Job description

Overview

The Deteriorating Patient Lead will provide strategic and clinical leadership to ensure the timely recognition and effective management of acutely ill and deteriorating patients across the Trust. This role will drive improvements in patient safety by developing and implementing evidence‑based strategies, delivering education and training programmes, and supporting clinical teams with expert guidance. Working collaboratively with divisional leaders and specialist teams, the post holder will champion best practice, embed national standards such as NEWS and sepsis pathways, and lead quality improvement initiatives to reduce harm and improve outcomes for patients.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the identification, escalation, and management of deteriorating patients across the Trust.
• Develop and implement evidence‑based policies, protocols, and improvement strategies aligned with national standards (e.g., NEWS2, sepsis pathways).
• Lead the design and delivery of education and training programmes to enhance staff competence in recognising and responding to acute deterioration.
• Act as a clinical expert and resource, offering specialist advice and support to multidisciplinary teams.
• Monitor compliance, analyse data, and drive quality improvement initiatives to reduce harm and improve patient outcomes.
• Collaborate with divisional teams, Rapid Response Teams, and senior leaders to embed best practice and foster a culture of safety.

Qualifications

• Advanced clinical assessment and decision‑making skills for acutely ill patients.
• Strong leadership and change management capability.
• Experience in service improvement and implementing evidence‑based practice.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to design and deliver education and training programmes.
• Knowledge of national patient safety standards and escalation protocols (e.g., NEWS, sepsis).

About us

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the country. It comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital. We provide accessible high‑quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge and regional and national specialist services. It's a great place to nurse, work and live. You will work on a vibrant hospital campus with a friendly community feel; we have excellent facilities to practise your skills and abilities to support your career pathway and development. Our values of Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent support the delivery of outstanding care. We have a fully electronic patient record system that is improving health‑care quality; this is transforming services, improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.