Lead Nurse London Spinal Cord Injury Network

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust; London Borough of Harrow; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare institution in London seeks a Lead Nurse for the Spinal Cord Injury Network. The role involves developing standardized nursing practices and leading educational programs for staff. Responsibilities include promoting professional development, ensuring high-quality care for patients, and collaborating with nursing teams. Candidates should have significant experience in SCI nursing and relevant qualifications. The annual salary ranges from £61,631 to £68,623, inclusive of HCAS.

Qualifications

• Experience of working within Spinal Cord Injury nursing.
• SCI Nursing Qualification.

Responsibilities

• Develop standardised practice across nursing teams for SCI care.
• Lead the design and development of the in-house SCI nursing education programme.
• Support the development of competencies for nursing staff across LSCIN.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Planning and organisational skills

Ability to coordinate complex projects

Education

Post registration orthopaedic or neuroscience nursing course with spinal module

Masters or equivalent level experience

Teaching qualification

Job description

Lead Nurse London Spinal Cord Injury Network

The closing date is 10 February 2026.

The post holder will be responsible for developing standardised practice across nursing teams, in specialised spinal cord injury (SCI) clinical skills within acute and community settings across the London Spinal Cord Injury Network (LSCIN).

They will promote professional development of the nursing team in addition to ensuring high quality SCI nursing care across London ensuring consistency of care for SCI patients.

In conjunction with the Network's Education Lead, the post holder will lead the design and development of the nursing SCI clinical skills competency and educational programme through continuous professional development across sites to ensure it is patient focused and promotes the delivery of excellence in spinal care.

The post holder will promote the concept of shared learning for the combined improvement of nursing skills and knowledge when caring for SCI patients.

Main duties of the job

Communication

• Meet with the LSCIN manager regularly to update on progress and feedback to Network Boards to identify and agree proposed objectives for the delivery of the in-house training programme for nursing staff.
• Develop strong relationships with Sisters / Charge Nurses within the wards caring for patients with SCI across LSCIN to meet the educational needs of their teams, who are caring for SCI patients.
• Present formal reports and presentations as required.

Personal and People Development

• In conjunction with the Networks Education Lead, support Trusts to develop competencies for nursing staff across LSCIN who are caring for SCI patients.
• Work collaboratively with CNSs, Ward Sisters/Charge Nurses and Clinical Leads within each unit across LSCIN to assess the clinical skills of nursing staff as required.
• In conjunction with the Networks Education Lead, lead the design and development of the in-house SCI nursing education programme based on Network competencies.
• Provide facilitation, coaching, supervision and shadowing opportunities to individuals to support their development in SCI clinical skills.
• Be flexible and adaptable and respond to pressures within units when delivering specific training to nursing staff.
• Provide constructive feedback to staff on their performance, taking remedial action when performance falls below the required standards.
• Be responsible for developing and sustaining own knowledge, management & clinical skills and professional awareness in accordance with CPD requirements and maintain professional profile.
• Be accountable for and ensure own practice is current and relevant.
• Provide support and guidance for CNSs, Ward Sisters/Charge Nurses, Practice Assessors and Practice Supervisors.
• Evaluate the training programme and present the outcomes to CNSs, Ward Sisters/Charge Nurses across the LSCIN.
• To attend and contribute to the SCI Community of Practice.

Research and quality improvement

• Promote a culture, which promotes a spirit of enquiry, innovation and quality improvement, ensuring nurses are equipped to be leaders of service improvement, which places patients at the forefront.
• Support the development and implementation of the nursing research and nurse-led innovation in conjunction with others.
• Support nursing staff to lead quality improvement, practice development and research projects and contribute to multidisciplinary projects.

Health, Safety and Security

• Ensure potential risks for all staff and patients related to the training programme are identified, action taken as required and relevant reporting procedures adhered to.
• Identify risks across LSCIN in relation to nursing competency and measure the maturity of this.
• Develop and maintain a nursing risk register for LSCIN.
• Bring partner organisations together to develop solutions to minimize risks and improve standards of care.
• Draw up actions plans to minimize and manage risk as required.
• Identify and address opportunities for shared learning resulting from incidents and complaints from spinal patients to improve nursing care.

Service Improvement

• Design and implement strategies to promote SCI nursing care, taking into account regional and national agenda.
• Design an education programme in accordance with valid evidence for SCI nursing care.
• Devise, implement and promote initiatives to develop and enhance nurses professional development in spinal cord injury care, including Network clinical guidelines.
• Encourage, promote and support SCI nursing research activity across the LSCIN.
• Develop strategies with local units to continue to enhance nurses knowledge when caring for spinal patients.
• Determine the effectiveness of the training programme and present results to local units and to the LSCIN Boards via quarterly reviews.
• To meet regularly with the lead nurses and practice educators across LSCIN to ensure that progress is made against agreed work plans.

Person Specification

Professional

• Post registration orthopaedic or neuroscience nursing course with spinal module
• Masters or equivalent level experience
• Teaching qualification

Communication

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Planning and organisational skills

• Plan and coordinate complex projects
• Plan with multidisciplinary input
• Evidence of developing and leading nurse led clinics/services

Experience

• Experience of working within Spinal Cord Injury nursing
• SCI Nursing Qualification

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.

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust

£61,631 to £68,623 a year Inclusive of HCAS per annum