Practice Development Nurse Cardiovascular

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Trust in London seeks a Practice Development Nurse to lead training and education in its Cardiovascular department. This role involves identifying staff training needs, designing innovative educational programs, and supporting clinical practices. Candidates should have extensive leadership experience and a relevant nursing qualification. The position offers a chance to make a significant impact on nursing development and patient care within a prestigious healthcare environment.

Qualifications

• Post-registration qualification in area of speciality.
• Extensive clinical leadership/team management experience.
• Expert skills in caring for patients with cardiovascular disease.

Responsibilities

• Identify training and development needs of staff.
• Create a climate of research awareness.
• Initiate research projects and support nurses.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Communication skills

Research awareness

Education

RGN

Degree or educated to degree level

Job description

Job overview

Guys and St Thomas Cardiovascular department is located in the centre of London directly opposite the Houses of Parliament. Mainly based at St Thomas Hospital the department consists of five cardiovascular wards with 143 inpatient beds, five cath labs and cardiac outpatients both at St Thomas Hospital and Guys Hospital. We care for cardiology, cardiac surgery and vascular patients.

Our forward‑thinking, dynamic cardiovascular directorate has an exciting career opportunity within the Practice Development Team for a six‑month secondment to cover maternity leave. The team is a fundamental part of the management, education and development of nursing staff across the cardiovascular directorate.

Shortlisted applicants will be asked to do a short presentation. Important – please discuss with your line manager. Must be available to cover secondment commencing on the 25th February 2026. Band 6 will be considered depending on experience. Band 6 / 7.

Closing date: 9th February 2026 at Midnight

Interview date: 14th January 2026

Main duties of the job

The cardiovascular directorate at Guys and St Thomas is fully committed to audit and research and provides a dynamic environment conducive to gaining additional knowledge and skills. We have close links with local, nationally renowned educational providers which enables us to provide a wide range of educational programmes. The team is dedicated to progressing and supporting the skills and knowledge of all nurses, at all stages of their career. Nurses lie at the heart of our organisation and the Practice Development Team strives to ensure our nursing care is the highest quality, safe and focused on our patients.

There are significant opportunities within the Practice Development Team to design innovative, progressive educational programs and to create unique learning opportunities. There is also an opportunity to deliver the education strategy directly to nurses and the larger MDT, using cutting‑edge technology.

Applicants must have

• Post‑registration qualification in area of speciality
• Extensive clinical leadership / team management experience
• Expert skills in caring for patients with cardiovascular disease
• A degree (health related) or equivalent level of education and experience
• Recruitment selection training
• Excellent communication

Working for our organisation

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK’s best‑known hospitals – Guy’s, St Thomas’, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield – as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high‑quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.

We are among the UK’s busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.

We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and – as part of King’s Health Partners – we are one of England’s eight academic health science centres, bringing together world‑class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research’s biomedical research centres, established with King’s College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.

We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Identify training and development needs of staff within the area in accordance with local and national policies.
• Create a climate of research awareness to encourage evidence‑based practice.
• Initiate research projects and encourage nurses to undertake their own small research projects and support their progress.
• Support staff in the provision of regular local and relevant teaching and training sessions including provision of ‘buddied’ clinical time to facilitate on‑the‑job learning.
• Act as a source of highly specialist clinical and educational knowledge and to provide clinical supervision.
• Act as an advocate for patients within the department, to ensure a patient‑orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines.
• Ensure that patients receive high‑quality clinical care and a good patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.
• Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individuals.
• Assist in the provision of training programmes for nurses to expand their clinical skills – intravenous drugs, cannulation, phlebotomy – which are acceptable to and certifiable by the Trust.
• Support the review and development of the annual Educational, training, development and business plans. Act as representative in the course management and curricula development forums and liaise with Higher Education Institutes to present future needs and requirements and be familiar with the educational needs of all staff.
• Responsible for the development and co‑ordination of training programmes for staff in conjunction with the Training and Development department. The post holder will also be required to deliver training as required.
• Develop and ensure training programmes are established to train staff to meet statutory training requirements (fire, resuscitation, health & safety, infection control, manual handling).
• Work in conjunction with Sister / Charge Nurses to ensure that staff members are trained as preceptors and assessors to support pre‑ and post‑registration students and new staff members.
• Develop and implement training programmes for nurses to expand their clinical skills in accordance with the Trust’s standards.

Person specification

Skills / Knowledge – Essential criteria

• Understanding of the principles of teaching and learning and their application within the practice setting.
• Knowledge of local, regional and national policies pertaining to practice experience and education.
• Knowledge of a variety of teaching methods.
• Able to present articulately to a large group of people.
• Evidence of excellent clinical skills.

Experience – Essential criteria

• Experience of designing, delivering and evaluating training sessions / programmes.
• Experience of mentoring / supervising / assessing learners in practice.
• Experience of involvement in educational initiatives.
• Experience of managing a team or caseload.
• Experience in delivering and or supporting quality improvement.

Education / Qualifications – Essential criteria

• RGN
• Specialist course (Vascular / Cardiology / cardiac surgery / ECG etc.)
• Degree or educated to degree level.
• Trust mentor / specialist professional knowledge of mentorship, education and development practice to Masters level or equivalent.
• Practice teacher qualification.
• Evidence of continuous personal, professional and academic development.

Education / Qualifications – Desirable criteria

• Postgraduate Certificate Advanced Practice (Education).
• Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) course.
• Leadership qualification.

Values and Behaviours – Essential criteria

• Demonstrates the application of the Trust’s values and behaviours.

Values and Behaviours – Desirable criteria

• Wellbeing Champion / Speak up champion.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitably according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or studies at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity / paternity, or marital / civil partnership.