Pre-Assessment Specialist Support Nurse

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Pre-Assessment Specialist Support Nurse. The post involves autonomous clinic work, detailed clinical assessments, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to optimise patients before surgery.

The role may include leadership responsibilities within the team and involvement in staff development. We value experience in surgical pre-assessment and the ability to manage complex cases, with flexibility to support extended hours

Qualifications

• Registered nurse with active UK NMC registration.
• Experience in pre-assessment or perioperative settings is desirable.
• Knowledge of surgical specialities and preoperative investigations is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality pre-assessment services to patients attending clinic.
• Document assessments clearly and discuss cases with the multi-professional team.
• Take lead on governance, staffing and development within the unit as applicable for Band 6.
• Contribute to staff training, appraisals and recruitment activities as required.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Autonomous working

Communication skills

Team working

Education

RN

Job description

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Pre-Assessment Specialist Support Nurse

The closing date is 15 November 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced registered nurse to join our friendly Pre-Assessment team.

Pre-Assessment is a nurse led clinic. We strive to optimise patients before surgery to ensure the best possible outcomes. We play an integral part in the pre-operative journey. We highlight patients with complex co-morbidities, take medical, surgical and drug histories, request and interpret clinical investigations - such as bloods and ECG's and highlight potential risks before patients arrive on the day of surgery. This advanced set of skills helps to prevent day of surgery cancellations, improve patient outcomes, maintain patient safety and help reduce length of stay.

Addenbrookes accepts complex patients from across the East of England. We cover a wide variety of specialities so you could expect to see patients from any of the following departments;

Colorectal, Gynae, ENT, Breast, Upper GI, HPB, Vascular, Orthopaedic, Urology and General Surgery. Knowledge of the varying specialities and previous surgical nursing would be advantageous, but is not essential.

Although the role is autonomous, and we carry our own caseloads, we still work as a team discussing clinical concerns and learning from our combined experiences. We have a monthly education session and team meeting in which we feedback to each other and receive teaching to enhance our knowledge.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a dynamic nurse with excellent clinical assessment skills, to deliver a high quality service to patients attending clinic. You would need to be enthusiastic, motivated and have the ability to work autonomously. Good written and verbal communication skills are essential as we document all assessments and often discuss cases with the members of the multi-professional team.

As a band 6 the post holder would also be expected to undertake managerial responsibilities within the team, with support from the band 7's. This would include appraisals, recruitment and selection and supporting junior staff. You would also be expected to take charge of the unit on a regular basis which would require good problem solving, leadership and delegation skills. We are also looking for team members who are happy to contribute to the development and training needs of staff within the unit, and act as a role model for both qualified and un-qualified staff members.

This is a permanent position on a full-timebasis. At present our core opening hours are Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00. In order to improve accessibility, we have also introduced late appointments at 17:30 and 18:30, so do have some flexibility to offer long days (07:30-20:00) if suited. We are also open every Saturday. The pre assessment clinic is based at Addenbrookes and also run clinics at the Ely Community Diagnostic Centre.

Early Shift 08:00 -18:00

Saturday 08:00 -16:00

About us

Come Nurse with 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.

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?

• Our values and reputation for outstanding care
• Opportunities to experience a range of specialities
• Career and development opportunities
• Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team
• Research experience and opportunities
• Lovely location and quality of life
• Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 15th November 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on 24th November 2026.

All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12-week probationary period. This provides a structured and supportive period to help you settle into your role, with regular reviews and feedback.

As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full-time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full-time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• RN
• Previous experience within surgical specialities
• Act as a mentor/ assessor for students and learners within the department, gaining appropriate qualifications when required
• Preassessment course and relevant practice experience Experience in general surgery, vascular, urology, gynaecology, HPB or orthopaedic
• Care of patient's from admission to discharge

Experience

• Credible clinical expert in relevant area of practice
• Awareness of research based practice
• Ability to priorities workload
• Committed to professional development of self and others
• Good communication skills both written and verbal
• Experience of managing a clinical area
• Previous teaching experience
• Participation in appraisal and staff development
• NHS experience

Knowledge

• Able to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patients care
• Capable of managing, leading and working as an integral member of the team
• Provide teaching and support to the team and ensure effective assistance to clinicians, thereby promoting the highest standards of patient care
• Promote a culture and environment where staff are encouraged and supported in relaying their knowledge and experience to others
• Respect confidentiality and comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998, in line with trust Policies
• Experience of and enthusiasm for clinical teaching
• Professional development in an acute peri operative environment
• Knowledge if appraisal, disciplinary and sickness reporting procedures

Skills

• Excellent communicator with all levels of staff
• Capable of team work
• Good organisational skills
• Able to cope with change
• Highly motivated and willing to develop perioperative practice
• Flexible and adaptable to changing situations due to both workload and colleague need
• Ability to lead and develop a team
• Willingness to undertake additional roles
• Committed to the development of junior staff
• Venepuncture
• Clinical Assessment skills

Additional Requirements

• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of together, safe, kind and excellent
• Ability to have a broad view of health care
• Able to meet a challenge
• Commitment to the development of self and others
• Calm attitude & ability to recognise and deal with stress

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.

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust