Senior Community Nurse

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Warrington; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust in Warrington invites applications for a Senior Community Staff Nurse within the District Nursing Service. The post leads clinical care for higher-acuity patients, mentors juniors, and collaborates with the Team Leader to ensure safe, effective community care.

Flexible working requests will be considered where possible. The role requires substantial district nursing experience, strong communication, and a commitment to evidence-based practice under

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with current registration.
• Postgraduate qualification in specialist field or working towards.
• Proven proficiency in core district nursing skills (tissue viability, palliative care, diabetes management).
• Mentorship qualification or equivalent; commitment to CPD.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership within the District Nursing Team under the Team Leader.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient-centred programmes of care.
• Lead and mentor junior staff and students; supervise workloads and referrals.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Clinical leadership

Clinical reasoning

Workload management

Education

Postgraduate qualification in specialist field

Mentorship qualification or equivalent

Non-medical prescribing

Job description

Go back North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (BCH)

Senior Community Nurse

The closing date is 15 October 2026

Are you a Registered Nurse looking to take the next step in your career within District Nursing? Do you have recent experience within a district nursing service and a passion for delivering high-quality community care? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our Warrington District Nursing Service as a Senior Community Staff Nurse.

We are seeking committed and skilled nurses with provendistrict nursing experience, including areas such as palliative and end-of-life care, wound management, and catheter care. In this role, you will be responsible for managing a cohort of higher-acuity and complex patients, underthe guidance of the Team Leader (caseload holder), demonstrating clinical confidence and sound professional judgement.

The successful candidate will bring excellent communication skills, strong clinical reasoning, and the ability to prioritise and manage their own workload effectively. You will be expected to carry out comprehensive holistic assessments, develop and lead on personalised plans of care, and provide support, guidance, and mentorship to junior colleagues within the service.

If you are looking for a role that challenges you, develops your leadership potential, and places you at the heart of community-based care, we would be delighted to receive your application. We are committed to supporting work-life balance, and all flexible working requests will be considered in line with service needs.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide advanced expertise and strong leadership within the District Nursing Team, working alongside the Team Leader to deliver high-quality, person-centred care. They will demonstrate an in-depth theoretical and practical understanding of a wide range of conditions and will be proficient in core district nursing skills, including tissue viability, palliative and end-of-life care, and diabetes management. Using specialist assessment abilities and diagnostic reasoning, they will interpret complex clinical presentations, make sound judgements, and implement evidence-based interventions tailored to the needs of patients with higher acuity and complex conditions. They will plan, deliver, and evaluate holistic programmes of care, maintaining accurate records and ensuring practice reflects current evidence, NMC standards, and professional codes.

In their leadership role, the post holder will act as a visible role model, supporting effective communication across the team, promoting a culture of compassion, professionalism, equality, and openness, and deputising for the Team Leader when required. They will help coordinate the team's workload, support decision‑making in challenging or urgent situations, and provide guidance, supervision, and mentorship to junior staff, students, and new starters.

About us

Flexible working will be considered for all roles.

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM) serves more than one million residents across the Halton and Warrington boroughs and the wider North West region.

Bringing together community and out-of-hospital services (formerly provided by Bridgewater Community Healthcare) with inpatient and elective care (formerly Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals) we provide services at two hospital sites and more than 70 community hubs and facilities.

Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM).

They underpin everything we do and everything we aspire to be as an organisation.

Our mission

We will be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other

Our vision

We will be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn

Our values

• Kind: We are caring, supportive and respectful to everyone
• Open: We are honest, transparent and open to new ways of working
• Fair: We listen, value our differences and are inclusive to all
• One team: We work well together and with our communities

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose:

The post holder will work as a senior member of the District Nursing Team collaborating with the Team Leader (caseload holder) and support the provision of clinical leadership within the team. A key feature of the role is to support the proactive management of patients with complex or higher acuity conditions on the District Nursing Caseload. This will include collaborating with other members of the multi-disciplinary team involved in the patients care to establish a person‑centred approach to management of health/social care needs, that also promotes self‑management.

The post holder will be responsible for an identified cohort of patients with higher acuity needs within District Nursing Team caseload as identified by the District Nurse Team Leader. They will use extended clinical skills and expert knowledge to assess the physical and psycho‑social needs of a defined patient group, instigating therapeutic treatments based on best available evidence in order to improve health outcomes. In doing so, they will assess, plan, deliver and evaluate patient centred programmes of care ensuring that they practice within their sphere of competence and knowledge. The post holder will work to professional and NMC codes, standards and guidance at all times ensuring that their practice is based on the most up to date evidence‑based theory and practical knowledge. They will be responsible for developing new and innovative clinical practices responding to emerging knowledge and techniques and working with the District Nurse Coordinator, Team Leader and other services, where appropriate to make improvements.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Clinical

• 1.1.Demonstratesa detailed theoretical and practical knowledge of common aetiologies,pathologies, conditions, and presentations involving a critical understandingof theories and principles.
• 1.2.Beproficient in core skills required to deliver care within a district nursing service such as tissue viability, palliative/end of life care, diabetesmanagement.
• 1.3.Demonstrateinnovative and specialist skills required for assessment and interpretation ofcomplex patient conditions and determining the appropriate course of action.
• 1.4.Selectmethods and tools to holistically assess, plan, implement and evaluate in acomplex patient condition.
• 1.5.Analyseand act appropriately in complex situation and elevate wherever applicable e.g.,to District Nurse Coordinator, Team leader, Safeguarding Lead, GP.
• 1.6.Makejudgements on complex facts requiring interpretation and comparing treatment/managementoptions ensuring clinical reasoning is reflected accurately in case records.
• 1.7.Aimto promote community care delivered at home, thus preventing unnecessaryadmissions to hospital and reduction in length of hospital in-patient stays.
• 1.8.Engageand actively involve the individual and, if appropriate, their family/carer, inthe assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of programmes oftreatment and/or care by using person-centred techniques to promote a cultureof involvement and empowerment
• 1.9.Worksto standards of proficiency identified by their professional and regulatorybodies performing clinical treatments/procedures to a competent standard.
• 1.10.Prioritisestheir own workload and support the Team Leader with allocation and workloadmanagement of the wider team, within agreed objectives deciding when to referto others as appropriate.
• 1.11.Provideand receive complex, sensitive, or contentious information where motivational,persuasive, empathetic, negotiating and reassurance skills are required whilstdemonstrating an understanding of barriers to communication.
• 1.12.Approacheach individual with care, compassion and sensitivity ensuring that thesevalues are reflected in all areas of practice including the management of anycomplaints and compliments.
• 1.13.To comply with the organisations InfectionPrevention and Control requirements, including bare below the elbows dresscode for staff with a direct care delivery role

2. Leadership

• 2.1.Deputisefor the Team Leader at internal and external meetings when required.
• 2.2.Supportthe Team Leader in developing effective lines of communication that ensuresthat the team are aware of the Trusts strategic direction and local businessplan objectives and performance targets.
• 2.3.Ensuresthat a professional service and image is maintained at all times, therebyacting as a role model to all staff promoting a positive image of communitynursing.
• 2.4.Providesa leadership style which is underpinned by strongly held values aroundequality, diversity, and openness; effectively builds and maintainsrelationships with the wider team, management teams and other key individualsacross the organisation.
• 2.5.Providean educational role for patients, carers, and new team members.
• 2.6.Demonstratesthe ability to delegate, organise and prioritise workload to ensure the safedelivery of care to an identified cohort of patients including the managementof referrals and discharges using locally agreed support mechanisms e.g., oncall manager and making judgements in complex situations.
• 2.7.Demonstratesclinical leadership, initiative, and creativity in identifying and supportingprojects inspiring others to be positive in their contribution to continuous improvement.
• 2.8.Demonstratesresilience when responding to challenge, change and complex or difficult situations.
• 2.9.Ensuresthat all objectives, for self and those directly supervised by the post holder,are clearly defined within the wider Directorate framework and in line withTrusts objectives, using the appraisal process as a vehicle for this.
• 2.10.Takesresponsibility for their own and others health and safety in the workingenvironment.
• 2.11.Tosupport the Team Leader in the management of higher acuity patients and leadingon the assessment care planning and ongoing management of an identified cohortof patients.
• 2.12.Collaboratewith primary care, secondary care and social services and other colleagues toplan and implement treatment as required.

3. Learning and Development

• 3.1.Undertakesany training required to develop and maintain their proficiency in response tochanges in service delivery or new and emerging techniques and demonstratecompetence within professional body requirements.
• 3.2.Reflectson and evaluates own practice and identifies areas of development by settingappropriate objectives via appraisal and clinical supervision.
• 3.3.Conductsresearch projects, or other research and development activity, appropriate toclinical area.
• 3.4.Undertakessupervision and is responsible for teaching and training both inside andoutside work area.
• 3.5.Supportingthe Team leaders with the learning and development of others including studentsand preceptees providing supervision and mentorship to junior staff.
• 3.6.Supportthe Team Leader in reporting and investigating complaints and incidents.

4. Partnership and Team Working

• 4.1.Activelydevelops and maintains effective clinical and corporate working relationshipsboth within and outside the Trust.
• 4.2.Exploresthe potential for collaborative working and takes opportunities to initiate andsustain such relationships to improve and develop service delivery.
• 4.3.Activelycontributes to the multi-disciplinary team supporting the patient includingcommunication with external care providers, voluntary support services andother agencies; acting as a credible source of information for otheragencies/professionals involved in the care as required.

5. Innovation and Quality

• 5.1.Implements,monitors, and maintains agreed standards of care, reporting to the Team Leader/DistrictNurse Coordinator when standards are not met.
• 5.2.Implementspolicies relevant to service area and supports the Team Leader to ensure teammembers are aware of policy requirements.
• 5.3.Identifiesareas for improvement within own team and proactively addresses these with thesupport of the Team Leader/District Nurse Coordinator within the overallorganisational governance frameworks and corporate objectives reflecting thechanging needs of the population, local and national initiatives.
• 5.4.Activelyworks to continually improve the quality of own service area within the overallorganisational governance frameworks and corporate objectives e.g., throughaudit or suggesting changes to practice.
• 5.5.Contributesto and undertakes clinical audit.
• 5.6.Workswith District Nurse Coordinators, Team Leaders, and other key colleagues toidentify, manage and minimise risks within the overall organisational riskmanagement frameworks. This includes understanding and applying knowledge ofclinical role in safeguarding and an active involvement in incident management processes.
• 5.7.Actsas an advocate for patients and their families/carers recognising theboundaries of their clinical knowledge; liaising and referring on to otherservices / agencies as required.
• 5.8.Ensuresthat patient experience is core to all clinical care delivered and gainingsupport from the appropriate corporate teams as required.

Please see attached Full Job Description.

Relationships

• If you are related to a director or have a relationship with a director or employee of an appointing organisation, please state the relationship.

Right to Work

• Do you currently have the unrestricted right to work in the UK?
• If appointed, will you require sponsorship under a UK work visa route (now or in the future)?
• Please note that sponsorship is not available for all roles. Sponsorship will only be considered where the post meets the relevant UK immigration requirements and where the organisation determines that sponsorship is appropriate for the role.

Experience

• Demonstrable experience in the clinical field or a closely related clinical area as part of a wider multidisciplinary team.
• Experience in supervising and delegating to other members of staff.
• Experience of clinical leadership skills e.g., leading/supervising junior staff and students.
• Working in community setting.
• Working in primary care-based teams
• Experience of acting in an advocate/champion role

Practical and Intellectual Skills

• Specialist assessment, planning and evaluation skills.
• Complex analytical and creative problem‑solving skills in unpredictable situations
• Leadership skills and excellent decision‑making capabilities.
• Competent IT skills in order to collect and interpret data, present reports, and compile simple presentations.
• Effective verbal, non‑verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex or potentially distressing information to patients / carers and managing conflict when appropriate.
• Reflective practice skills able to give clear and effective feedback.
• Able to research, understand and evaluate evidence in order to contribute to practice development
• Experience in research and/or clinical audit
• Workload management including delegation of tasks and day‑to‑day team leadership.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse
• Post Graduate qualification in specialist field or working towards
• Evidence of proficiency in core skills required for delivery of care within a district nursing service such as, tissue viability, palliative care, diabetes management.
• Mentorship qualification / skills and/or experience or committed to undertaking appropriate mentorship programme.
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Mentorship qualification or equivalent
• Non‑medical prescribing
• Clinical examination
• Clinical Skills
• Tissue Viability
• Palliative Care
• Diabetes management
• Frailty

Knowledge and Understanding

• Detailed theoretical and clinical knowledge appropriate to District Nursing service
• Knowledge of relevant current issues in health and social care, ethics, and innovation
• Demonstrates awareness of limits to knowledge base
• Application of clinical governance and quality measures in practice

Attitude and Behaviour

• Displays care, compassion, sensitivity, and responsiveness to other peoples feelings and needs.
• Able to work as part of a team, co-operating to work together and in conjunction with others and willing to help and assist wherever possible and appropriate appreciating the value of diversity in the workplace.
• Able to develop, establish and maintain positive relationships with others both internal and external to the organisation and with patients and their careers.
• Able to work under pressure, dealing with peaks and troughs in workload managing unpredictable service demands.
• Positive and flexible attitude to dealing with change explore new ways of doing things and approaches.
• Able to respond to the changing needs of the patient in a proficient and timely manner.
• Demonstrates values consistent with those of the Trust.
• Ability and willingness to adopt a flexible approach to work on the occasions it may be required.

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.

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (BCH)