Staff Nurse - Critical Care Services

West Suffolk Nhs Foundation Trust; West Stow; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting for fixed‑term Critical Care nurses to join our established Critical Care team at West Suffolk Hospital. The role offers 12‑month fixed term contracts, full‑time hours, and the band 5 salary for Agenda for Change.

You will receive orientation and mentorship from Critical Care Educators and access to ongoing education from degree to masters level. As part of a supportive clinical specialist team, you will assess patients, respond to emergencies and

Qualifications

• Current NMC Registration and ongoing professional development.
• Evidence of reflective practice and nursing competencies.
• Desirable nursing degree or equivalent qualification.

Responsibilities

• Assess care needs and develop care programmes with evaluation.
• Carry out care under supervision as appropriate.
• Recognise deterioration and escalate as needed.
• Respond to emergencies and manage ventilators/monitors.
• Demonstrate procedures to and supervise staff as required.
• Assist shift co-ordinator as appropriate.

Skills

Good communication

Prioritisation

Team player

Organised

Time management

Flexible hours

IV medication competence

Education

Current NMC Registration

Ongoing Professional Development

Reflective practise

Nursing degree or equivalent

Tools

Ventilators

Monitors

Job description

Job summary

At West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, we are looking to expand Our Critical Care nursing workforce and are pleased to offer fixed-term opportunities within our established Critical Care nursing team.

Critical Care Services within the West Suffolk Hospital care for approximately 600 patients every year. We currently run a 9 bedded unit, and provide care to a mix of Level 3, Level 2 and Level 1 patients requiring varying degrees of support due to acute critical Illness.

These fixed-term opportunities will provide valuable additional support to our established workforce and offer an excellent opportunity for nurses with an interest in Critical Care to develop their knowledge, skills and experience within a supportive and progressive environment.

All successful candidates will benefit from an orientation and induction programme supported by our dedicated Critical Care Educators. Staff follow an education pathway which is competency based using the Critical Care National Competency Framework. You will have access to expert clinical mentors and higher education programmes such as the Critical Care Course at degree or master's level.

You will work within a Clinical Specialist team and contribute to activities and projects with the of goal of professional and practice development. You must have an understanding of the current health agenda and national guidance which inform[sic] critical care practice.

Main duties of the job

• To provide effective, high quality, individualised nursing care to critically ill adult patients and their relative/carers, through working as an accountable practitioner and effective member of the multi-disciplinary team.
• To work within the Trust, divisional, Critical Care Services (CCS) and professional guidelines
• To contribute to continuing development of clinical practice through participation in a clinical specialist nursing team
• Recognition of deterioration in the physical or mental condition of a patient and taking appropriate action/escalation.
• Recognising and responding to, and managing emergency situations
• Checking and utilising specialist equipment such as monitors and ventilators
• Display excellent analytical ability and sound decision making in changing clinical situations.
• Recognising limitations and escalating concerns

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Details

Date posted: 26 October 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 5

Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year Per annum, pro rota

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 179-8353917-S

Closing date: 09 November 2026

Job responsibilities

Please see job description for full details.

Supporting our staff is at the heart of what we do within Critical Care at West Suffolk, we have a well embedded relationship with the Trust Wellbeing Support Team, as well as registered Professional Nurse Advocates, an initiative which is expanding throughout the trust at present.

• Responsible for the assessment of care needs and the development of programmes of care and/or the implementation and evaluation of these programmes.
• Expected to carry out all relevant forms of care under appropriate supervision.
• Recognition of deterioration in the physical or mental condition of a patient and taking appropriate action.
• Recognising, responding to, and managing emergency situations.
• Checking and using specialised equipment such as ventilators and monitors
• Recognising limitations and escalating concerns
• May be required to demonstrate procedures to and supervise qualified and unqualified staff.
• Assist shift co-ordinator as appropriate.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

• Current NMC Registration
• Evidence of ongoing Professional Development
• Utilised reflective practise

Desirable

• Nursing degree or equivalent

Experience and knowledge

Essential

• Insight into Critical Care Nursing.
• Understanding of the Band 5 role

Desirable

• Previous Critical care experience

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Willingness to learn and participate in self-directed study
• Organised
• Good communication skills
• IV medication competence
• Able to prioritise care
• Able to work under pressure
• Good time management skills

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Good timekeeping
• Identifies role within the multi-professional team
• Good team player
• Patient, conscientious and caring
• Able to cope with change
• Trustworthy
• Flexible approach to working hours and duties

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address: West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2QZ, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.wsh.nhs.uk

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact: Unit manager Maria Fontes, [e-mail], 01284714501

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