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Job summary

Main area
OPAT Clinical Nurse Specialist
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Part time
  • Flexible working
30 hours per week
Job ref
179-8288956-I
Employer
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
WSH
Town
Bury St Edmunds
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 pro rata, per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
23/10/2026 23:59

Employer heading

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust logo

OPAT Clinical Nurse Specialist

NHS AfC: Band 6

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and enthusiastic nurse to join the Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) team at West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.


We are a team of innovative clinical nurse specialist  who work alongside a number of multi- professional teams including the virtual ward team ,  to support the delivery and coordinate the effective, efficient, and safe care of patients on  defined IV Antibiotic/ Complexed oral antibiotic treatment pathways that are medically optimised   across both the OPAT service and virtual ward platform to receive this care closer to home in the community setting  .  Supporting both early discharge and admission avoidance. 

Main duties of the job

♦ To work alongside the multidisciplinary team including the virtual ward across the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust   to drive the delivery of effective, efficient, and safe antimicrobial treatment to patients in the community including their own homes.
♦ To undertake a range of duties to ensure the effective delivery of care to both OPAT and Virtual ward IV antibiotic/ complexed oral antibioic (COpAT)  pathway patients including assessing, treating and monitoring them whilst on outpatient IV Antibiotics, complexed oral antibiotics and post antibiotic treatment. This can including visiting patients in their own home. 
♦ After appropriate training you will be able to carry out venepuncture, cannulation and support the care and troubleshooting of central venous access devices to include PICC/ Mid lines, Hickman lines and porta Cath’s. 
♦ To deputise in the Lead OPAT CNS’s absence

Working for our organisation

#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?

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached the full job description and person specification for the full details on this job role. 

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • NMC Registration
  • Mentorship and training
  • Evidence of ongoing professional development
  • Diploma in Nursing
Desirable criteria
  • Degree or working towards degree
  • ILS

Experience & Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Previous experience at Band 5 level
  • Research Awareness
Desirable criteria
  • Management experience
  • Teaching experience

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Mentorship Skills
  • IV Drug Administration
  • IT Skills
  • Communication Skills
  • Organisational Skills
  • Time Management Skills
  • Willing to undertake further training as required.
Desirable criteria
  • Venepuncture
  • Cannulation
  • Care of central venous access devices

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria
  • Leadership Qualities
  • Team Player
  • Commitment to delivering high quality service
  • Flexible approach to working hours
  • Time management skills

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardDisability confident employerArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

Please note that this advert may close early if we receive a high number of applications.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Zoe Drage
Job title
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01284 712783
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