Job summary
- Main area
- Deteriorating Patient Team
- Grade
- 8b
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 360-B-11232
- Employer
- West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Watford General Hospital
- Town
- Watford
- Salary
- £66,653 - £79,638 pa inc. HCA
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 28/04/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Band 8b - Deteriorating Patient Team Lead, Surgery
8b
Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional clinical leader to shape, influence and drive the future of deteriorating patient care across West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
As the Deteriorating Patient Team Lead, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening the Trust’s response to clinical deterioration, leading a dynamic and highly skilled multi professional team that includes the Acute Care Response Team (ACRT), Resuscitation Service and Sepsis service.
This is a role for someone who thrives on variety, strategic influence, and the chance to make a tangible difference to patient outcomes every day.
This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about service development and innovation.
You will lead on the evolution of the ACRT, support the development of Enhanced Care Practitioners, trainee Advanced Practitioners and qualified Advanced Practitioners, and work closely with Higher Education Institutes to influence education and training pathways.
You will also collaborate with senior nursing, medical and operational leaders to ensure that the Trust’s approach to deteriorating patients is aligned with national guidance, emerging evidence and best practice.
The role is dynamic and varied, combining direct clinical practice with strategic leadership, education, quality improvement and research.
You will be required to work Monday – Friday and participate in the Trust Senior Manager on-call rota.
Main duties of the job
As the Deteriorating Patient Team Lead, you will play a central role in shaping how West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust recognises and responds to clinical deterioration. You will lead the Acute Care Response Team (ACRT) and provide senior clinical and strategic leadership across the Trust, ensuring that patients who are acutely unwell receive timely, expert and compassionate care.
Your leadership will extend beyond clinical practice. You will drive service development, influence Trust wide pathways, and support the strategic direction of the deteriorating patient agenda.
Education and workforce development will be a key part of your role.
You will deliver Trust wide training on the recognition and management of deterioration, support Advanced Life Support education, and help create a positive learning culture where staff feel confident, supported and empowered.
You will work collaboratively with matrons, ward managers and senior clinicians to strengthen clinical capability and improve patient outcomes.
This is a highly visible leadership role, requiring strong partnership working with senior nursing, medical and operational colleagues.
You will act as a trusted expert advisor, provide specialist input into complex cases, and contribute to business planning, service evaluation and governance processes.
Your work will directly influence patient safety, service quality and the Trust’s ability to deliver excellent care.
Working for our organisation
We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.
Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.
We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking
If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please contact [email protected]
If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This is a full-time role that will require cross site working and on-call responsibilities. You will work closely with the Associate Director of Nursing for Deteriorating Patients to deliver on the Trust priorities for Deteriorating Patients and deputise as required.
You will be responsible for the line management of the ACRT and Resuscitation Team Lead and provide day to day leadership, supervision and development for the whole deteriorating patient team.
You will work with senior nursing and medical leaders to design, implement and evaluate pathways, policies and guidelines that strengthen the Trust’s approach to recognising and responding to deterioration.
You will be responsible for delivering Trust wide training, including ALERT and Advanced Life Support; supporting academic modules with HEIs; developing competency frameworks; and fostering a positive learning culture across clinical areas.
You will lead and contribute to QI projects, audits, research activity and service evaluation; supporting business planning and procurement; ensuring compliance with national guidance and Trust policies.
You will act as a senior clinical resource for teams across the organisation, providing specialist advice on complex cases, escalation decisions and best practice in acute and critical care.
You will Oversee staff performance, appraisals, recruitment, sickness management and workload allocation, managing delegated budgets and ensuring cost effective use of resources. Supporting the Associate Director of Nursing for Deteriorating Patients, deputising as required, and contributing to Trust wide strategic priorities and senior leadership discussions.
Person specification
Education and qualifications
Essential criteria
- NMC Registered nurse or HCPC registered
- MSc or equivalent
- Clear and continued evidence of CPD
- Teaching and mentoring qualification.
- Advanced Life Support (ALS) Provider
- Clear and demonstrable evidence of advanced, autonomous practice
Desirable criteria
- Resuscitation Council UK Generic Instructor Course (ALS instructor).
- PILS
- NOrF consultant practice competence or working towards.
- Registered Non-Medical Prescriber (V300).
- Non-Medical Referrals Ionising Radiation Medical Exposure Regulations (IRMER) Trained
- ALERT Train the trainer Course
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Experience of practice development and quality improvement strategies
- Understanding of Clinical Governance structure, strategies and implications around clinical practice.
- Already working in an autonomous / advanced clinical practice setting
- Audit experience
- Multidisciplinary team working
- Clinical assessment skills
- Critical analysis of evidence skills
- Presentation skills
- IT skills
- Communication skills - Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skills
- Track record and evidence of being an effective leader.
- Knowledge of current national initiatives related to deteriorating patients, resuscitation and sepsis
Desirable criteria
- Research experience
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant experience in care of the acutely ill/deteriorating patient.
- Significant experience as a member of the Cardiac arrest or medical emergency team
- Experience in leading medical emergencies.
- Experienced in communicating highly complex, sensitive and upsetting news to patients, family and colleagues.
- Able to demonstrate strong influencing and negotiation skills being able to present credible and compelling arguments to senior teams.
Desirable criteria
- Experience leading trainee and qualified ACPs.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Louise Bradbury
- Job title
- Associate Director of Nursing
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07388996108
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Watford General Hospital
Vicarage Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0HB
- Telephone
- 01442 365234
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