Band 8a

We are looking for a dynamic individual to become the Lead Nurse of our Endoscopy service at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust.

We are looking for a senior nurse who has a passion for Endoscopy and wants the opportunity to lead a strong department and develop the future strategy for Endoscopy.

The Lead Nurse for Endoscopy is accountable for the clinical and operational management of the Endoscopy units across all sites. The post holders' responsibility is to facilitate an efficient and productive department, close engagement with the Consultant body and holding budgetary responsibility of the service area.

The Lead Nurse will be the Trust expert and lead for the JAG Accreditation process and lead on developing the Endoscopy service.

The role requires a professional and motivated individual, with a proven track record of management. Knowledge of Endoscopy and the JAG Accreditation process are essential for this role.

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please refer to the Job Description or contact us for more information.

The interview will take place on 30/12/2024

The Lead Nurse for Endoscopy together with the service manager for Gastroenterology is responsible for the day to day running of both Watford and Hemel Hempstead Hospital Endoscopy Units.

The Lead Nurse Endoscopy will oversee and ensure the delivery of high quality, safe and effective care focused on improving outcomes and experiences for patients, families and carers. Ensure that the patient experience is of the highest quality inspiring patient and public confidence.

Maintaining JAG accreditation is a key part of the role ensuring that all 19 GRS standards are not only maintained but evidenced on a yearly basis through annual uploads, and 5 yearly visits.

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us.

We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imaging models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.

Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.

At West Herts we offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance and the ability to work flexibly.

We kindly invite you to consider submitting an application.

If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contact

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.

If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

The Lead nurse will be responsible to ensure that endoscopy equipment is safe for use and service contract are in place. The procurement and leasing of equipment must be maintained to ensure endoscopy is safe and keeping up to date with technological advances.

Key relationships with the finance department to ensure that any equipment needs for the for each year are submitted within a timely manner.Working closely with decontamination team and ensuring that the correct scopes are available for the endoscopy lists, this may require arranging transfer of scopes across site to avoid patient cancelations. Liaising with consultant microbiologists when TVC counts are high.

The Lead Nurse for Endoscopy will be responsible for designated nursing budgets and effective management of resources. The role has overall responsibility for nursing staffing including the out of hours bleed rota and managing the specialist gastroenterology nurses.

Training and professional development for all staff within the area of responsibility including appraisals. External endoscopist basic skills courses and nurse training days run from the department and require close working relationships with the medical education centre to co-ordinate the days.

The post holder will monitor and assess clinical areas against JAG, CQC standards and key line of enquiry, ensuring appropriate timely action if improvement is required. The post holder will lead on delivery of governance and quality, ensuring all endoscopy audits are completed, presented at clinical governance and actioned.

The Lead Nurse will be developing and implementing a range of operational policies and protocols, guidance and leaflets in line with Trust-wide needs for specific field of responsibility.

The Lead Nurse will be expected to maintain clinic practice within endoscopy, conducting clinics and being part of GI-bleed on call rota (out of hours).

• First level Registered Nurse
• Post registration education in a relevant specialty or equivalent experience.
• Teaching and assessing qualification or relevant experience
• Higher degree or working towards this in a healthcare related subject.
• Evidence of continuing education and development.

• Extensive experience as Senior Nurse
• Knowledge and understanding of Joint Advisory Group (JAG), Global Rating Scale (GRS) and NICE guidance
• Ability to be intellectually flexible and to be able to look beyond existing structures and ways of working to produce more effective service delivery
• Confidence with policies and procedures and can demonstrate evidence of managing complex issues
• Leading and developing teams
• Continuing personal and professional development
• Clinical governance - i.e. leading on incidents/complaints investigations
• Budget management
• Quality assurance.
• Complaints handling.
• Policy implementation.
• Undertaking audits.

• Extensive experience as Senior Nurse
• Operational management experience in an senior nurse position, including staff, budgetary and performance management
• Extensive operational experience of managing and / or innovating change in clinical pathways.
• Excellent understanding of the evolving NHS Environment
• Expert knowledge of the Governance and Risk frameworks required to deliver safe, high quality clinical care.
• Experience as Senior Nurse within the Endoscopy field.

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.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust