Relief Community Nurse

About the Organisation:

As Scotland's smallest health board, NHS Orkney is committed to delivering excellent care to our 22,000 residents. Whether you're new to the NHS or bringing experience from elsewhere, your skills will make a real difference.

Our modern healthcare facility, The Balfour, brings together inpatient care, emergency services, outpatient clinics, diagnostics, GP practices and the Scottish Ambulance Service. We're also investing in services across our outer isles, ensuring high-quality care reaches every corner of Orkney.

We are guided by our core values that shape everything we do – Open and honest, Respect and Kindness – from how we care for our patients to how we support each other as colleagues.

About Orkney:

With over 70 islands – 20 of them inhabited – Orkney offers a unique blend of natural beauty, close-knit community and an opportunity for adventure. From dramatic coastlines and rare wildlife to rich cultural traditions and active lifestyles, it's a place where compassion thrives and every day brings something new. Regularly named one of the UK's best places to live, Orkney offers a lifestyle that's both fulfilling and inspiring.

The Position:

Are you ready to develop new generalist skills and build on your experience?

Could your nursing skills and experience help us to achieve our vision of becoming a centre of excellence in remote and rural healthcare?

We are seeking a highly motivated Registered Nurse with a passion for clinical care, a strong team-work ethic, and the aspiration to develop skills in Remote and Rural Practice to join the Community Nursing team.

The Community Nursing team are responsible for assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation of care to individuals and families, in liaison with the Senior Community Nurse. The post holder will primarily be based on the mainland, but suitably experienced applicants may be expected to work on the Isles when required.

If being part of a supportive and flexible team, whilst working in a place with a strong sense of community appeals to you, then consider joining the Community Nursing team and help us provide high quality patient care.

The Candidate:

Applications are sought from registered nurses with a current UK NMC registration, who are confident in their ability to work autonomously and as part of the wider primary care team. Excellent communication and observational skills are essential for this role. Experience of community nursing in a remote setting would be advantageous, however registered nurses wishing to develop their skills in community nursing would be considered.

It is essential that the post holder has access to transport and if driving themselves, should hold a full driving licence. If by virtue of a disablement, an applicant has the qualifications to perform the post but cannot drive, then the possibility of adjustments to arrange transport will be considered.

Location, Working Pattern and Contract Duration:

This post will be based at The Balfour

The successful candidate will work as and when required

This post is Relief

It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NHS Orkney.

Benefits and Salary:

Did you know NHS Scotland salaries are higher than those in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland?

The salary for this post is Band 5 and if residing on Orkney, you'll also receive a Distant Islands Allowance of £1,654 pro rata per annum, adding extra value to your rewarding career with us.

NHS Orkney also offers an attractive pension scheme, wide range of work life balance policies, employee assistance programme and various discounts to both local and national retailers.

Further Information:

If you share our vision and are ready to be part of Team Orkney, we'd love to hear from you. Your rewarding career starts here

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during your application. If there are additional requirements you would like to request, please contact

For further guidance on the recruitment process and tips for creating a strong application, please refer to our Candidate Application Pack.

For an informal discussion, please contact Laura Highley, Interim Clinical Nurse Manager on

This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check.