Rapid Response Nurse London

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Band 6 Registered Nurse to join the Wandsworth and Merton Urgent Community Response (UCR) service at CLCH. As part of a dynamic multidisciplinary team, you will deliver high-quality, person‑centred care to adults in their homes and care home settings, providing rapid assessment, treatment and interventions to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and support timely discharge. Working in a fast‑paced community service, undertaking holistic assessments, developing and implementing management plans, and providing urgent clinical interventions for patients with acute illness, frailty, long‑term conditions, palliative care needs and other urgent presentations. Working autonomously, using advanced clinical judgement and assessment, while collaborating with GPs, hospitals, ambulance services, social care and community teams. Providing clinical leadership and support to junior staff and students, contributing to service development and improvement, and promoting evidence‑based practice to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care. This role is ideal for a nurse with excellent assessment skills, a passion for urgent community care and a commitment to helping people remain safely independent at home where possible. As this role is community‑based involving travel between patient homes, applicants must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle for business use (unless exempt under the Equality Act 2010).

Main duties of the job

• Provide skilled, effective and evidence‑based nursing care to patients in a variety of community settings.
• Assess referrals to the service, prioritise and respond appropriately based on clinical need and urgency, and within agreed service timescales.
• Use enhanced skills and knowledge to assess physical and psycho‑social needs and develop a comprehensive and concordant plan of care with patients, carers and the wider multidisciplinary team as needed.
• Make risk assessments, establishing the safety or otherwise of patients' ability to stay at home, or return home safely from another care setting, providing and arranging necessary nursing and supportive packages.
• Provide autonomous clinical care to a range of patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed and/or complex health needs and long‑term conditions.
• Provide evidence‑based clinical/therapeutic interventions in line with best practice, in order to improve health outcomes and promote choice, e.g. intravenous therapy, anticoagulation monitoring, palliative care interventions and catheter and bowel management.
• Work within clinical guidelines, policies, procedures applying professional judgment to work outside these frameworks where necessary.
• Deliver agreed clinical quality and performance standards within the Rapid Response team.

About us

We are proud to be one of the largest community healthcare providers in the country, with more than 4,500 colleagues caring for over four million people across London and Hertfordshire. Every day our teams bring their skill, compassion and determination to the people who depend on us. What inspires us is at the heart of who we are: when we work together, we can help people move forward in ways that truly matter. Our teams support children as they take their first steps in life, and they stand beside adults as they rebuild strength, confidence and independence. From newborn health visiting to community nursing, stroke rehabilitation, and palliative care, we are there for people through some of life's most important moments. Joining Central London Community Healthcare means becoming part of a community that lifts each other up. It means working in an organisation that values compassion, welcomes new ideas, and believes in the potential of every colleague. Your development matters here. Your wellbeing matters. Your voice helps shape the future of the care we provide. We offer a competitive employment package because the work you do matters. At Central London Community Healthcare, you will join an inclusive organisation that invests in its people, supports development, and helps you thrive while delivering high‑quality care.

Job responsibilities

Successful applicants will be required to demonstrate alignment with the Trust's values and the behaviours aligned to those values – Accountability, Inclusion, Compassion and Empowerment, alongside fulfilling the duties detailed in the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Person Specification

Education/Qualification

Essential

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration
• Evidence of recent and continuing post‑registration professional education and training
• Qualification in teaching or practice‑based learning.

Desirable

• Qualifications in Community and/or Accident and Emergency Nursing.
• Physical Clinical Assessment Skills Course or willingness to undertake the course.
• Nurse prescribing qualification

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of recent substantial post‑registration nursing experience
• Extensive range of clinical skills and experience including bowel & catheter care, Vene‑puncture, cannulation, EOL
• Vene‑puncture, cannulation, rehabilitation
• Experience of working within a multi‑disciplinary team
• Experience of working with people with complex health needs

Desirable

• Experience of implementing evidence‑based care in practice
• Experience of supervising junior staff and co‑ordinating daily activities on a regular basis
• Experience of undertaking comprehensive health needs assessment and writing care plans

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Basic IT skills including use of Microsoft Office package and e‑mail
• High level of competence in a range of clinical skills
• Principles of care for patients with long‑term conditions, relevant NSFs and other national standards
• NMC Code of Professional Conduct and application to practice
• Personal Development Planning

Desirable

• Audit processes
• Clinical supervision – purpose and application

Key Attributes

Essential

• Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).