Band 7 - Paediatric Emergency Nurse/Care Practitioner in Watford

We are relaunching our Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at Watford Hospital, working together with our Emergency Department. As part of this relaunch, we have several new and expanded roles coming up, and we are looking for passionate, skilled clinicians to help shape the next chapter of urgent care at West Herts.

This isn’t business as usual. We’re building a model of urgent care that is safe, responsive, and future-focused, and we want you to be part of it. At West Herts, momentum matters. We are proud to have been recognised nationally with:

• HSJ Trust of the Year
• HSJ Performance Recovery Award

These awards reflect what we already know: when our teams come together with shared purpose, we deliver outstanding improvement and exceptional care for our communities. Now we’re taking that same ambition and energy into the relaunch of our UTC.

Main duties of the job

This isn’t simply reopening a service, it’s a chance to create something stronger. The UTC relaunch brings an opportunity to:

• improve patient experience at the front door
• streamline pathways and support better flow with ED
• deliver high quality, timely care for adults and children
• strengthen clinical leadership and decision-making in urgent care
• develop innovative practice and new ways of working

We are looking for ENP/ECPs who feel energised by improvement, who want to shape services rather than just work within them, and who take pride in delivering excellent patient care.

If you are looking for a place where change is happening, where your contribution will be valued, and where your leadership can make a visible difference, West Herts is that place.

Working for our organisation

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us. 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. 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.

We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance.

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.

We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. 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

At West Herts you can expect:

• visible senior leadership and a strong clinical voice
• a culture where your expertise is respected and your ideas are welcomed
• multi-professional working with shared decision-making
• opportunities for development, education, and progression
• an environment that values kindness, inclusion, and continuous improvement

Most importantly, you’ll be empowered to practise at the top of your licence, to make autonomous decisions, and to lead improvements that matter.

Who we’re looking for

We are looking for clinicians who are:

• clinically strong and patient-focused
• calm, confident decision-makers
• excited by improvement and innovation
• passionate about urgent care
• committed to supporting patients, families, and colleagues

If you want to feel valued, supported and inspired at work, and you want to work somewhere that believes in developing people as much as it believes in delivering performance, we encourage you to apply.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications:

• Registered healthcare professional (e.g. Paramedic, Nurse, Allied Health Professional) with current registration with HCPC/NMC (or equivalent)
• Evidence of post Registration development at Masters level
• Practice assessor or equivalent teaching qualification

Knowledge:

• Experience at Band 6 or equivalent
• Current knowledge of clinical practice in an acute setting
• Experience of working in partnership with multi-disciplinary team members
• Knowledge of NHS Urgent Care Strategy, UTC service models, and national guidance (e.g. NICE, RCEM)
• Knowledge of the Urgent and Emergency care UTC standards

Experience:

• Significant post-registration clinical experience in urgent, emergency, or acute care settings
• Experience of autonomous clinical practice and managing full episodes of patient care
• Ability to provide clinical leadership within the UTC environment
• Experience of supervising and supporting junior clinicians and students
• Experience of working across networks
• Evidence of autonomous clinical practice in emergency or urgent care settings
• Experience in audit, research, or quality improvement activity

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services to a core catchment population of approximately half a million people living in west Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. The Trust also provides a range of more specialist services to a wider population, serving residents of North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Hertfordshire.

As an employer of nearly 6,000 people the Trust is one of the biggest employers in the area and sees nearly a million patients each year.

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.

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.