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Job summary

Main area
Vascular
Grade
Band 8a
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
210-2025-633
Employer
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Countess of Chester Hospital
Town
Chester
Salary
£55,690 - £62,682 pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
09/03/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust logo

Lead Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist - Vascular

Band 8a

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.  

Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation

Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.

As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit. 

Job overview

Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a talented and dynamic nurse to join our vascular team at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as Lead Vascular Clinical Nurse Specialist. The post holder will lead an established team of experienced vascular nurses. The role offers an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your skills and leadership ability whilst experiencing a new challenge in a Trust which offers you a breadth of diversity and experience.

Main duties of the job

The Countess of Chester Hospital operates and manages Vascular services across Wirral, West Cheshire and Warrington. This model unifies the approach to vascular services across South Mersey, ensuring high quality and consistent care across the region.

The role of Lead Vascular Clinical Nurse Specialist is high profile, dynamic, proactive and pioneering. The lead nurse for vascular services will be able to make informed decisions and have managerial responsibility for nursing service delivery across vascular specialist nursing areas. The focus of the role will be to improve overall patient experience and outcomes, for all patients with vascular conditions using service improvement and quality methodology, and will be responsive to challenging healthcare needs and advances in practice.

Working for our organisation

The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.

The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’ 

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.​

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.​

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • RN/RSCN Diploma or Degree
  • MSc in Health, Quality or leadership related or working towards within 2 academic years of appointment or equivalent
Desirable criteria
  • A recognised qualification in vascular nursing

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of advanced clinical, psychological, and social needs of patients accessing our vascular services
  • Evidence of prior senior clinical decision making
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of leading patient involvement/patient feedback

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverDisability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into health

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

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Hannah Thomas
Job title
PA to Divisional Directors
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01244 365184