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Job summary

Main area
Community Nursing
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 30 hours per week (7.5hrs daily with late and rotational weekend shifts)
Job ref
846-7680411-CF
Employer
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Hawkhurst Hospital
Town
Hawkhurst
Salary
£31,049 - £37,796 pro rota per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
04/01/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust logo

Community Nurse

NHS AfC: Band 5

Job overview

Please note, this vacancy does not meet the criteria for skilled worker sponsorship and therefore, we are unable to accept applications from candidates that cannot provide documentary evidence of right to work in the United Kingdom.

The NHS is changing. More emphasis on community-based care means there’s never been a better time to join us.

We’re recruiting now for compassionate nurses who want time with their patients. Time to treat the whole person, not just the condition. Time to focus on what they want to achieve and how we can help them to get there.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and adaptable Community Nurse to join our caring and progressive team in Hawkhurst hospital. As an organisation we support the NHS graduate guarantee and this would be an ideal opportunity for a newly qualified nurse.

Our hospitals are nurse-led and focus on holistic rehabilitation and therapy for people who need extra help to get home, or who are nearing the end of their life.

It’s a relaxed atmosphere, but it’s never a breeze – you’ll need to think on your feet and be confident in making independent clinical decisions on behalf of the patients in your care.

Main duties of the job

Our community hospital nurses provide complex nursing care in an in-patient setting.

As a community hospital nurse, you'll:

  • assess the healthcare needs of patients on admission
  • monitor the quality of care they're receiving with us
  • be professionally accountable for its delivery.

Your patients could be any age, but they'll often be elderly, while others may have been recently discharged from acute hospital, be terminally ill or have physical disabilities.

As a Community Nurse you will work as part of a team to keep people safe and well in Hawkhurst. You will use your clinical judgement to support evidence-based care planning and make sure that people who use our services have a good experience.

“One of the big differences for me is the time we can give to our patients. We really get to know them.” Val, community hospital nurse.

Additional Working Pattern: 7.5hrs daily with late and rotational weekend shifts

Working for our organisation

Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’ve got a passion for delivering high standards of patient care and excellent services to improve the health of our communities. To do this we need outstanding people who share our values compassionate Aspirational Responsive Excellent

We know a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion leads to better patient care and a happier workforce. We pride ourselves in being diverse and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences

We ask for information about your protected characteristics on our application forms. This isn’t visible to anyone involved with shortlisting or interviewing you, except when you choose to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme due to disability. Short listers will see two ticks alongside your application to ensure they apply the principles of the scheme to your submission

The data we collect helps us to ensure we are attracting diversity in our applicants, that all our colleagues have equitable access to career opportunities and supports us on our journey to being a Great Place to Work

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want you to be able to work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Talk to us about a flexible working arrangement that won’t involve sacrificing time for personal interests or family commitments. We’ll support you to work flexibly in a way that will suits us both

See where you can go with KCHFT career pathways

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). Nursing vacancies are also open to Student Nurses and Newly Qualified Nurses.

Job responsibilities

As a community Trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. Where driving is a requirement of the role, you will be asked to confirm that you hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via [email protected], quoting the vacancy reference number, so we can support you further.

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.

Find out more about the community difference here.

Good luck! We can’t wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.

Person specification

Qualifications, training and experience

Essential criteria
  • You’ll need to have a Level 6 Degree or equivalent qualification in relevant subject i.e. Nursing
  • You’ll need to have recent experience of healthcare gained through education, work experience or previous employment. This role is ideal for a newly qualified graduate nurse
  • You will be a registered health care professional with the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Knowledge and skills

Essential criteria
  • You’ll need have sound communication skills in order to understand and communicate both verbally and in writing
  • You will need to be able to use IT systems and databases
  • You will need to be able to work well under pressure and be able to organise your own work
  • You will understand where to signpost clients and families to alternative services to support behaviour change and improve health
  • You will need to have a customer focussed approach which is essential to; Provide patients, clients and their families with the best possible experience to represent the Trust when talking to and working with patients, colleagues and visitors
Desirable criteria
  • You will hold strong attention to details skills
  • You’ll need to be adaptable in work as things change as part of working in a wider team
  • You will need to have hand and eye coordination and dexterity to use your clinical skills
  • You will have knowledge of up to date clinical practice by using up- to- date skills and adhering to evidence-based procedures and clinical effectiveness frameworks

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareDisability confident leaderArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Care quality commission - OutstandingKent Community - Platinum Award LogoKEiBA Valuing Disability Business of the Year 2021Accredited Menopause Friendly EmployerRIDI Awards Finalist 2024

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
Jacqueline Bailey
Job title
Admin Team Lead
Email address
[email protected]