Senior Healthcare Assistant - Todd Ward

Job overview

Have you always wanted a career in cardiothoracic intensive care nursing?

Our cardiac recovery unit (CRU) could be the place for you!

Cardiac Recovery is unique in its provision of care for all post- operative cardiothoracic patients requiring ventilator support and providing high dependency care during the post-operative phase. We care for a variety of patients with complex needs pre and post cardiothoracic surgery as well as providing care for cardiology patients in certain circumstances.

King's College Hospital provides tertiary cardiac care and receives cardio-thoracic patients from across the Southeast, as part of Kings Health Partners we work closely with partner organisations and work together to form the cardiovascular network transforming cardiovascular services across the region.

We are committed to staff development and education with all staff having access to a wide range of educational and development resources. The practice education team support staff in the clinical area and each new staff member will have an individualised training and development plan, further academic study opportunities are available to staff at King’s with our partner higher education institutions.

Main duties of the job

Cardiac Recovery Unit is a fast paced level three area that looks after patients immediately post cardiac surgery. On a day-to-day basis, you will be providing a high standard of nursing care to the post-operative cardiac patients on ventilator or requiring high dependency care.

You will be working collaboratively with the management, Cardiothoracic surgical team, Clinical nurse specialists and the wider Multidisciplinary team to enhance the patient care through various quality improvement initiatives.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. In June 2026, we launched our new strategy for 2026-31. Our vision is to transform healthcare, and we have agreed six strategic ambitions to help us improve care for patients, and the working lives of our staff.

Our six strategic ambitions are delivering high-quality patient care ; creating a great place to work ; leading pioneering research, innovation and education ; building strong and successful partnerships ; providing timely and efficient care ; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability .

We have also agreed four new organisational values – Caring, Collaborative, Inclusive, Innovative – and these underpin everything we do, and how our teams interact with the patients under our care.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Delivering high quality, evidence-based and patient focused clinical care through:

• Delivering a high standard of evidence-based care to patients.
• Ensuring good standards of care for the patient are maintained at all times.
• Adhering to NMC Code of Professional conduct at all times.
• Involving and supporting patients, relatives, carers and friends in the care process.
• Promoting well-being and involving patients and relatives in health education.
• Ensuring clear and accurate written and verbal information is given at all times.
• Ensuring contemporaneous record keeping at all times.
• Seeking advice from more senior/experienced members of staff where appropriate.

Working effectively as part of the immediate team and wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) through:

• Liaising effectively with all members of the MDT to ensure patients’ needs are met.
• Exercising leadership and taking the initiative where appropriate.
• Providing support and advice to ward/unit staff (especially junior staff) on clinical and administrative issues.
• Liaising with discharge coordinator / bed manager to ensure effective admission/discharge of patients.
• Keeping the ward/unit sister / charge nurse informed of significant changes and/or anticipated problems.

Upholding a duty of care and clinical governance through:

• Observing a general duty of care for the health, safety and well-being of yourself, work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital.
• Ensuring the rules, policies, procedures and standards of Kings College Hospital NHS Trust Foundation together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations are adhered to at all times.
• Maintaining patient confidentiality, dignity and privacy at all times.
• Adhering to the Trust’s policy on valuing equality and diversity and showing due regard for each patient’s cultural and religious beliefs, gender, ethnicity, age and sexuality.
• Strictly adhering to the National Code of Practice on Infection Control. Staff Nurse (Band 5) Job Description Date of Origin: June 2009 3
• Taking responsibility for your own personal development and keeping up to date with nursing and medical knowledge.
• Being aware of current research and the implications for the ward/unit speciality.
• Acting as a role model at all times and for all staff.
• Acting as practice supervisor and/or preceptor/mentor for junior and newly qualified staff.
• Working with appropriate members of the teaching staff to ensure effective staff development (own and others).
• Participating in Trust and Divisional initiatives to develop nursing practice and support change.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered Nurse (RN1) with active UK NMC registration at time of starting appointment

Knowledge and Experience

Desirable criteria

• Clinical expertise relevant to the area

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal).
• Ability to work collaboratively with other staff members.
• Able to manage patients emotional needs and demonstrate empathy and caring.

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

AI tools like chatbots and virtual assistants can support you as you complete your application. For example, they can check for spelling or grammar errors, or help you to decide what to include. They shouldn’t however replace your own responses or be used to write the application for you.

Relying too much on AI can negatively impact your chances of success because automatically generated answers:

• might not be specific or relevant enough to address the criteria in the recruitment profile
• often seem generic and not personalised enough – an AI response won’t show your unique voice and perspective
• could misrepresent information about you, such as your qualifications, skills and experience

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications

King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre Website

King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.