HDU​/Recovery Lead Nurse

HDU/Recovery Lead Nurse

The closing date is 01 June 2026

The post-holder will be responsible for the day to day operational management of the HDU and Recovery units as well as supporting the wards via the outreach service.

The post holder will be responsible for leading the team, resource management and ensuring compliance with CQC and ICSTS standards; being accountable for assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating high quality post anaesthetic and critical care. The post holder will provide level 2 critical care to patients admitted to the HDU Department and level 3 critical care as required. In addition they will provide post anaesthetic care to surgical patients within the Theatre Recovery Room.

Located in leafy St Johns Wood on the Jubilee line, minutes from Central London, our independent private Hospital is unique in that all profits fund our onsite Hospice, St Johns.

Managerial:

• To manage and lead the unit on a continual basis, to provide support to the Duty Managers Ward Managers and Theatre Suite
• To provide supervision and support to the team.
• To deliver an Outreach service to the ward, offering support and guidance in the care of the acutely unwell patient.
• To assist in the planning and the delivery of individualised, safe, effective and evidence based patient care.
• To ensure the provision of a welcoming, caring and safe environment for patients and their families.
• To manage the department and the resources, including the staffing resources within the agreed annual budget set.
• To undertake tasks and responsibilities assigned by the Theatre Manager, Chief Nursing Officer and Deputy Nursing Officer, supporting the management and development of the nursing service of the Hospital.
• To undertake the Duty Manager role.
• To work closely with the Consultant Users of the Ward.
• To participate in presenting and delivering teaching sessions for the clinical staff.
• To undertake mentoring of staff and performance review appraisals.
• To undertake risk assessments in accordance with the Hospitals policies, procedures and standards and national regulations.
• To ensure the unit meets ICSTS, CQC and BARNA standards.
• To ensure the standard of documentation is in line with the Hospitals policies, procedures and protocols.
• Leadership and management of HDU and Recovery staff.
• Responsibility for working with the Critical Care Fellows to ensure the rota is covered and where any difficulties with cover this is escalated.

Clinical:

• Exhibiting best practice standards at all times and be a role model for the team.
• Assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating a high level of critical care for patients.
• Delivery of a high level of post anaesthetic care for patients within the Theatre Recovery Room.
• Working with the Anaesthetic team to deliver high quality, safe patient care.
• Promote the safety, wellbeing and interests of patients, visitors and staff to the clinical areas.
• Active member of the emergency response team.
• Participation in the on-call rota and internal rotation of shift (inc night duty).
• Exhibiting a high level of teamwork with the unit and in the wider hospital environment.
• Participate fully as a team member, including working in all areas of the HDU and Theatre Suite, to promote a cohesive team and the achievement of team objectives.
• Participate in education, training and development of other staff.
• Provide initial urgent or emergency care as required.
• Ensure a commitment to improve existing skills within the critical care and post-operative environment.

• Registered Nurse
• Recognised post graduate Critical Care qualification
• Management and Leadership Qualification
• Minimum 5 years experience within the role of Recovery Nurse
• Minimum 5 years experience within the Critical Care environment
• Experience with in the Independent sector
• Able to work efficiently with a multi-disciplinary team and with internal/external stakeholders
• Competence in delivering a high level of post anaesthetic and critical care
• Understanding of clinical governance and implications for practice
• Ability to analyse and demonstrate evidence based practice
• Ability to exercise rational judgement when escalating issues

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.

The Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth