University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Specialist Nurse, Deteriorating Adult Response Team (DART)

The closing date is 05 December 2025

Job summary

Our Deteriorating Adult Response Team is looking for experienced highly motivated Nurses to join us supporting our ward staff to care for deteriorating patients.

The team provides a 24 hour service across 4 Sites - Leicester General, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Glenfield Hospital and the Emergency Department,. You will have the opportunity to be involved in caring for patients from all medical and surgical specialties within the Trust. You will need to have excellent facilitation skills, and the ability to reconcile conflicting views and interests..

You must be able to influence and engage others through effective communication and challenge current thinking and practice to encourage innovation and improvement. You must have the ability to work independently and under your own initiative with limited direct supervision.

The fixed term position is for a period of 12 months and we do not require the successful candidate to have post degree modules.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidates will be instrumental in delivering Trust-wide support to assist in the early detection and management of the acutely ill deteriorating patient.

They will also facilitate the smooth transition of patients stepping down from our Critical Care Unit (Level 2/3 care); and provide education around these subjects across the MDT. The post holder will work closely with the other DART nurses & critical care staff and will need to possess and display good leadership and organisational skills.

A recent Quality Improvement initiative has seen service expansion of DART into Adult ED. Within ED DART are involved in the recognition and implementation of treatment for patients presenting with Sepsis. DART provide a supportive role in escalating and recognizing deteriorating patients.

Applications are sought from nurses who have the appropriate expertise and knowledge to undertake the role; enabling them to support the quality improvement agenda around the acutely unwell & deteriorating patient and to assist with the delivery of the DART team objectives.

About us

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:

high-quality care for all,being a great place to work,partnerships for impact, andresearch and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

we are compassionate,we are proud,we are inclusive, andwe are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/

Details

Date posted

21 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

358-7509221-ITA

Job locations

University Hospitals of Leicester

Leicester Royal Infirmary

Leicester

LE1 5WW


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To respond quickly and effectively to deteriorating patients on the ward and work with other health care professionals to commence treatment within a timely manner.

  • To work alongside the DART Lead practitioner / Matron and the team of DART Sister/ Charge Nurse/Band 7 Health care practitioner to assist in the delivery of a high quality service of clinical expertise.

  • To act as a role model for on-going development of clinical practice, research and standards within the defined area of practice.

  • To participate in the organisation, delivery and over all development of the DART service as required.

  • To work collaboratively with other professionals from critical care, wards and within the Emergency Department.

Please refer to the job description/person specification for full details on the role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To respond quickly and effectively to deteriorating patients on the ward and work with other health care professionals to commence treatment within a timely manner.

  • To work alongside the DART Lead practitioner / Matron and the team of DART Sister/ Charge Nurse/Band 7 Health care practitioner to assist in the delivery of a high quality service of clinical expertise.

  • To act as a role model for on-going development of clinical practice, research and standards within the defined area of practice.

  • To participate in the organisation, delivery and over all development of the DART service as required.

  • To work collaboratively with other professionals from critical care, wards and within the Emergency Department.

Please refer to the job description/person specification for full details on the role.

Person Specification

Training & Qualifications

Essential

  • 1st Level Registered Nurse with NMC
  • Evidence of professional development in relevant acute/critical care area
  • Evidence of post graduate module at 15 credits or Completion of Enhanced Critical Care Outreach Competencies
  • Completion of Practice Assessor preparation day and have recent experience in supporting learners in your workplace and supervising their progress and assessing their practice. Or evidence of actively teaching and mentoring in practice.

Desirable

  • Advanced Life Support
  • Evidence of specialist training or willingness to undertake
  • Post graduate education relating to Critical and/or Acute care First level Degree or working towards

Skills

Essential

  • Evidence of expanded roles
  • Computer literate
  • Ability to work on own and within an team.
  • Understands ward based issues.
  • Competency in ILS.
  • Teaching /assessment skills.

Desirable

  • Potential to lead
  • Organisational skills
  • Competency in ALS

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of consolidation and extended skills post registration experience in a relevant acute care setting within the last 12 months.
  • Knowledge of developments in acute care.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of audit and Research
  • Evidence of Teaching

Communication and relationship skills

Essential

  • Enthusiastic and motivated.
  • Assertive and confident
  • Demonstrates ability to work within the MDT and motivate self (i.e. Extended roles)
  • Recognises own limitations.
  • Demonstrates commitment to develop self and others
  • Able to communicate at all levels.
Person Specification

Training & Qualifications

Essential

  • 1st Level Registered Nurse with NMC
  • Evidence of professional development in relevant acute/critical care area
  • Evidence of post graduate module at 15 credits or Completion of Enhanced Critical Care Outreach Competencies
  • Completion of Practice Assessor preparation day and have recent experience in supporting learners in your workplace and supervising their progress and assessing their practice. Or evidence of actively teaching and mentoring in practice.

Desirable

  • Advanced Life Support
  • Evidence of specialist training or willingness to undertake
  • Post graduate education relating to Critical and/or Acute care First level Degree or working towards

Skills

Essential

  • Evidence of expanded roles
  • Computer literate
  • Ability to work on own and within an team.
  • Understands ward based issues.
  • Competency in ILS.
  • Teaching /assessment skills.

Desirable

  • Potential to lead
  • Organisational skills
  • Competency in ALS

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of consolidation and extended skills post registration experience in a relevant acute care setting within the last 12 months.
  • Knowledge of developments in acute care.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of audit and Research
  • Evidence of Teaching

Communication and relationship skills

Essential

  • Enthusiastic and motivated.
  • Assertive and confident
  • Demonstrates ability to work within the MDT and motivate self (i.e. Extended roles)
  • Recognises own limitations.
  • Demonstrates commitment to develop self and others
  • Able to communicate at all levels.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Address

University Hospitals of Leicester

Leicester Royal Infirmary

Leicester

LE1 5WW


Employer's website

https://www.jobsatleicestershospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Address

University Hospitals of Leicester

Leicester Royal Infirmary

Leicester

LE1 5WW


Employer's website

https://www.jobsatleicestershospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Band 7

Tristan Rangassamy

tristan.rangassamy@nhs.net

07971626180

Details

Date posted

21 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

358-7509221-ITA

Job locations

University Hospitals of Leicester

Leicester Royal Infirmary

Leicester

LE1 5WW


Supporting documents

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