Band 8b - Deteriorating Patient Team Lead, Surgery | West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Posting date:	14 April 2026
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	£66,653 - £79,638 pa inc. HCA
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	14 May 2026
Location:	Watford, WD18 0HB
Company:	West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	7928605/360-B-11232

Summary

This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional clinical leader to shape, influence and drive the future of deteriorating patient care across West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

As the Deteriorating Patient Team Lead, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening the Trust’s response to clinical deterioration, leading a dynamic and highly skilled multi professional team that includes the Acute Care Response Team (ACRT), Resuscitation Service and Sepsis service.

This is a role for someone who thrives on variety, strategic influence, and the chance to make a tangible difference to patient outcomes every day.

This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about service development and innovation.

You will lead on the evolution of the ACRT, support the development of Enhanced Care Practitioners, trainee Advanced Practitioners and qualified Advanced Practitioners, and work closely with Higher Education Institutes to influence education and training pathways.

You will also collaborate with senior nursing, medical and operational leaders to ensure that the Trust’s approach to deteriorating patients is aligned with national guidance, emerging evidence and best practice.

The role is dynamic and varied, combining direct clinical practice with strategic leadership, education, quality improvement and research.

You will be required to work Monday – Friday and participate in the Trust Senior Manager on-call rota.



As the Deteriorating Patient Team Lead, you will play a central role in shaping how West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust recognises and responds to clinical deterioration. You will lead the Acute Care Response Team (ACRT) and provide senior clinical and strategic leadership across the Trust, ensuring that patients who are acutely unwell receive timely, expert and compassionate care.

Your leadership will extend beyond clinical practice. You will drive service development, influence Trust wide pathways, and support the strategic direction of the deteriorating patient agenda.

Education and workforce development will be a key part of your role.

You will deliver Trust wide training on the recognition and management of deterioration, support Advanced Life Support education, and help create a positive learning culture where staff feel confident, supported and empowered.

You will work collaboratively with matrons, ward managers and senior clinicians to strengthen clinical capability and improve patient outcomes.

This is a highly visible leadership role, requiring strong partnership working with senior nursing, medical and operational colleagues.

You will act as a trusted expert advisor, provide specialist input into complex cases, and contribute to business planning, service evaluation and governance processes.

Your work will directly influence patient safety, service quality and the Trust’s ability to deliver excellent care.
With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us.

We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.

Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.

Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.

We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking

If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please contact westherts.recruitment@nhs.net

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.

We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

This is a full-time role that will require cross site working and on-call responsibilities. You will work closely with the Associate Director of Nursing for Deteriorating Patients to deliver on the Trust priorities for Deteriorating Patients and deputise as required.

You will be responsible for the line management of the ACRT and Resuscitation Team Lead and provide day to day leadership, supervision and development for the whole deteriorating patient team.

You will work with senior nursing and medical leaders to design, implement and evaluate pathways, policies and guidelines that strengthen the Trust’s approach to recognising and responding to deterioration.

You will be responsible for delivering Trust wide training, including ALERT and Advanced Life Support; supporting academic modules with HEIs; developing competency frameworks; and fostering a positive learning culture across clinical areas.

You will lead and contribute to QI projects, audits, research activity and service evaluation; supporting business planning and procurement; ensuring compliance with national guidance and Trust policies.

You will act as a senior clinical resource for teams across the organisation, providing specialist advice on complex cases, escalation decisions and best practice in acute and critical care.

You will Oversee staff performance, appraisals, recruitment, sickness management and workload allocation, managing delegated budgets and ensuring cost effective use of resources. Supporting the Associate Director of Nursing for Deteriorating Patients, deputising as required, and contributing to Trust wide strategic priorities and senior leadership discussions.


This advert closes on Tuesday 28 Apr 2026