CNS OPAT / IV Therapy Nurse Specialist | Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
| Posting date: | 21 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £49,387 - £56,515 per annum (pro rata for part time) |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 21 May 2026 |
| Location: | Aylesbury, HP21 8AL |
| Company: | Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7953845/434-CR7793103-A |
Summary
The Band 7 role within the OPAT (Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy) & IV Therapy Service at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) is a senior clinical, operational and leadership position central to the delivery of advanced intravenous therapy, antimicrobial stewardship, and virtual ward–enabled care across the Trust. The service forms a key component of the BOB Integrated Care System’s Virtual Ward and Hospital @ Home model and continues to expand in scope, complexity and workforce demand.
The Band 7 post-holder functions as a specialist autonomous practitioner, leading the operational delivery of OPAT/IV pathways, ensuring clinical governance, supporting workforce development, and collaborating with acute, community and specialist teams. The post is instrumental in enabling timely discharge, preventing unnecessary admission, and supporting patients to safely receive complex IV or antimicrobial therapy in outpatient and community settings.
The Band 7 OPAT & IV Therapy Nurse Specialist provides advanced clinical expertise, leadership and coordination for all OPAT and Trust-wide IV therapy pathways. They ensure safe, effective care for patients requiring parenteral/ Oral antimicrobials, IV therapies and vascular access support outside the inpatient ward environment.
This role also supports the delivery of the Trust’s Virtual Ward/Hospital @ Home model.
The Band 7 acts as a senior decision-maker, service representative and clinical leader.
Responsibilities include:
• Specialist assessment for OPAT suitability
• Coordination of outpatient reviews, home visits and remote monitoring
• Management of complex IV regimens, including monitoring, toxicity screening and step-down planning
• Senior oversight of remote monitoring data and patient escalations
• Central line assessment, troubleshooting and Trust‑wide in-reach support (as confirmed in Trac queries)
They also support antimicrobial stewardship decision-making in partnership with microbiology and pharmacy.
Operational leadership duties include:
• Day‑to‑day running of OPAT/IV services
• Managing caseload allocation, daily huddles, and prioritisation
• Coordination of community capacity, particularly during peaks or staffing gaps
• Leading operational decision-making in absence of the Band 8a lead
• Supporting service continuity planning in line with the revised
• Liaison with Hospital @ Home teams and acute wards to streamline ESD and admission avoidance
Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! -BHT - A great place to work (buckshealthcare.nhs.uk)
What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
• As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
• We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.
• We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.
Why work for us?
• We’re committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
• As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
• Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
• A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who know the value of employing a service leaver/veteran and their families.
What do we stand for?
• Ourvisionis to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
• Ourmissionis to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
• Ourcarevalues are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.
If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.
If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on bht.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number.
This advert closes on Tuesday 5 May 2026