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Nursing Associate or Assistant Practitioner – Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (Worthing)
Role Overview
Are you a qualified Nursing Associate or an Assistant Practitioner holding a Foundation Degree looking to deliver hands-on, autonomous clinical care in the community? Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT) is seeking a motivated clinician to join the Cissbury Integrated Care Community Nursing team based at Durrington Health Centre in Worthing.
Working independently under the overarching guidance of Registered Nurses and Band 6 Community Sisters, you will provide vital nursing interventions to housebound patients across the local area—helping them manage complex health conditions in the comfort of their own homes.
Key Responsibilities
- Autonomous Clinical Delivery: Carry out delegated clinical activities according to personalized care plans, including complex wound management, injections, urinary catheterization, and compression therapy.
- Patient Care & Evaluation: Assess, execute, and evaluate care programs alongside registered clinicians, making sound clinical decisions within the boundaries of your role.
- Supervision & Mentorship: Support and guide Healthcare Assistants and pre-registration student nurses during their community placements.
- Caseload & Service Support: Organize and prioritize daily home visit schedules, maintain precise digital patient records, and participate in clinical quality audits.
Candidate Profile & Qualifications
- Professional Credentials:
- Qualified Nursing Associate with active NMC registration, OR
- Holder of a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care (Assistant Practitioner).
- Clinical Capabilities: Proven competence in basic and advanced nursing skills (e.g., wound care, catheter care, routine observations) with sound clinical judgment and role boundary awareness.
- Essential Logistics: A valid UK driving license and regular access to a reliable vehicle for community visits are required.
- Desirable Attributes: Previous community or district nursing experience and evidence of innovative care practices.
- Working Pattern & Visa Status: Part-time hours available. Operational coverage spans 7 days a week (including weekends and bank holidays, 08:00 – 18:00), requiring shift flexibility. Note: Due to salary threshold regulations, this role may not meet Skilled Worker visa sponsorship requirements.
About Us
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT) is the primary provider of community health and care services across East and West Sussex, employing over 6,000 staff who serve 1.3 million residents. Driven by their core values—Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, and Delivering Excellence—SCFT focuses on keeping patients healthy, independent, and cared for in their homes or local community clinics.
Recognized as a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust, SCFT offers a supportive work environment featuring active staff networks (EMBRACE, LGBTQIA+, Religion & Belief, Disability & Wellbeing) and workplace nurseries in nearby Hove, Brighton, and Crawley.
Benefits of This Role
- Competitive NHS Agenda for Change Pay: NHS Band 4 salary scale ranging from £28,392 to £31,157 per annum (pro-rata for part-time hours).
- Clear Career Advancement: Access to top-tier continuing professional development (CPD) frameworks, with pathways into Top-Up Apprenticeships for Registered Nurse Training.
- Flexible NHS Terms: Access to flexi-time options, annualised hours, the NHS Pension Scheme, generous annual leave, and NHS sickness benefits.
- Workplace Perks: Blue Light Card retail discounts, cost-effective workplace nurseries, and reimbursement for official clinical mileage.
Salary & Earnings Insight
- Salary Scale: Band 4 (£28,392 – £31,157 per annum, pro-rata for part-time schedules).
- Hourly Equivalency: Approximately £14.52 – £15.93 per hour, plus enhancements for weekend or bank holiday rotas.
Career Guide Tips for Community Healthcare Professionals
- Develop Strong Self-Management Skills: Working autonomously in community care means managing your driving route and visit timing independently while remaining responsive to urgent patient calls.
- Master Wound & Catheter Care: Wound management and catheterization make up a significant portion of community nursing duties—staying up to date on tissue viability products and aseptic non-touch techniques (ANTT) is vital.
- Utilize Bridge Training Pathways: Nursing Associate and Assistant Practitioner roles are key stepping stones. Talk with your team lead early about funding opportunities for full RN top-up degrees.
How to Prepare a CV for This Position
- Highlight Professional Registration & Qualifications: Place your NMC PIN (for Nursing Associates) or Foundation Degree details at the top of your summary.
- Explicitly State Driving Status: State clearly that you hold a full UK driving license and have access to a vehicle for work purposes.
- Detail Autonomous Clinical Skills: List specific clinical competencies you perform comfortably, such as leg ulcer compression, phlebotomy, catheter changes, and clinical escalation.
How to Prepare for an Interview
- Understand Role Scope & Boundaries: Be prepared to explain exactly where your responsibilities as a Band 4 Nursing Associate/Assistant Practitioner end, and when you must escalate a complex issue to a Band 6 Sister.
- Brush Up on Community Safety: Review lone-working safety protocols, infection control in domestic settings, and safeguarding procedures for vulnerable adults living at home.
- Practice Scenario Responses: Prepare examples illustrating how you manage changing visit priorities, handle a non-compliant wound care treatment plan, or communicate with anxious relatives.
Potential Interview Questions
- Role Boundaries & Escalation: “You visit a housebound patient for a routine dressing change and notice new symptoms of severe infection and distress. How do you handle the situation within your scope of practice?”
- Autonomous Time Management: “How do you organize your daily route when unexpected delays or urgent visits interrupt your scheduled care plan?”
- Compassionate Communication: “How do you build trust with a vulnerable patient who is reluctant to accept new treatment or nursing interventions in their home?”
How to Apply
- Visit the NHS Jobs portal (
jobs.nhs.uk) or Trac Jobs. - Search for “Nursing Associate” or “Assistant Practitioner – Cissbury ICC” (Ref based at Durrington Health Centre, Worthing).
- Submit your application online addressing all essential points on the person specification. (For informal inquiries, contact Team Lead Nick Tomlinson at
n.tomlinson1@nhs.net.)
Disclaimer
This document is an independent candidate summary created for informational and career advice purposes. Specific pay scales, working rotas, site assignments, and application requirements are managed directly by Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust. Please consult the official NHS Jobs posting to submit your application.